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Dosimetry in MARS spectral CT: TOPAS Monte Carlo simulations and ion chamber measurements

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Abstract

Spectral computed tomography (CT) is an up and coming imaging modality which shows great promise in revealing unique diagnostic information. Because this imaging modality is based on X-ray CT, it is of utmost importance to study the radiation dose aspects of its use. This study reports on the implementation and evaluation of a Monte Carlo simulation tool using TOPAS for estimating dose in a pre-clinical spectral CT scanner known as the MARS scanner. Simulated estimates were compared with measurements from an ionization chamber. For a typical MARS scan, TOPAS estimated for a 30 mm diameter cylindrical phantom a CT dose index (CTDI) of 29.7 mGy; CTDI was measured by ion chamber to within 3% of TOPAS estimates. Although further development is required, our investigation of TOPAS for estimating MARS scan dosimetry has shown its potential for further study of spectral scanning protocols and dose to scanned objects.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This paper does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Gray Lu, Steven Marsh, Christopher Bateman & Phil Butler

  2. CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

    Jerome Damet & Pierre Carbonez

  3. Institute of Radiation Physics, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jerome Damet

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Jerome Damet, Pierre Carbonez, Christopher Bateman & Anthony Butler

  5. National Centre for Radiation Science, Christchurch, New Zealand

    John Laban

  6. MARS Bioimaging Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Christopher Bateman, Anthony Butler & Phil Butler

Authors
  1. Gray Lu
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  2. Steven Marsh
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  3. Jerome Damet
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  4. Pierre Carbonez
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  5. John Laban
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  6. Christopher Bateman
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  7. Anthony Butler
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  8. Phil Butler
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gray Lu.

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Lu, G., Marsh, S., Damet, J. et al. Dosimetry in MARS spectral CT: TOPAS Monte Carlo simulations and ion chamber measurements. Australas Phys Eng Sci Med 40, 297–303 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-017-0532-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-017-0532-8

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