A way forward for the development of an exposure computational model to computed tomography dosimetry

Abstract

A way forward for the development of an exposure computational model to computed tomography dosimetry has been presented. In this way, an exposure computational model (ECM) for computed tomography (CT) dosimetry has been developed and validated through comparison with experimental results. For the development of the ECM, X-ray spectra generator codes have been evaluated and the head bow tie filter has been modelled through a mathematical equation. EGS4 and EGSnrc have been used for simulating the radiation transport by the ECM. Geometrical phantoms, commonly used in CT dosimetry, have been modelled by IDN software. MAX06 has also been used to simulate an adult male patient submitted for CT examinations. The evaluation of the X-ray spectra generator codes in CT dosimetry showed dependence with tube filtration (or HVL value). More generally, with the increment of total filtration (or HVL value) the X-raytbc becomes the best X-ray spectra generator code for CT dosimetry. The EGSnrc/X-raytbc combination has calculated C 100,c in better concordance with C 100,c measured in two different CT scanners. For a Toshiba CT scanner, the average percentage difference between the calculated C 100,c values and measured C 100,c values was 8.2%. Whilst for a GE CT scanner, the average percentage difference was 10.4%. By the measurements of air kerma through a prototype head bow tie filter a third-order exponential decay equation was found. C 100,c and C 100,p values calculated by the ECM are in good agreement with values measured at a specific CT scanner. A maximum percentage difference of 2% has been found in the PMMA CT head phantoms, demonstrating effective modelling of the head bow tie filter by the equation. The absorbed and effective doses calculated by the ECM developed in this work have been compared to those calculated by the ECM of Jones and Shrimpton for an adult male patient. For a head examination the absorbed dose values calculated by the ECM developed by Jones and Shrimpton overestimates up to three times the absorbed dose to brain compared to the ECM developed in this work. The effective dose calculated by the ECM of Jones and Shrimpton was 26% greater than effective dose calculated by the ECM developed in this work.