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We studied through Monte Carlo simulation in Geant4 the absorbed fractions for photons, characterized by energies ranging from 10 keV to 1000 keV, which can be emitted by gamma radionuclides uniformly distributed in ellipsoidal volumes of soft tissue. The same analytical relationship between absorbed fraction and the 'generalized radius' as introduced in a previous paper was found, and the dependence of its parameters rho(0) and s on photon energy is discussed and fitted by suitably chosen parametric functions. As a consequence, the absorbed fraction for photons in the 10-1000 keV energy range can be calculated for all volumes and for every ellipsoidal shape of practical interest. Such results can be a useful complement for the dosimetry of beta- and gamma-emitting radionuclides during internal radiotherapy or gamma emitters employed in diagnostic nuclear medicine.

The method developed allows a simple evaluation of the dose increase when iodinated contrast medium is used in CT scans, basing on the increment in Hounsfield units observed on the patients' organs. Since many clinical protocols employ multiple scans at different circulatory phases after administration of contrast medium, such a method can be useful to evaluate the total dose to the patient, also in view of potential clinical protocol optimizations.

We developed a Monte Carlo simulation in Geant4 to calculate the absorbed fractions for electrons emitted by (199)Au, (177)Lu, (131)I, (153)Sm, (186)Re and (90)Y, characterized by average energies ranging from 86 keV to 949 keV, uniformly distributed in ellipsoidal volumes of soft tissue. Code validation results with respect to reference data for doses, ranges and absorbed fractions in spheres are presented. An analytical relationship between the absorbed fraction and a 'generalized radius' is introduced in analogy with the transfer function of a first-order high-pass filter, and the dependence of its parameters rho(0) and s from the average electron energy and range is discussed. A generalization for the estimation of absorbed fractions for other radionuclides is also proposed. Such results can be useful to improve accuracy and easiness of calculation in dosimetry during internal radiotherapy.

We applied a Monte Carlo simulation in Geant4 in order to calculate the absorbed fractions for monoenergetic electrons in the energy interval between 10 keV and 2 MeV, uniformly distributed in ellipsoids made from soft tissue. For each volume, we simulated a spherical shape, four oblate and four prolate ellipsoids, and one scalene shape. For each energy and for every geometrical configuration, an analytical relationship between the absorbed fraction and a 'generalized radius' was found, and the dependence of the fit parameters from electron energy is discussed and fitted by proper parametric functions. With the proposed formulation, the absorbed fraction for electrons in the 10-2000 keV energy range can be calculated for all volumes and for every ellipsoidal shape of practical interest. This method can be directly applied to evaluation of the absorbed fraction from the radionuclide emission of monoenergetic electrons, such as Auger or conversion electrons. The average deposited energy per disintegration in the case of extended beta spectra can be evaluated through integration. Two examples of application to a pure beta emitter such as (90)Y and to (131)I, whose emission include monoenergetic and beta electrons plus gamma photons, are presented. This approach represent a generalization of our previous studies, allowing a comprehensive treatment of absorbed fractions from electron and photon sources uniformly distributed in ellipsoidal volumes of any ellipticity and volume, in the whole range of practical interest for internal dosimetry in nuclear medicine applications, as well as in radiological protection estimations of doses from an internal contamination.

Our results show that D-SPECT and D530c have different performances. The lack of differences in the image performance indices along the range of count statistics explored, indicates that there is the possibility for a further reduction in the injected activity and/or the acquisition time, for both systems.

EVAR patients received high radiation doses and the excess cancer risk attributable to radiation exposure is not negligible. The unenhanced scan and the venous phase of the MDCT angiography could have been omitted without compromising the utility of the examination and with a significant reduction of doses and associated risks.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Periventricular nodular heterotopias (PNHs) are frequently associated with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can define the morphological features of PNHs, still there is a need to assess their metabolic activity in order to provide useful information on epileptogenicity and long-term outcome. To that end, we investigated the ability of 18 F-FDG PET to identify seizure onset zone in order to assess the metabolic activity of the ectopic neurons and to provide prognostic information on the postsurgical outcome. METHODS: Sixteen patients (6 men and 10 women; ranging between 24 and 53 years of age) with PNHs-related DRE were evaluated. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, Stereo-electroencephalogram (SEEG), brain MRI, and 18 F-FDG brain PET/CT. PET images were superimposed on the patient-specific 3-dimensional-brain MRI. The metabolic activity of each nodule and of their cortex was visually and semiquantitatively assessed. The outcome after intervention was assessed in all patients using Engel classification. RESULTS: Thirty-one heterotopic sites were identified. Twenty-one of 23 nodules with detectable electric activity on SEEG were identified by PET (91.3%), while 5 of 8 of nodules without electric activity showed no metabolism on PET (62.5%). Overall, the concordance between SEEG and FDG-PET was 26/31 (83.9%). Furthermore, cortical metabolic alterations were depicted, correlating with epileptogenic areas. A favorable postsurgical outcome was reported in 13 patients (81.3%). The presence of a hypometabolic nodule significantly correlated with a worse outcome after surgical therapy (P = .036). CONCLUSIONS: In PNHs-related epilepsy, FDG-PET more accurately identifies epileptogenic foci, which aids surgical planning and in postoperative seizure control.