Biomedical subjects

Gudrun Alm Carlsson

Publications and source records attributed to Gudrun Alm Carlsson.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Towards optimization in digital chest radiography using Monte Carlo modelling.

A Monte Carlo based computer model of the x-ray imaging system was used to investigate how various image quality parameters of interest in chest PA radiography and the effective dose E vary with tube voltage (90-150 kV), additional copper filtration (0-0.5 mm), anti-scatter method (grid ratios 8-16 and air gap lengths 20-40 cm) and patient thickness (20-28 cm) in a computed radiography (CR) system. Calculated quantities were normalized to a fixed value of air kerma (5.0 microGy) at the automatic exposure control chambers. Soft-tissue nodules were positioned at different locations in the anatomy and calcifications in the apical region. The signal-to-noise ratio, SNR, of the nodules and the nodule contrast relative to the contrast of bone (C/C(B)) as well as relative to the dynamic range in the image (C(rel)) were used as image quality measures. In all anatomical regions, except in the densest regions in the thickest patients, the air gap technique provides higher SNR and contrast ratios than the grid technique and at a lower effective dose E. Choice of tube voltage depends on whether quantum noise (SNR) or the contrast ratios are most relevant for the diagnostic task. SNR increases with decreasing tube voltage while C/C(B) increases with increasing tube voltage.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of clinical and physical measures of image quality in chest and pelvis computed radiography at different tube voltages.

The aim of this work was to study the dependence of image quality in digital chest and pelvis radiography on tube voltage, and to explore correlations between clinical and physical measures of image quality. The effect on image quality of tube voltage in these two examinations was assessed using two methods. The first method relies on radiologists' observations of images of an anthropomorphic phantom, and the second method was based on computer modeling of the imaging system using an anthropomorphic voxel phantom. The tube voltage was varied within a broad range (50-150 kV), including those values typically used with screen-film radiography. The tube charge was altered so that the same effective dose was achieved for each projection. Two x-ray units were employed using a computed radiography (CR) image detector with standard tube filtration and antiscatter device. Clinical image quality was assessed by a group of radiologists using a visual grading analysis (VGA) technique based on the revised CEC image criteria. Physical image quality was derived from a Monte Carlo computer model in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio, SNR, of anatomical structures corresponding to the image criteria. Both the VGAS (visual grading analysis score) and SNR decrease with increasing tube voltage in both chest PA and pelvis AP examinations, indicating superior performance if lower tube voltages are employed. Hence, a positive correlation between clinical and physical measures of image quality was found. The pros and cons of using lower tube voltages with CR digital radiography than typically used in analog screen-film radiography are discussed, as well as the relevance of using VGAS and quantum-noise SNR as measures of image quality in pelvis and chest radiography.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

A search for optimal x-ray spectra in iodine contrast media mammography.

The aim of this work was to search for the optimal x-ray tube voltage and anode-filter combination in digital iodine contrast media mammography. In the optimization, two entities were of interest: the average glandular dose, AGD, and the signal-to-noise ratio, SNR, for detection of diluted iodine contrast medium. The optimum is defined as the technique maximizing the figure of merit, SNR2/AGD. A Monte Carlo computer program was used which simulates the transport of photons from the x-ray tube through the compression plate, breast, breast support plate, anti-scatter grid and image detector. It computes the AGD and the SNR of an iodine detail inside the compressed breast. The breast thickness was varied between 2 and 8 cm with 10-90% glandularity. The tube voltage was varied between 20 and 55 kV for each anode material (Rh, Mo and W) in combination with either 25 microm Rh or 0.05-0.5 mm Cu added filtration. The x-ray spectra were calculated with MCNP4C (Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code System, version 4C). A CsI scintillator was used as the image detector. The results for Rh/0.3 mmCu, Mo/0.3 mmCu and W/0.3 mmCu were similar. For all breast thicknesses, a maximum in the figure of merit was found at approximately 45 kV for the Rh/Cu, Mo/Cu and W/Cu combinations. The corresponding results for the Rh/Rh combination gave a figure of merit that was typically lower and more slowly varying with tube voltage. For a 4 cm breast at 45 kV, the SNR2/AGD was 3.5 times higher for the Rh/0.3 mmCu combination compared with the Rh/Rh combination. The difference is even larger for thicker breasts. The SNR2/AGD increases slowly with increasing Cu-filter thickness. We conclude that tube voltages between 41 and 55 kV and added Cu-filtration will result in significant dose advantage in digital iodine contrast media mammography compared to using the Rh/Rh anode/filter combination at 25-32 kV.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Measurement of radiation dose in dental radiology.

Patient dose audit is an important tool for quality control and it is important to have a well-defined and easy to use method for dose measurements. In dental radiology, the most commonly used dose parameters for the setting of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) are the entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) for intraoral examinations and dose width product (DWP) for panoramic examinations. DWP is the air kerma at the front side of the secondary collimator integrated over the collimator width and an exposure cycle. ESAK or DWP is usually measured in the absence of the patient but with the same settings of tube voltage (kV), tube current (mA) and exposure time as with the patient present. Neither of these methods is easy to use, and, in addition, DWP is not a risk related quantity. A better method of monitoring patient dose would be to use a dose area product (DAP) meter for all types of dental examinations. In this study, measurements with a DAP meter are reported for intraoral and panoramic examinations. The DWP is also measured with a pencil ionisation chamber and the product of DWP and the height H (DWP x H) of the secondary collimator (measured using film) was compared to DAP. The results show that it is feasible to measure DAP using a DAP meter for both intraoral and panoramic examinations. The DAP is therefore recommended for the setting of DRLs.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Distributions of scatter-to-primary and signal-to-noise ratios per pixel in digital chest imaging.

