Accuracy of Monte Carlo simulations compared to in‐vivo MDCT dosimetry. Issue 2 (30th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bostani, Maryam; Mueller, Jonathon W.; McMillan, Kyle; Cody, Dianna D.; Cagnon, Chris H.; DeMarco, John J.; McNitt‐Gray, Michael F.
• Is Part Of: Medical physics. Volume 42:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 1080
• Page End: 1086
• Publication Date: 2015-01-30
• Subjects: biological organs -- catheters -- computerised tomography -- dosimetry -- Monte Carlo methods -- statistical analysis -- thermoluminescent dosimeters; Computed tomography -- Dosimetry/exposure assessment -- Monte Carlo simulations; Computerised tomographs -- Catheters; Hollow probes -- Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers -- Measuring radiation intensity -- Scintigraphy; Monte Carlo -- in vivo -- radiation dose -- dosimetry -- validation -- TLD -- VC -- MDCT; Dosimetry -- Monte Carlo methods -- Computed tomography -- Thermoluminescent dosimeters -- Medical image reconstruction -- Photons -- Image scanners -- Muscles; Medical physics -- Periodicals; Medical physics; Geneeskunde; Natuurkunde; Toepassingen; Biophysics; Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.153
• DOI: 10.1118/1.4906178
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-2405

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a Monte Carlo simulation‐based method for estimating radiation dose from multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) by comparing simulated doses in ten patients to in‐vivo dose measurements. Methods: MD Anderson Cancer Center Institutional Review Board approved the acquisition of in‐vivo rectal dose measurements in a pilot study of ten patients undergoing virtual colonoscopy. The dose measurements were obtained by affixing TLD capsules to the inner lumen of rectal catheters. Voxelized patient models were generated from the MDCT images of the ten patients, and the dose to the TLD for all exposures was estimated using Monte Carlo based simulations. The Monte Carlo simulation results were compared to the in‐vivo dose measurements to determine accuracy. Results: The calculated mean percent difference between TLD measurements and Monte Carlo simulations was −4.9% with standard deviation of 8.7% and a range of −22.7% to 5.7%. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate very good agreement between simulated and measured doses in‐vivo . Taken together with previous validation efforts, this work demonstrates that the Monte Carlo simulation methods can provide accurate estimates of radiation dose in patients undergoing CT examinations.