| 1. |
- Carlsson, Carl A., et al.
(författare)
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Basic physics of X-ray imaging
- 1973
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In X-ray diagnostics, radiation that is partly transmitted through and partly absorbed in the irradiated object is utilised. An X-ray image shows the variations in transmission caused by structures in the object of varying thickness, density or atomic composition. After an introductory description of the nature of X-rays, the most important processes in the X-ray source, the object (patient) and radiation detector for the generation of an X-ray image will be described.
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| 2. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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A system for remote dosimetry audit of 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT based on lithium formate dosimetry
- 2014
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Ingår i: Radiotherapy and Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 0167-8140 .- 1879-0887. ; 113:2, s. 279-282
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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.
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| 3. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Investigation of signal fading in lithium formate EPR dosimeters using a new sensitive method
- 2012
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Ingår i: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 0031-9155 .- 1361-6560. ; 57:8, s. 2209-2217
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate signal fading in lithium formate electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimeters used for clinical applications in radiotherapy. A new experimental method for determination of signal fading, designed to resolve small changes in signal from slowly decaying unstable radicals, was used. Possible signal fading in lithium formate due to different storage temperatures was also tested. Air humidity was kept at a constant level of 33% throughout the experiments. The conclusion drawn from the investigations was that the EPR signal from lithium formate is stable during at least 1 month after irradiation and is not sensitive to variations in storage temperature andlt;40 degrees C when kept at a relative air humidity of 33%. This makes lithium formate a suitable dosimeter for transfer dosimetry in clinical audits.
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| 4. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, 1985-
(författare)
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Lithium formate EPR dosimetry for accurate measurements of absorbed dose in radiotherapy
- 2014
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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.
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| 5. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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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
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Ingår i: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0031-9155 .- 1361-6560. ; 60:9, s. 3869-3882
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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.
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| 6. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Optimisation of an EPR dosimetry system for robust and high precision dosimetry
- 2014
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Ingår i: Radiation Measurements. - : Elsevier. - 1350-4487 .- 1879-0925. ; 70, s. 21-28
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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.
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| 7. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, 1985-, et al.
(författare)
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Response of Lithium Formate EPR Dosimeters at Photon Energies Relelvant to Brachytherapy
- 2009
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Ingår i: IFMBE Proceedings. - Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg. - 9783642034725 - 9783642034749 ; , s. 236-239
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- After development of sensitive dosimeter materials Electron Paramagnetic Resonance EPR dosimetry has been successfully used also in radiation therapy. The intensity of the EPR-signal is a measure of the amount of free radicals created by ionizing radiation which is proportional to the absorbed dose in the dosimeter. Lithium formate monohydrate is a dosimeter material with 2-6 times higher sensitivity than alanine, a linear dose response over a wide dose range and mass-energy absorption properties similar to water. These properties make lithium formate promising for verification of absorbed doses around high dose rate brachytherapy sources where the dose gradient is steep and the photon energy distribution changing with distance from the source. Calibration of the dosimeters is performed in 60Co or MV photon beams where high dosimetric accuracy is feasible. The use in brachytherapy field relies on the assumption that the production of free radicals per mean absorbed dose in the dosimeter is similar at the lower photon energies present there. The aim of this work was to test that assumption. The response of the dosimeters as a function of photon energy was determined by irradiations with four x-ray qualities in the range 100-250 kV and 137Cs, relative to the response when irradiated with 60Co, all photon beams with well-known air kerma rates at the Swedish Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory. Monte Carlo simulations were used to convert air kerma free in air to mean absorbed dose to the dosimeter. The measured response relative 60Co as a function of photon energy was below unity for all qualities. The maximum deviation from unity was 2.5% (100 kV, 135 kV) with a relative standard deviation of 1.5% (k = 1).
