Computed Tomography Dosimetry and Dose Risks Research Paper

Computed Tomography Dosimetry and Dose Risks - Research Paper Example Cardiac DECT scan was performed by using potential clinical protocol (GSI 15 imaging protocol, 64 sections at 0.625-mm collimation, alternating energy between 80 kVp and 140 kVp, 640 mA, 0.6-second tube rotation). Absorbed organ doses were measured by using an adult male breast (female breast attached) anthropomorphic phantom and metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor detectors (MOSFET), and were obtained also by the computational method based on the Monte Carlo simulation (Im-PACT calculator). The MOSFET dosimeters were evaluated for reproducibility, linearity, energy, and angular dependence. Our results indicated that the MOSFET dosimeter has excellent linearity within diagnostic dose ranges, but in low dose regions, the values are less reliable. The energy dependence was about 7% at tube potentials from 80 kV to 140 kV. The results from performing GSI 15 protocol Im-PACT calculator showed that the breast, lung, stomach, and esophagus had the highest recorded absorbed or gan doses. For the same organs, the MOSFET does measurements were consistently lower than the calculated doses by Im-PACT. The estimates of radiation risk in this study are relatively small for any individual patient. The X-ray Computed Tomography technology has become the method of choice for most diagnostic imaging procedures due to the remarkable advances over the past few decades, contributing to the improvement of diagnostic image quality and the reduction of examination time and cost (AAPM 23, 2008, the International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication (ICRP) 103, 2007, Huda et al, 2008). This has led to a rapid increase in using the CT scanners around the world. In the United States alone, 62 million CT scans were performed in 2006, of which 4 million were for children (Brenner & Hall, 2007). In Japan, there are 91 scanners per million people (Coach, 2008).