Assessment of the effectiveness of Saba shielding with the composition of Cu–Bi in neck CT imaging: a phantom and patient study

Abstract

The use of computed tomography (CT) is a very well-established medical diagnostic imaging modality, however, the high radiation dose due to this imaging method is a major concern. Therefore, dose reduction methods are necessary, especially for superficial radiosensitive organs like the thyroid. The aim of this study is to construct and assess a CT shield with composition of 90% Cu and 10% Bi (Saba shield) with regard to dose reduction and image quality. The efficiency of the constructed shields for dose reduction was assessed by measuring entrance skin dose (ESD), using thermoluminescence dosimeters placed on an anthropomorphic phantom. Image quality was assessed quantitatively based on image noise and CT number accuracy by drawing regions of interest on CT images of the anthropomorphic phantom. Image quality was further investigated qualitatively in a patient study. Application of the Saba shield and 100% Bi shield with the thickness of one thickness (1T) reduced ESD by 50.2% and 51.7%, respectively, and using a three-fold thickness reduced ESD by 64.6% and 65.1%, respectively. Saba shield with thickness of 1T had no significant change in image noise in the anterior part, and image noise and mean CT number in the posterior part (P > 0.05). The statistical analysis performed did not find any meaningful difference between the study and control groups in image quality assessment of the patient study (P > 0.05). The 1T Saba shield reduced thyroid dose efficiently during neck CT imaging without causing unwanted effects on image quality.