| 1. |
- Norberg, Pernilla, et al.
(författare)
-
Does quantitative lung SPECT detect lung abnormalities earlier than lung function tests? : Results of a pilot study
- 2014
-
Ingår i: EJNMMI Research. - : Springer Berlin/Heidelberg. - 2191-219X. ; 4:39, s. 1-12
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Heterogeneous ventilation in lungs of allergic individuals, cigarette smokers, asthmatics and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients has been demonstrated using imaging modalities such as PET, MR and SPECT. These individuals suffer from narrow and/or closed airways to various extents. By calculating regional heterogeneity in lung ventilation SPECT images as the coefficient of variation (CV) in small elements of the lung, heterogeneity maps and CV-frequency curves can be generated and used to quantitatively measure heterogeneity. This work explores the potential to use such measurements to detect mild ventilation heterogeneities in lung healthy subjects.Method: Fourteen healthy subjects without documented lung disease or respiratory symptoms, and two patients with documented airway disease, inhaled on average approximately 90 MBq 99mTc-Technegas immediately prior to the 20 min SPECT acquisition. Variation in activity uptake between subjects was compensated for in resulting CV values. The area under the compensated CV frequency curve (AUC), for CV values greater than a threshold value CVT, AUC(CV> CVT), was used as the measure of ventilation heterogeneity.Results: Patients with lung function abnormalities, according to lung function tests, generated higher AUC(CV>20%) values compared to healthy subjects (p=0.006). Strong linear correlations with the AUC(CV>20%) values were found for age (p=0.006) and height (p=0.001). These demonstrated that ventilation heterogeneities increased with age and that they depend on lung size. Strong linear correlations were found for the lung function value related to indices of airway closure/air trapping, RV/TLC (p=0.009), and DLCOc (p=0.009), a value partly related to supposed ventilation/perfusion mismatch. These findings support the association between conventional lung function tests and the AUC(CV>20%) value.Conclusions: Among the healthy subjects there is a group with increased AUC(CV>20%) values, but with normal lung function tests, which implies that it might be possible to differentiate ventilation heterogeneities earlier in a disease process than by lung function tests.
|
|
| 2. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
-
A system for remote dosimetry audit of 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT based on lithium formate dosimetry
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 0167-8140 .- 1879-0887. ; 113:2, s. 279-282
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this work was to develop and test a remote end-to-end audit system using lithium formate EPR dosimeters. Four clinics were included in a pilot study, absorbed doses determined in the PTV agreed with TPS calculated doses within ±5% for 3D-CRT and ±7% (k=1) for IMRT/VMAT dose plans.
|
|
| 3. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, 1985-
(författare)
-
Lithium formate EPR dosimetry for accurate measurements of absorbed dose in radiotherapy
- 2014
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Lithium formate has shown to be a material with properties suitable for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry, among them up to 7 times higher sensitivity compared to alanine, which is a well-established EPR detector material for dose determinations in radiotherapy.The aim of this thesis was to further investigate the properties of lithium formate and develop the dosimetry system towards applications in radiotherapy. The intrinsic efficiency for energies of relevance to brachytherapy and the signal stability were investigated. The dosimetry system was expanded to include a smaller dosimeter model, suitable for measurements in dose gradient regions. An individual sensitivity correction method was applied to the smaller dosimeters to be able to perform dose determinations with the same precision as for the larger ones. EPR dosimetry in general is time consuming and effort was spent to optimize the signal readout procedure regarding measurement time and measurement precision.The system was applied in two clinical applications chosen for their high demands on the dosimetry system: 1) a dosimetry audit for external photon beam therapy and 2) dose verification measurements around a low energy HDR brachytherapy source.The conclusions drawn from this thesis were: dose determinations can be performed with a standard uncertainty of 1.8-2.5% using both the original size dosimeters and the new developed smaller ones. The dosimetry system is robust and useful for applications when high measurement precision and accuracy is prioritized. It is a good candidate for dosimetry audits, both in external beam therapy and brachytherapy.
