To evaluate in detail the dose distribution during computed tomography (CT), a sheet roll CT dosimetry phantom (SRCT-P) with a radiochromic film (RF) was experimentally developed. The SRCT-P was made by rolling up a vinyl chloride sheet in a cylindrical shape to arbitrarily select the SRCT-P diameter, dose measurement position, and depth. The SRCT-P centre core consisted of a plastic hose in which a 10 mm acrylic bar with a RF was inserted. To determine the availability of the SRCT-P, the surface and centre doses (at a 5 mm radius) at each SRCT-P diameter (6-16 cm; every 2 cm) were measured. The ratios of the centre-to-surface doses (D(centre)/D(surface)) systematically increased, from 80 to 111%, for decreasing SRCT-P diameters, between 16 and 6 cm, respectively. The centre dose approached the surface dose as the SRCT-P diameter decreased. To use a RF for a CT dose measurement, further detailed research and analysis is necessary. However, this study has shown that a SRCT-P is useful and beneficial for the measurement of the dose distribution during a CT examination.

Although the half-value layer (HVL) is one of the important parameters for quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC), constant monitoring has not been performed because measurements using an ionization chamber (IC) are time-consuming and complicated. To solve these problems, a method using radiochromic film and step-shaped aluminum (Al) filters has been developed. To this end, GAFCHROMIC EBT2 dosimetry film (GAF-EBT2), which shows only slight energy dependency errors in comparison with GAFCHROMIC XR TYPE-R (GAF-R) and other radiochromic films, has been used. The measurement X-ray tube voltages were 120, 100, and 80 kV. GAF-EBT2 was scanned using a flat-bed scanner before and after exposure. To remove the non-uniformity error caused by image acquisition of the flat-bed scanner, the scanning image of the GAF-EBT2 before exposure was subtracted after exposure. HVL was evaluated using the density attenuation ratio. The effective energies obtained using HVLs of GAF-EBT2, GAF-R, and an IC dosimeter were compared. Effective energies with X-ray tube voltages of 120, 100, and 80 kV using GAF-EBT2 were 40.6, 36.0, and 32.9 keV, respectively. The difference ratios of the effective energies using GAF-EBT2 and the IC were 5.0%, 0.9%, and 2.7%, respectively. GAF-EBT2 and GAF-R proved to be capable of measuring effective energy with comparable precision. However, in HVL measurements of devices operating in the high-energy range (X-ray CT, radiotherapy machines, and so on), GAF-EBT2 was found to offer higher measurement precision than GAF-R, because it shows only a slight energy dependency.

The aim of this study was to compare ultrasonographic assessment of fecal loading in adults with that of computed tomography. Ultrasonography (US) was performed on 43 adult patients immediately after abdominal computed tomography images had identified fecal loading in their colons. In 18 of 43 patients (haustrations-visualized cases), fecal loading was detected as crescent-shaped acoustic shadows associated with haustrations behind the strong echoes off the colon wall. In the remaining 25 patients (haustrations-not-visualized cases), fecal loading was detected as attenuating echoes with multiple high echoic spots behind weak high echoes off the colon wall in 17 patients and similar to those seen in the haustrations-visualized cases but without haustrations in 8 patients. US can be used for qualitative assessment of fecal loading in the colon. This new technique is simple and noninvasive and can be used concomitantly with physical examination to assess severity of constipation.

No abstract

Performing a detailed dose measurement is important to keep radiation doses during computed tomography (CT) examinations as low as reasonably achievable. To estimate in detail the dose distribution during pediatric CT examination of the head, a sheet roll CT dosimetry phantom (SRCT-P) with radiochromic film (RF) was developed. The dose distributions in the SRCT-P (diameters of 6 [premature baby], 10 [neonate], and 14 [infant] cm) were evaluated. The SRCT-Ps were made by rolling up flexible acrylic sheets (1.1 g/cm3). RFs were positioned every 5 mm along the radius at each SRCT-P, starting at 10 mm (center) and ending on the surface. The dose distribution along the z-axis at the center or on the surface showed a flat or wave pattern, respectively. When the mean surface dose at 10 cm diameter was taken as 100%, the mean surface doses at 6 or 14 cm diameters were 105 or 96%, respectively, and the mean center doses at 6, 10, and 14 cm were 109, 99, and 74%, respectively. The maximum-minimum doses and dose distribution of a CT examination can be measured separately by using the SRCT-P with RF.