Evaluación por Monte Carlo de los métodos de corrección de dispersión con empleando colimador pinhole / Monte Carlo evaluation of scattering correction methods in studies using pinhole collimator

La dispersión es un efecto significativo a corregir para la cuantificación de actividad. El objetivo del trabajo fue estimar la influencia de la dispersión en estudios de tiroides con 131I y colimador pinhole (5 mm) empleando el método de Monte Carlo (MC) y evaluar la eficacia de los métodos de corrección de múltiples ventanas en este tipo de estudios. Para simular la geometría de la cámara gamma y el estudio de tiroides se utilizó el código de Monte Carlo GAMOS. Para validar la geometría del cabezal se simuló y verificó experimentalmente un maniquí de tiroides, comparando la sensibilidad estimada con la medida, experimentalmente en agua y aire. Para evaluar la influencia de la dispersión a escala clínica se simularon diferentes tamaños de tiroides y profundidades del tejido, se estimaron y compararon los resultados de los métodos de Triple Ventana, Doble Ventana y Doble Ventana Reducida. Se calcularon las diferencias relativas al valor de referencia obtenido por MC. La geometría modelada fue verificada y validada. La contribución de la dispersión a la imagen fue significativa y se ubicóentre el 27 y 40 % a escala no clínica. Las discrepancias de los resultados de los diferentes métodos de corrección de dispersión a escala clínica fueron significativas (p>95 %) y estuvieron en el rango entre 9 y 86 %. El método de mejores resultados fue el de la Doble Ventana Reducida (15 %) que mostró discrepancias entre 9 y 16 %. Se concluyó que el método de la Doble Ventana Reducida (15 %) fue el más eficiente de los estudiados

Scattering is quite important for image activity quantification. In order to study the scattering factors and the efficacy of 3 multiple window energy scatter correction methods during 131I thyroid studies with a pinhole collimator (5 mm hole) a Monte Carlo simulation (MC) was developed. The GAMOS MC code was used to model the gamma camera and the thyroid source geometry. First, to validate the MC gamma camera pinhole-source model, sensibility in air and water of the simulated and measured thyroid phantom geometries were compared. Next, simulations to investigate scattering and the result of triple energy (TEW), Double energy (DW) and Reduced double (RDW) energy windows correction methods were performed for different thyroid sizes and depth thicknesses. The relative discrepancies to MC real event were evaluated. Results: The accuracy of the GAMOS MC model was verified and validated. The image’s scattering contribution was significant, between 27-40 %. The discrepancies between 3 multiple window energy correction method results were significant (between 9-86 %). The Reduce Double Window methods (15%) provide discrepancies of 9-16 %. Conclusions: For the simulated thyroid geometry with pinhole, the RDW (15 %) was the most effective

Verification and calibration of leaf position of a multi-leaf collimator by ionization chamber arrays / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To verify and adjust the leaf position accuracy of a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) in a linear accelerator.Methods Ionization chamber arrays ( StarTrack, IBA) were used to measure the leaf position accuracy of a MLC in a linear accelerator (Precise, ELEKTA) and adjust the leaves out of tolerance.Results After the adjustment of leaf position of the MLC, the analysis of the verification films taken at the offset position showed that the leaf position of the MLC was accurate.Conclusions The method developed in this study is convenient and simple for measurement and calibration of leaf position of the MLC in the linear accelerator, which meets the MLC position accuracy requirement for the linear accelerator.

Study of sensitivity for detecting small positional deviation of MLC by 3D Detector array Delta-4 / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To study the detective sensitivity for position of multi-leave collimators ( MLC) using Delta-4. Methods First,the small positional deviation of MLC was simulated and measured using the linac (Varian,Trubeam) equipped with EPID.Then,two beam fields 2. 0 cm (x)×6. 0 cm (y), 7. 0 cm (x)×6. 0 cm (y) were designed,the x1 and x2 of MLC were expanded 0. 1 mm,0. 2 mm,0. 3 mm... 0. 9 mm and 1. 0 mm,2. 0...5. 0 mm to external simultaneously,different parameters of 3 mm/3%,2. 5 mm/2. 5%,2 mm/2%, 1. 5 mm/1. 5% and 1 mm/1% were used in Gamma analysis to analyze the difference between dose distribution detected by Delta-4 and original dose distribution with unexpanded MLC position derived from TPS. Results For 2. 0 cm ( x) × 6. 0 cm ( y) beam field, the pass rate of original dose distribution was 100%,and that decreased to 95. 5% when x1 ,x2 of MLC were expanded 0. 3 mm to external, and decreased to 89. 4% when expanded 0. 5 mm at 2. 5 mm/2. 5% statistical standards. For 7. 0 cm ( x) × 6. 0 cm ( y) beam field,the pass rate of original dose distribution was 96. 5%,and that decreased to less than 95% when x2,x2 of MLC were expanded 0. 3 mm to external,and passing rate was above 90% when MLC expanded less than 0. 5 mm at 1. 5 mm/1. 5% statistical standards. Conclusions For MLC' s positional deviation in decimillimeter level,raise standards of Gamma analysis properly may improve the capability of Delta-4 for detecting small positional deviation,but it won' t detect all the positional deviation of MLC in decimillimeter level. For different size of beam field,it is proposed to use different analytical standards for Delta-4.

