TU‐C‐304A‐01: The Need and Feasibility of a Modern Software for Reporting Patient Doses From CT Scans

Abstract

Purpose: To demonstrate the need and feasibility to develop a modern software tool for reporting the organ dose and effective dose for patients undergoing CT examinations. Method and Materials: Existing CT dose reporting software do not meet the need because of the simplified anatomical phantoms, updated ICRP data and scanner information. A new software is designed with original dose data derived from Monte Carlo simulations involving CT scanner models from various companies and anatomically realistic phantoms. X‐ray sources and protocols are modeled. The Pregnant Women, Adult Male and Adult Female phantoms are utilized. Organ doses and effective doses are computed using both the ICRP‐60 and the latest ICRP‐103 recommendations. The software is developed using the Visual C♯.NET with a modern graphical user interface (GUI) design to allow a user to specify the patient type, body scan region, and scanner operating parameters. Object‐oriented programming technology allows the phantoms to be displayed in 3D interactively. Results: Compared to values reported by the existing software, the organ dose estimates can be different by a ratio as 0.77 to 1.24 for the organ or tissue covered in the scan range, and 0.13 for the organs out of the scan region between calculations using the anatomically realistic phantoms. In addition to the improved dose accuracy, the new program offers a number pf modern GUI features through which 3D phantoms are vividly inspected for organs that receive a high doses. Based on the user‐specified scanning parameters, organ and effective doses are rapidly reported. Conclusion: Preliminary results have demonstrated the aim of the new software design in addressing the needs for new CT scanners, ICRP recommendations and anatomically realistic phantoms. When fully developed, this new tool is expected to improve both the accuracy and usability in reporting CT doses in the future.

Radiation dosimetry of 18F-FDG PET/CT: incorporating exam-specific parameters in dose estimates

“…Organ doses calculated by OLINDA\EXM based on reference phantoms representing the average patient were found to be in good agreement with patient specific Monte Carlo mean dose estimates [ 41 ]. Monte Carlo results suggest that the difference between the organ equivalent dose estimates in our calculations and those derived from the use of earlier stylized MIRD-type phantoms can be different by a margin as great as 277 %[ 42 ]. Patient-specific organ masses were derived from previous reports on variations in the mass of different body organs in relation to stature and BMI ([ 37 – 39 ].…”

Preclinical optimization of antibody‐based radiopharmaceuticals for cancer imaging and radionuclide therapy—Model, vector, and radionuclide selection

“…74,75 Namely, the advantages afforded by high energy beta emitters stems primarily from 2 factors: (1) a greater energy differential with respect to the Cerenkov emission threshold produces more photons along the beta trajectory (ie, higher photon intensity), and (2) increased range of the beta particle results in a greater fraction of imageable photons created near the tissue surface where photon attenuation is decreased. While CLI remains largely a semi-quantitative planar imaging modality due to the non-penetrating nature of blue-UV frequency photons, tomographic techniques are currently being developed for small-scale applications including preclinical imaging and endoscopic techniques (Cerenkov Luminescence Tomography 76 ). Several groups have already evaluated CLI in preclinical radioimmuno applications including tumor localization and intraoperative surgical guidance with promising results, 73,77 as expected.…”