|
|
| 4. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
-
Measurement of absorbed dose to water around an electronic brachytherapy source : Comparison of two dosimetry systems: lithium formate EPR dosimeters and radiochromic EBT2 film
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0031-9155 .- 1361-6560. ; 60:9, s. 3869-3882
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interest in high dose rate (HDR) electronic brachytherapy operating at 50 kV is increasing. For quality assurance it is important to identify dosimetry systems that can measure the absorbed doses in absolute terms which is difficult in this energy region. In this work a comparison is made between two dosimetry systems, EPR lithium formate dosimeters and radiochromic EBT2 film.Both types of dosimeters were irradiated simultaneously in a PMMA phantom using the Axxent EBS. Absorbed dose to water was determined at distances of 10 mm, 30 mm and 50 mm from the EBS. Results were traceable to different primary standards as regards to absorbed dose to water (EPR) and air kerma (EBT2). Monte Carlo simulations were used in absolute terms as a third estimate of absorbed dose to water.Agreement within the estimated expanded (k = 2) uncertainties (5% (EPR), 7% (EBT2)) was found between the results at 30 mm and 50 mm from the x-ray source. The same result was obtained in 4 repetitions of irradiation, indicating high precision in the measurements with both systems. At all distances, agreement between EPR and Monte Carlo simulations was shown as was also the case for the film measurements at 30mm and 50mm. At 10mm the geometry for the film measurements caused too large uncertainty in measured values depending on the exact position (within sub-mm distances) of the EBS and the 10 mm film results were exculded from comparison.This work has demonstrated good performance of the lithium formate EPR dosimetry system in accordance with earlier experiments at higher photon energies (192Ir HDR brachytherapy). It was also highlighted that there might be issues regarding the energy dependence and intrinsic efficiency of the EBT2 film that need to be considered for measurements using low energy sources.
|
|
| 5. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
-
Optimisation of an EPR dosimetry system for robust and high precision dosimetry
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Radiation Measurements. - : Elsevier. - 1350-4487 .- 1879-0925. ; 70, s. 21-28
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Clinical applications of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry systems demand high accuracy causing time consuming analysis. The need for high spatial resolution dose measurements in regions with steep dose gradients demands small sized dosimeters. An optimization of the analysis was therefore needed to limit the time consumption. The aim of this work was to introduce a new smaller lithium formate dosimeter model (diameter reduced from standard diameter 4.5 mm to 3 mm and height from 4.8 mm to 3 mm). To compensate for reduced homogeneity in a batch of the smaller dosimeters, a method for individual sensitivity correction suitable for EPR dosimetry was tested. Sensitivity and repeatability was also tested for a standard EPR resonator and a super high Q (SHQE) one. The aim was also to optimize the performance of the dosimetry system for better efficiency regarding measurement time and precision. A systematic investigation of the relationship between measurement uncertainty and number of readouts per dosimeter was performed. The conclusions drawn from this work were that it is possible to decrease the dosimeter size with maintained measurement precision by using the SHQE resonator and introducing individual calibration factors for dosimeter batches. It was also shown that it is possible reduce the number of readouts per dosimeter without significantly decreasing the accuracy in measurements.
|
|
| 6. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Absorbed dose equations : The general solution of the absorbed dose equation and solutions under different kinds of radiation equilibrium
- 1978
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This report is a logical continuation of two papers concerning basic concepts in dosimetry. The first paper (1) is u critical analysis of the concepts of ionizing radiation and energy imparted as defined by the ICRU (2). The second paper (3) gives a definition of the energy imparted, the fundamental quantity in radiation dosimetry, which is equivalent to that given by the ICRU but which has a different form. This alternative definition of the energy imparted is suitable in deriving a general expression, in terms of particle fluences and interaction cross sections, for the absorbed dose valid also in situations where no kind of radiation equilibrium is established. It is, however, today not possible to quantify this expression for the absorbed dose. All practical calculations of absorbed dose rely on the assumption of one or another type of radiation equilibrium. The aim of this work is to analyze different kinds of radiation equilibrium conditions and to find the corresponding exact expressions for the absorbed dose. The concept of radiation equilibrium is more carefully analyzed than has been done previously (4, 5, 6). Moreover, the definition of the mass energy absorption coefficient for indirectly (uncharged) ionizing particles is critically analyzed. A new definition is proposed relevant to calculations of the absorbed dose in cases when charged particle equilibrium exists within a homogeneous medium due to the uniform liberation of charged particles, by uncharged particles.
