Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effect of MRI Parameters on the Sensitivity and Dose Resolution of PASSAG Polymer Gel Dosimeter

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Applied Magnetic Resonance Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is used as one of the most common methods to read out the response of polymer gel dosimeters. The imaging protocols can have a remarkable effect on the response of polymer gel dosimeters; hence, the impact of imaging parameters on the response of each type of polymer gel dosimeter should be addressed. This study aims to investigate the effect of MRI parameters on PASSAG polymer gel dosimeter response. PASSAG gel dosimeter was first fabricated and then, these gel samples were irradiated by a 6 MV X-rays. Thereafter, the MRI responses (R2) of the gel samples were analyzed. In addition, the impact of MRI parameters, including number of echoes (NOE), echo spacing (ES), repetition time (TR), and matrix size, on the sensitivity and dose resolution of the gel samples were evaluated. The findings showed that the highest R2–dose sensitivity belongs to the gel samples imaged with 32 NOE. It was also found that the dose resolution value improves with the increase of NOE. The R2–dose sensitivities and dose resolution values obtained from PASSAG gel samples imaged with ESs of 16.8, 22.0, and 27.2 ms were almost the same. Furthermore, the R2–dose sensitivities of gel vials imaged with TRs of 2000, 4000, and 6000 ms are almost the same (a 0.00–0.80% difference range), while the R2–dose sensitivity of gel vials imaged with 8000 ms was remarkably different from the sensitivities of gel vials imaged with other TRs (a 7.85–8.65% difference range). In addition, the dose resolution values of PASSAG gel dosimeter are almost the same for the evaluated TRs. There was a 0.80–11.58% difference range between the R2–dose sensitivities of gel vials at different matrix sizes, as these findings represent that the R2–dose sensitivity of PASSAG gel dosimeter is dependent on the matrix size. In addition, the dose resolution values of PASSAG gel dosimeter vary over the matrix size. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that the TR and matrix size affect the response (R2–dose sensitivity and dose resolution) of PASSAG gel dosimeter more than the NOE and ES.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E.B. Podgorsak, Radiation Oncology Physics (IAEA, Vienna, 2005)

    Google Scholar 

  2. S.M. Abtahi, S.M.R. Aghamiri, H. Khalafi, Optical and MRI investigations of an optimized acrylamide-based polymer gel dosimeter. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 300(1), 287–301 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. S.M. Abtahi, M.H. Zahmatkesh, H. Khalafi, Investigation of an improved MAA-based polymer gel for thermal neutron dosimetry. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 307(2), 855–868 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. B. Farhood, G. Geraily, S.M.M. Abtahi, A systematic review of clinical applications of polymer gel dosimeters in radiotherapy. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 143, 47–59 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. S.M.M. Abtahi et al., Assessment of photon energy and dose rate dependence of U-NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 172, 108784 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. R.G. Asl, H.A. Nedaie, N. Banaee, Evaluation of the accuracy of polymer gels for determining electron dose distributions in the presence of small heterogeneities. Health Phys. 113(6), 444–451 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. M.J. Maryanski et al., NMR relaxation enhancement in gels polymerized and cross-linked by ionizing radiation: a new approach to 3D dosimetry by MRI. Magn. Reson. Imaging 11(2), 253–258 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. A.J. Venning et al., Preliminary study of a normoxic PAG gel dosimeter with tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride as an anti-oxidant. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 3, 155–158 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. A.J. Venning et al., Investigation of the PAGAT polymer gel dosimeter using magnetic resonance imaging. Phys. Med. Biol. 50(16), 3875–3888 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. R.J. Senden et al., Polymer gel dosimeters with reduced toxicity: a preliminary investigation of the NMR and optical dose-response using different monomers. Phys. Med. Biol. 51(14), 3301–3314 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. B.-T. Hsieh et al., Preliminary investigation of a new type of propylene based gel dosimeter (DEMBIG). J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 288(3), 799–803 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. V. Anaraki et al., A novel method for increasing the sensitivity of NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 153, 35–43 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. B. Farhood et al., Dosimetric characteristics of PASSAG as a new polymer gel dosimeter with negligible toxicity. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 147, 91–100 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. B. Farhood et al., Evaluation of dose rate and photon energy dependence of PASSAG polymer gel dosimeter. J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 317(2), 1041–1050 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. A. Aliasgharzadeh et al., Improvement of the sensitivity of PASSAG polymer gel dosimeter by urea. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 166, 108470 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. B. Farhood et al., Dosimetric evaluation of PASSAG-U polymer gel dosimeter: dependence of dose rate and photon energy. J. Xray Sci. Technol. 28(4), 641–658 (2020)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  17. D. Khezerloo et al., PRESAGE® as a solid 3-D radiation dosimeter: a review article. Radiat. Phys. Chem. 141, 88–97 (2017)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. C. Baldock et al., Polymer gel dosimetry. Phys. Med. Biol. 55(5), R1-63 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J.F. Pavoni, O. Baffa, An evaluation of dosimetric characteristics of MAGIC gel modified by adding formaldehyde (MAGIC-f). Radiat. Meas. 47(11), 1074–1082 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. M.L. Mather, A.K. Whittaker, C. Baldock, Ultrasound evaluation of polymer gel dosimeters. Phys. Med. Biol. 47(9), 1449–1458 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. M. Hilts et al., Polymer gel dosimetry using x-ray computed tomography: a feasibility study. Phys. Med. Biol. 45(9), 2559–2571 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. M.J. Maryañski, Y.Z. Zastavker, J.C. Gore, Radiation dose distributions in three dimensions from tomographic optical density scanning of polymer gels: II. Optical properties of the BANG polymer gel. Phys. Med. Biol. 41(12), 2705–2717 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. M. Oldham et al., Improving calibration accuracy in gel dosimetry. Phys. Med. Biol. 43(10), 2709–2720 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Y. De Deene et al., An investigation of the chemical stability of a monomer/polymer gel dosimeter. Phys. Med. Biol. 45(4), 859–878 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. M. McJury et al., Dynamics of polymerization in polyacrylamide gel (PAG) dosimeters: (I) ageing and long-term stability. Phys. Med. Biol. 44(8), 1863–1873 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Y. De Deene et al., Artefacts in multi-echo T2 imaging for high-precision gel dosimetry: I. Analysis and compensation of eddy currents. Phys. Med. Biol. 45(7), 1807–1823 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Y. De Deenet et al., Artefacts in multi-echo T2 imaging for high-precision gel dosimetry: II. Analysis of B1-field inhomogeneity. Phys. Med. Biol. 45(7), 1825–1839 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. C. Baldock, P. Murry, T. Kron, Uncertainty analysis in polymer gel dosimetry. Phys. Med. Biol. 44(11), N243–N246 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Y.D. Deene et al., Mathematical analysis and experimental investigation of noise in quantitative magnetic resonance imaging applied in polymer gel dosimetry. Signal Process. 70(2), 85–101 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. C. Baldoc et al., Dose resolution in radiotherapy polymer gel dosimetry: effect of echo spacing in MRI pulse sequence. Phys. Med. Biol. 46(2), 449–460 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. S.-J. Cho et al., A study of optimized MRI parameters for polymer gel dosimetry. Prog. Med. Phys. 23(2), 71–80 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  32. S.M. Abtahi, R. Jafari Khalilabadi, S. Aftabi, An investigation into the effect of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) echo time spacing and number of echoes on the sensitivity and dose resolution of PAGATUG polymer-gel dosimeter. Int. J. Radiat. Res. 15(2), 185–196 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. P. Andreo, D. Burns, K. Hohlfeld, M.S. Huq, T. Kanai, F. Laitano, V. Smyth, S. Vynckier, Absorbed Dose Determination in External Beam Radiotherapy: An International Code of Practice for Dosimetry Based on Standards of Absorbed Dose to Water (IAEA TRS, Vienna, 2000), p. 398

