ABSTRACT
To explore a method for calculating water equivalent diameter () based on localizer CT images for calculation of the size specific dose estimates (SSDE).GE Revolution CT and LightSpeed VCT were used to scan CT dose index phantoms 16 cm and 32 cm in diameter at the tube voltages of 80, 100 and 120 kV to obtain the axial image and anteroposterior localizer radiograph. According to the definition of CT Hounsfield unit, the axial images were used to calculate the conversion factors that convert the phantom thickness to water equivalent thickness. The gray value of the localizer radiograph and the water equivalent thickness were calibrated with a linear equation, and the parameters of the calibration were used to calculate the water equivalent thickness. The method was verified using 2 CT dose index phantoms and in 22 patients undergoing chest and abdominal CT examination.Comparison of the water equivalent diameter () based on the localizer radiograph and axial image of the 2 phantoms showed that the percentage difference between from the axial images and from the localizer radiograph was below 3%. The trend of variations with location in the two methods was sonsistent. The difference in in intermediate region of interest between the axial image and the localizer radiograph from the 22 patients was below 6.6%. With the mean in the ROI, the maximum percentage difference was 7.5%.Calibration of the gray value of the localizer radiograph and the water equivalent thickness using the axial image and localizer radiograph of CT dose index phantoms allows quick calculation of the SSDE based on the parameters of calibration.
Subject(s)
Humans , Calibration , Phantoms, Imaging , Radiation Dosage , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , WaterABSTRACT
In this paper, a heart rate variability analysis system is presented for short-term (5 min) applications, which is composed of an electrocardiogram signal acquisition unit and a heart rate variability analysis unit. The electrocardiogram signal acquisition unit adopts various digital technologies, including the low-gain amplifier, the high-resolution analog-digital converter, the real-time digital filter and wireless transmission etc. Meanwhile, it has the advantages of strong anti-interference capacity, small size, light weight, and good portability. The heart rate variability analysis unit is used to complete the R-wave detection and the analyses of time domain, frequency domain and nonlinear indexes, based on the Matlab Toolbox. The preliminary experiments demonstrated that the system was reliable, and could be applied to the heart rate variability analysis at resting, motion states etc.
Subject(s)
Humans , Electrocardiography , Heart Rate , Signal Processing, Computer-AssistedABSTRACT
The schemes of dose fractionation play an important role in tumor radiotherapy. We used mathematical methods to describe the process of tumor cells evolution during radiotherapy, trying to find how the schemes of dose fractionation affect tumor cells. In clinical radiobiology, linear-quadratic (LQ) model is frequently used to describe radiation effects of tumor cells. We integrated LQ model with effect of oxygen, and with the phenomenon of repopulation and reoxygenation in the theory of radiation biology. While we considered the disappearing progress of doomed cells in tumor, we established the mathematical model of tumor evolution in radiotherapy. We simulated some common treatment schedules, and studied the change role of tumor cells during radiotherapy. These results can serve for the optimization of dose fractionation scheme based on tumor radiobiological characteristics.