Evaluation of the scattered radiation components produced in a gamma camera using Monte Carlo method

INTRODUCTION: This paper presents a simulation for evaluation of the scattered radiation components produced in a gamma camera PARK using Monte Carlo code SIMIND. It simulates a whole body study with MDP (Methylene Diphosphonate) radiopharmaceutical based on Zubal anthropomorphic phantom, with some spinal lesions. METHODS: The simulation was done by comparing 3 configurations for the detected photons. The corresponding energy spectra were obtained using Low Energy High Resolution collimator. The parameters related with the interactions and the fraction of events in the energy window, the simulated events of the spectrum and scatter events were calculated. RESULTS: The simulation confirmed that the images without influence of scattering events have a higher number of valid recorded events and it improved the statistical quality of them. A comparison among different collimators was made. The parameters and detector energy spectrum were calculated for each simulation configuration with these collimators using 99mTc. CONCLUSION: The simulation corroborated that LEHS collimator has higher sensitivity and HEHR collimator has lower sensitivity when they are used with low energy photons.

Development of in-house software to calculate dose for intensity-modulated radiation therapy based on lung CT-patient data.

Background: In external radiotherapy, the delivered dose is calculated from the treatment planning system. Various types of software have been used to verify the patient dose distribution. Objective: Develop the in-house software (ISOFT) to calculate dose in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) based on lung CT-patient data by combining the modified Clarkson integration with 3D-beam subtraction method. Materials and methods: An ISOFT was developed for 6MV X-rays Varian Clinac21EX linear accelerator and the CT-based patient data. The multileaf collimators (MLCs) file from the Varian Eclipse treatment planning was transferred to the ISOFT. The ISOFT was used to calculate the dose distribution with correction of tissue inhomogeneity. To test the accuracy of the ISOFT, the normal MLC-shaped fields and IMRT plans were measured in a water phantom and in a thorax phantom, respectively. Then, these measurements were compared with the doses calculated from the ISOFT and the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system. Results: The deviation between the measurements and calculations by the ISOFT for MLC-shaped fields in the water phantom fell within 0.5%. There were mostly higher calculated doses in lung compared with the measured result in the thorax phantom. The overestimated doses due to loss of scattering in the low-density materials were considered less in all methods of calculation. The measured lung dose difference from the ISOFT was within 5% criterion of acceptability. Conclusion: The ISOFT can be used conveniently to verify dose calculation in heterogeneous media.

Methodological approaches to planar and volumetric scintigraphic imaging of small volume targets with high spatial resolution and sensitivity

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a non-invasive imaging technique, which provides information reporting the functional states of tissues. SPECT imaging has been used as a diagnostic tool in several human disorders and can be used in animal models of diseases for physiopathological, genomic and drug discovery studies. However, most of the experimental models used in research involve rodents, which are at least one order of magnitude smaller in linear dimensions than man. Consequently, images of targets obtained with conventional gamma-cameras and collimators have poor spatial resolution and statistical quality. We review the methodological approaches developed in recent years in order to obtain images of small targets with good spatial resolution and sensitivity. Multipinhole, coded mask- and slit-based collimators are presented as alternative approaches to improve image quality. In combination with appropriate decoding algorithms, these collimators permit a significant reduction of the time needed to register the projections used to make 3-D representations of the volumetric distribution of target’s radiotracers. Simultaneously, they can be used to minimize artifacts and blurring arising when single pinhole collimators are used. Representation images are presented, which illustrate the use of these collimators. We also comment on the use of coded masks to attain tomographic resolution with a single projection, as discussed by some investigators since their introduction to obtain near-field images. We conclude this review by showing that the use of appropriate hardware and software tools adapted to conventional gamma-cameras can be of great help in obtaining relevant functional information in experiments using small animals.

Dosimetric Characteristics of Dual Photon Energy UsingIndependent Collimator Jaws / 대한치료방사선과학회지

PURPOSE: The accurate dosimerty of independent collimator equipped for 6MV and 15MV X-ray beam was investigated to search for the optimal correction factor. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The field size factors, beam quality and dose distribution were measured by using 6MV, 15MV X-ray. Field size factors were measured from 3X3cm2 to 35X35cm2 by using 0.6cc ion chamber (NE 2571) at Dmax. Beam qualities were measured at different field sizes, off-axis distances and depths. Isodose distributions at different off-axis distance using 10X10cm field were also investigated and compared with symmetric field. RESULTS: 1) Relative field size factors was different along lateral distance with maximum changes in 3.1% for 6MV and 5% for 15MV. But the field size factors of asymmetric fields were identical to the modified central-axis values in symmetric fileld, which corrected by off-axis ratio at Dmax.2) The HVL and PDD was decreased by increasing off-axis distance. PDD was also decreased by increasing depth For field size more than 5X5cm2 and depth less than 15cm, PDD of asymmetric field differs from that of symmetric one (0.5~2% for 6MV and 0.4~1.4% for 15MV).3) The measured isodose curves demonstrate divergence effects and reduced doses adjacent to the edge close to the flattening filter center was also observed. CONCLUSION: When asymmetric collimator is used, calcutation of MU must be corrected with off-axis and PDD with a caution of underdose in central axis.