|
|
| 7. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Bragg-Gray Dosimetry : Theory of Burch
- 2001
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The theoretical approach to Bragg-Gray dosimetry is: a Bragg-Gray cavity is a cavity (detector) so small that, when inserted into a medium, it does not disturb the fluence of charged particles existing in the medium. This means that the ideal Bragg-Gray cavity (detector) is one of infinitesimal dimensions, a "point" detector. In practice, such detectors do not exist but many real detectors may, in a first approximation, be treated as Bragg-Gray detectors to a high degree of accuracy. Corrections needed (so called perturbation corrections) to account for the deviation of the signal from a practical detector from that of an ideal one has been treated by, e.g., ICRU 1984, Alm Carlsson, 1985, Svensson and Brahme 1986, Alm Carlsson 1987. Derivation of "perturbation corrections" needs careful consideration and under-standing of the ideal case, i.e., that from which deviations are to be corrected for. The ideal case of a Bragg-Gray detector has been treated by Bragg 1912, Gray 1936, Laurence 1937, Spencer and Attix 1955 and Burch 1955. The formulation of Bragg-Gray theory by Spencer and Attix has found wide practical application and has been treated in detail elsewhere. The theory of Burch treats the same problem as did Spencer and Attix, viz., the significance of generation and slowing down of delta-particles in both medium and detector. Burch treated the problem in considerable detail but didn't find a solution for practical calculations. From a physical point of view, however, there is much to learn from Burch's approach. Also, his treatment of so called track ends, evaluated in some detail by Burch 1957, has been adapted in later versions of the Spencer-Attix formulation of Bragg-Gray theory.
|
|
| 8. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Burlins kavitetsteori
- 1979
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Burlins kavitetsteori är en generell teori i den meningen att inga krav finns på detektorns dimensioner jämfört med sekundärelektronernas räckvidder. Detektorn måste dock vara "tunn" för fotonerna dvs inte ge någon nämnvärd attenuering av de mot detektorn infallande fotonerna
|
|
| 9. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Effective use of Monte Carlo methods for simulating photon transport with special reference to slab penetration problems in X-raydiagnostics
- 1981
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The analys is of Monte Carlo methods here has been made in connection with a particular problem concerning the transport of low energy photons (30-140 keV) through layers of water with thicknesses between 5 and 20 cm. While not claiming to be a complete exposition of available Monte Carlo techniques, the methodological analyses are not restricted to this particular problem. The report describes in a general manner a number of methods which can be used in order to obtain results of greater precision in a fixed computing time. Monte Carlo methods have been used for many years in reactor technology, particularly for solving problems associated with neutron transport, but also for studying photon transport through radiation shields. In connection with these particular problems, mathematically and statistically advanced methods have been worked out. The book by Spanier and Gelbard (1969) is a good illustration of this. In the present case, a more physical approach to Monte Carlo methods for solving photon transport problems is made (along the lines employed by Fano, Spencer and Berger (1959)) with the aim of encouraging even radiation physicists to use more sophisticated Monte Carlo methods. Today, radiation physicists perform Monte Carlo calculations with considerable physical significance but often with unnecessarily straightforward methods. As Monte Carlo calculations can be predicted to be of increasing importance in tackling problems in radiation physics, e.g., in X-ray diagnostics, it is worthwhile to study the Monte Carlo approach for its own sake.
|
|
| 10. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Fanos Teorem
- 2002
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- I ett oändligt medium erhålles en fullt uppbyggd fluens i alla punkter av mediet. I ett ändligt medium erhålles inte full uppbyggnad av fluensen på avstånd mindre än en maximal "partikelräckvidd" från begränsningsytorna. Fanos teorem har visats gälla för alla punkter i ett oändligt medium men kan endast gälla i det inre av ett ändligt medium där förhållandena är ekvivalenta med dem i det oändliga mediet.
|
|
