Geant4-DICOM Interface-based Monte Carlo Simulation to Assess Dose Distributions inside the Human Body during X-Ray Irradiation

Abstract

This study uses digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) files acquired after CT scan to obtain the absorbed dose distribution inside the body by using the patient's actual anatomical data; uses geometry and tracking (Geant)4 as a way to obtain the accurate absorbed dose distribution inside the body. This method is easier to establish the radioprotection plan through estimating the absorbed dose distribution inside the body compared to the evaluation of absorbed dose using thermo-luminescence dosimeter (TLD) with inferior reliability and accuracy because many variables act on result values with respect to the evaluation of the patient's absorbed dose distribution in diagnostic imaging and the evaluation of absorbed dose using phantom; can contribute to improving reliability accuracy and reproducibility; it makes significance in that it can implement the actual patient's absorbed dose distribution, not just mere estimation using mathematical phantom or humanoid phantom. When comparing the absorbed dose in polymethly methacrylate (PMMA) phantom measured in metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeter for verification of Geant4 and the result of Geant4 simulation, there was <TEX>$0.46{\pm}4.69%$</TEX> (<TEX>$15{\times}15cm^2$</TEX>), and <TEX>$-0.75{\pm}5.19%$</TEX> (<TEX>$20{\times}20cm^2$</TEX>) difference according to the depth. This study, through the simulation by means of Geant4, suggests a new way to calculate the actual dose of radiation exposure of patients through DICOM interface.