The aim of this work was to calculate distributions of scatter-to-primary ratios (epsilon(s)/epsilon(p)) and signal-to-noise ratios per pixel (SNRp) in chest images. Such distributions may provide useful information on how physical image quality (contrast, SNR) is distributed over the posterior/anterior (PA) chest image. A Monte Carlo computer program was used for the calculations, including a model of both the patient (voxel phantom) and the imaging system (X-ray tube, anti-scatter grid and image detector). The calculations were performed for three PA thicknesses 20, 24 and 28 cm. For a 24 cm patient, the epsilon(s)/epsilon(p) varies between 0.5 in the lung to 2.5 behind the spine and heart. The corresponding variation of the SNRp is a factor of 3, with the highest values in the lung. Increasing the patient thickness from 20 to 28 cm increases the epsilon(s)/epsilon(p) by a factor of 2.2 behind the spine and heart.

Computers↗

PubMed2005

Effect of scatter on reconstructed image quality in cone beam computed tomography: evaluation of a scatter-reduction optimisation function.

The effect of scatter on reconstructed image quality in cone beam computed tomography was investigated and a function which can be used in scatter-reduction optimisation tasks was tested. Projections were calculated using the Monte Carlo method in an axially symmetric cone beam geometry consisting of a point source, water phantom and a single row of detector elements. Image reconstruction was performed using the filtered backprojection method. Image quality was assessed by the L2-norm-based difference relative to a reference image derived from (1) weighted linear attenuation coefficients and (2) projections by primary photons. It was found that the former function was strongly affected by the beam hardening artefact and did not properly reflect the amount of scatter but the latter function increased with increasing beam width, was higher for the larger phantom and exhibited properties which made it a good candidate for scatter-reduction optimisation tasks using polyenergetic beams.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

The influence of patient thickness and imaging system on patient dose and physical image quality in digital chest imaging.

The aim of this work was to study the influence of patient thickness, tube voltage and image detector on patient dose, contrast and ideal observer signal-to-noise ratio (SNR(I)), for pathological details positioned at different regions in the image in posterior-anterior (PA) chest radiology. A Monte Carlo computational model was used to compute measures of physical image quality (contrast, SNR(I)) and patient effective dose, E. Two metastasis-like details positioned in the central right lung and right lung near the spine, respectively, were studied. The tube voltage was varied between 100 and 150 kV and the patient thickness between 20 and 28 cm. Both, a computed radiography (CR) system and a direct radiography (DR) system, were investigated. The DR system provides both lower doses and better image quality compared with the CR system. The SNR(I)2/E is approximately 2.9 times higher for the DR system compared with the CR system.

Artifacts↗

PubMed2003

Monte Carlo evaluation of a photon pencil kernel algorithm applied to fast neutron therapy treatment planning.

When dedicated software is lacking, treatment planning for fast neutron therapy is sometimes performed using dose calculation algorithms designed for photon beam therapy. In this work Monte Carlo derived neutron pencil kernels in water were parametrized using the photon dose algorithm implemented in the Nucletron TMS (treatment management system) treatment planning system. A rectangular fast-neutron fluence spectrum with energies 0-40 MeV (resembling a polyethylene filtered p(41)+Be spectrum) was used. Central axis depth doses and lateral dose distributions were calculated and compared with the corresponding dose distributions from Monte Carlo calculations for homogeneous water and heterogeneous slab phantoms. All absorbed doses were normalized to the reference dose at 10 cm depth for a field of radius 5.6 cm in a 30 x 40 x 20 cm3 water test phantom. Agreement to within 7% was found in both the lateral and the depth dose distributions. The deviations could be explained as due to differences in size between the test phantom and that used in deriving the pencil kernel (radius 200 cm, thickness 50 cm). In the heterogeneous phantom, the TMS, with a directly applied neutron pencil kernel, and Monte Carlo calculated absorbed doses agree approximately for muscle but show large deviations for media such as adipose or bone. For the latter media, agreement was substantially improved by correcting the absorbed doses calculated in TMS with the neutron kerma factor ratio and the stopping power ratio between tissue and water. The multipurpose Monte Carlo code FLUKA was used both in calculating the pencil kernel and in direct calculations of absorbed dose in the phantom.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed2002

Accelerated Monte Carlo based dose calculations for brachytherapy planning using correlated sampling.

Current brachytherapy dose calculations ignore applicator attenuation and tissue heterogeneities, assuming isolated sources embedded in unbounded medium. Conventional Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculations, while accurate, are too slow for practical treatment planning. This study evaluates the efficacy of correlated sampling in reducing the variance of MC photon transport simulation in typical brachytherapy geometries. Photon histories were constructed in the homogeneous geometry and weight correction factors applied to account for the perturbing effect of heterogeneities. Two different estimators, expected value track-length (ETL) and analogue (ANL), were used. The method was tested for disc-shaped heterogeneities and point-isotropic sources as well as for a model 6702 125I seed. Uncorrelated ETL estimation was 10-100 times more efficient than its ANL counterpart. Correlated ETL estimation offered efficiency gains as large as 10(4) in regions where dose perturbations are small (<5%). For perturbations of 40-50%, efficiency gains were in some cases even less than unity. However, correlated ETL was capable of producing less than 2% (I standard deviation) uncertainty in more than 90% of the voxels in 1 CPU hour. Correlated sampling significantly improves efficiency under selected circumstances and, in combination with other variance reduction strategies, may make MC-based treatment planning a reality for brachytherapy.

Algorithms↗