A mammography apparatus capable of obtaining a breast image having an
optimum density with reduced burden on the subject. The apparatus
includes a radiation irradiation section and an object table connected to
an arm such that they face each other, and the breast compressed onto the
object table using a compression paddle is imaged by rotating the arm by
an arm rotation means according to the imaging direction. In the
apparatus, the size of the breast is detected, and the position of a dose
detector is moved along the side of the object table facing the chestwall
of the subject according to the detected size of the breast and the angle
of rotation of the arm when rotated by the arm rotation means.