    Google Scholar 

  34. Y. De Deene, C. Baldock, Optimization of multiple spin-echo sequences for 3D polymer gel dosimetry. Phys. Med. Biol. 47(17), 3117–3141 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Y. De Deene et al., The fundamental radiation properties of normoxic polymer gel dosimeters: a comparison between a methacrylic acid based gel and acrylamide based gels. Phys. Med. Biol. 51(3), 653–673 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Y.D. Deene, Essential characteristics of polymer gel dosimeters. J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 3, 34–57 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Y. Watanabe, H. Kubo, A variable echo-number method for estimating R2 in MRI-based polymer gel dosimetry. Med. Phys. 38(2), 975–982 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. G.F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement (Wiley, Hoboken, 2010)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The protocol of study was approved by the University Research Ethics Committee of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences [IR.MEDSAB.REC.1398.129].

Funding

This study was financially supported by Sabzevar university of medical sciences, Sabzevar, Iran (Grant number: 98165).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Meysam Haghighi Borujeini

  2. Department of Medical Physics, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Masoume Farsizaban

  3. Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

    Masoume Farsizaban

  4. Department of Radiology Technology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Babol University of Medical Science, Babol, Iran

    Gholamreza Ataei

  5. Medical Radiation Department, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

    Vahid Anaraki

  6. Department of Medical Physics and Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

    Ruhollah Ghahramani-Asl

  7. Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Farzaneh Falahati

  8. Department of Medical Physics and Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Bagher Farhood

Authors
  1. Meysam Haghighi Borujeini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masoume Farsizaban
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gholamreza Ataei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vahid Anaraki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ruhollah Ghahramani-Asl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Farzaneh Falahati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Bagher Farhood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

MHB, MF, and GA performed the experiments and wrote the manuscript. VA and FF analyzed the data and drafted the figures. RG and BF gave the idea, edited the manuscript and supervised the whole study. All the authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ruhollah Ghahramani-Asl, Farzaneh Falahati or Bagher Farhood.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code Availability

Not applicable.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Haghighi Borujeini, M., Farsizaban, M., Ataei, G. et al. The Effect of MRI Parameters on the Sensitivity and Dose Resolution of PASSAG Polymer Gel Dosimeter. Appl Magn Reson 52, 1671–1687 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00723-021-01429-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00723-021-01429-9

Search

Navigation