No abstract

The anatomic and radiation attenuation characteristics of cadavers are comparable to those of living human tissue. This methodology allows direct measurement of organ doses from clinical CT examinations.

The organ dose equations developed represent a method for organ dose estimation from direct organ dose measurements that can estimate organ doses more accurately than the calculated SSDE, which provides a less-specific patient dose estimate.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate similarities and differences in quality assurance (QA) guidelines for a conventional diagnostic magnetic resonance (MR) system and a MR simulator (MR‐SIM) system used for radiotherapy. Methods In this study, we compared QA testing guidelines from the American College of Radiology (ACR) MR Quality Control (MR QC) Manual to the QA section of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 284 report (TG‐284). Differences and similarities were identified in testing scope, frequency, and tolerances. QA testing results from an ACR accredited clinical diagnostic MR system following ACR MR QC instructions were then evaluated using TG‐284 tolerances. Results Five tests from the ACR MR QC Manual were not included in TG‐284. Five new tests were identified for MR‐SIM systems in TG‐284 and pertained exclusively to the external laser positioning system of MR‐SIM systems. “Low‐contrast object detectability” (LCD), “table motion smoothness and accuracy,” “transmitter gain,” and “geometric accuracy” tests differed between the two QA guides. Tighter tolerances were required in TG‐284 for “table motion smoothness and accuracy” and “low contrast object detectability.” “Transmitter gain” tolerance was dependent on initial baseline measurements, and TG‐284 required that geometric accuracy be tested over a larger field of view than the ACR testing method. All tests from the ACR MR QC Manual for a conventional MR system passed ACR tolerances. The T2‐weighted image acquired with ACR sequences failed the 40‐spoke requirement from TG‐284, transmitter gain was at the 5% tolerance of TG‐284, and geometric accuracy could not be evaluated because of required equipment differences. Table motion passed both TG‐284 and ACR required tolerances. Conclusion Our study evaluated QA guidelines for an MR‐SIM and demonstrated the additional QA requirements of a clinical diagnostic MR system to be used as an MR‐SIM in radiotherapy as recommended by TG‐284.

Purpose: In the field of Computed Tomography (CT) dosimetry, there remains a need to accurately measure organ doses. Such measurements are only meaningful if they are performed under actual clinical scanning conditions, for this purpose, a cadaver can serve as the measurement subject that most closely mimics a living patient. Organ doses were measured in 7 adult female cadaveric subjects with varying body mass indices (BMIs) and for various CT protocols. Methods: A tube placement system allowed external access to internal organs, in which optically‐stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) were placed and used to measure dose. Dosimeter placement and location was based on organ size and distribution. In order to determine organ doses of real patients, a correlation between various patient size parameters and the measured organ doses was explored. Only measurements that could be performed on a CT image or subject‐specific parameters or data which could otherwise be obtained for an actual patient were considered for this correlation. The size parameters that were examined included: body mass index (BMI), the AP and lateral dimensions of the patient, and patient perimeter. Results: The BMIs for the 7 subjects ranged from 16.6–43.9, spanning from underweight to extreme obesity. Overall average organ doses from a CAP exam for all subjects ranged from 11.8–24.4 mGy. Generally, organ doses were shown to increase with all size parameters examined. Conclusion: For the purpose of accuracy, the estimation of patient dose in CT must be based on actual physical measurements. A complete set of direct organ dose measurements for 7 adult female cadavers has been accomplished for common CT exams with this research. It has been shown before that patient size parameters can be indicative of patient dose. This work has shown further validation of this concept.