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Validation of a Monte Carlo tool for patient-specific dose simulations in multi-slice computed tomography

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Abstract

Estimating the dose delivered to the patient in X-ray computed tomography (CT) examinations is not a trivial task. Monte Carlo (MC) methods appear to be the method of choice to assess the 3D dose distribution. The purpose of this work was to extend an existing MC-based tool to account for arbitrary scanners and scan protocols such as multi-slice CT (MSCT) scanners and to validate the tool in homogeneous and heterogeneous phantoms. The tool was validated by measurements on MSCT scanners for different scan protocols under known conditions. Quantitative CT Dose Index (CTDI) measurements were performed in cylindrical CTDI phantoms and in anthropomorphic thorax phantoms of various sizes; dose profiles were measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) in the CTDI phantoms and compared with the computed dose profiles. The in-plane dose distributions were simulated and compared with TLD measurements in an Alderson-Rando phantom. The calculated dose values were generally within 10% of measurements for all phantoms and all investigated conditions. Three-dimensional dose distributions can be accurately calculated with the MC tool for arbitrary scanners and protocols including tube current modulation schemes. The use of the tool has meanwhile also been extended to further scanners and to flat-detector CT.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the help of Oliver Langner and Rosi Banckwitz in relation to dose measurements and TLD reading procedures. This work was financially supported partially by grant AZ 460/01 MEDBILD, Bavarian Research Foundation, Munich, Germany, and partially by the EC-EURATOM 6 Framework Programme (2002–2006) as part of the “Safety and Efficacy of Computed Tomography (CT): a Broad Perspective” project (contract FP/002388). We are grateful to the colleagues at Siemens Medical Solutions who provided the tube current curve information to us for the TCM evaluation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Physics, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestr. 91, 91052, Erlangen, Germany

    Paul Deak, Marcel van Straten & Willi A. Kalender

  2. Health Protection Agency, Chilton, UK

    Paul C. Shrimpton

  3. GSF - National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, Germany

    Maria Zankl

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  1. Paul Deak
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  2. Marcel van Straten
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  3. Paul C. Shrimpton
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  4. Maria Zankl
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  5. Willi A. Kalender
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Correspondence to Willi A. Kalender.

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Deak, P., van Straten, M., Shrimpton, P.C. et al. Validation of a Monte Carlo tool for patient-specific dose simulations in multi-slice computed tomography. Eur Radiol 18, 759–772 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-007-0815-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-007-0815-7

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