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| 8. |
- Adolfsson, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Response of lithium formate EPR dosimeters at photon energies relevant to the dosimetry of brachytherapy
- 2010
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Ingår i: Medical physics (Lancaster). - : American Association of Physicists in Medicine. - 0094-2405. ; 37:9, s. 4946-4959
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE:To investigate experimentally the energy dependence of the detector response of lithium formate EPR dosimeters for photon energies below 1 MeV relative to that at 60Co energies. High energy photon beams are used in calibrating dosimeters for use in brachytherapy since the absorbed dose to water can be determined with high accuracy in such beams using calibrated ion chambers and standard dosimetry protocols. In addition to any differences in mass-energy absorption properties between water and detector, variations in radiation yield (detector response) with radiation quality, caused by differences in the density of ionization in the energy imparted (LET), may exist. Knowledge of an eventual deviation in detector response with photon energy is important for attaining high accuracy in measured brachytherapy dose distributions.METHODS:Lithium formate EPR dosimeters were irradiated to known levels of air kerma in 25-250 kV x-ray beams and in 137Cs and 60Co beams at the Swedish Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory. Conversions from air kerma free in air into values of mean absorbed dose to the detectors were made using EGSnrc MC simulations and x-ray energy spectra measured or calculated for the actual beams. The signals from the detectors were measured using EPR spectrometry. Detector response (the EPR signal per mean absorbed dose to the detector) relative to that for 60Co was determined for each beam quality.RESULTS:Significant decreases in the relative response ranging from 5% to 6% were seen for x-ray beams at tube voltages < or = 180 kV. No significant reduction in the relative response was seen for 137Cs and 250 kV x rays.CONCLUSIONS:When calibrated in 60Co or MV photon beams, corrections for the photon energy dependence of detector response are needed to achieve the highest accuracy when using lithium formate EPR dosimeters for measuring absorbed doses around brachytherapy sources emitting photons in the energy range of 20-150 keV such as 169Yb and electronic sources.
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| 9. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun, et al.
(författare)
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Riskuppskattningar och strålskydds-rekommendationer : Vår strålningsmiljö
- 1991
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Människan har i alla tider varit utsatt för joniserande strålning. Kosmiskstrålning och naturligt radioaktiva nuklider i vår omgivning och i vår kropp ger ett årligtbidrag till den absorberade dosen i hela kroppen, som i genomsnitt för människorna påjorden uppgår till 1 mGy/år (1Gy = 1 J/kg). Det finns områden på jorden där stråldosenfrån naturlig strålning är 10-100 ggr större, jfr avsnittet "Vår strålningsmiljö". I slutet av 1800-talet upptäckte Röntgen röntgenstrålningen och Becquerel den naturligaradioaktiviteten. Människan fick därmed för första gången tillgång till starka källor avjoniserande strålning. Dessa togs snabbt i bruk framförallt inom medicinsk röntgendiagnostikoch radioterapi. Man gjorde snart bittra erfarenheter av den joniserandestrålningens skadliga biologiska verkningar efter höga stråldoser. Fram till år 1922 hadec:a 100 radiologer dött av strålskador. Man insåg att något måste göras för att förbättraläget för personalen och år 1928 bildades ICRP (International Commission on RadiationProtection). ICRP ger ut rekommendationer för strålskydd, som ligger till grund förnationella lagar och förordningar över hela världen. Den förhållandevis långa erfarenhet människan har av joniserande strålning och denlätthet med vilken även små stråldoser kan mätas har gett oss stränga normer vad gällerhanteringen av producerade strålkällor. Många har därför uppfattningen att joniserandestrålning är en exklusiv miljökomponent. Så är knappast fallet. Förutom att vi alltid varitnaturligt bestrålade finns det idag anledning att förmoda att den kemiska nedsmutsningenav miljön är ett långt allvarligare hot mot vårt välbefinnande än den nuvarandeanvändningen av producerade strålkällor. En rättvis bedömning av olika miljökomponenterkan endast göras den gång alla mäts med samma mått. Arbete med dennainriktning pågår med strålskydds-verksamheten som förebild.
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| 10. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun, et al.
(författare)
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Statistisk precision vid radioaktivitetsmätning och Aktivitetsbestämning ur uppmätt räknehastighet
- 1974
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Radioaktiva sönderfall sker slumpmässigt och det är omöjligt att i förväg veta exakt när en viss atom sönderfaller. Allt man kan säga är att under en halveringstid är sannolikheten 0.5 att en atom sönderfaller och 0.5 att den förblir i sitt ursprungliga radioaktiva tillstånd. Detta gäller en enstaka atom, är det ett stort antal atomer kan man förutsäga att hälften av dem kommer att sönderfalla inom en halveringstid. Antag att i ett experiment aktiviteten av ett prov bestäms under en minut. Räknaren anger 1000 cpm, counts per minute. Om man räknar en gång till kanske scalern anger 985 cpm, nästa gång 1023 cpm osv Skulle man utföra mätningen 1000 gånger skulle man få värdet 1000 12 - 13 gånger, 960 och faktiskt 1040 skulle man få 5-6 gångeroch 940 eller 1060 2 gånger. Detta beror inte på något experimentellt fel eller på någon speciell teknik som experimenttorn använder utan på de statistiska fluktuationerna. (Skulle man få värdet 1000 varje gång skall man kontrollera räknaren, någon kanske har ställt in pre-set counts 1000, dvs då är något fel). Vi skall i denna rapport se hur de statistiska fluktuationerna påverkar mätresultaten, hur osäkerheten presenteras och hur man gör en aktivitetsbestämning ur en uppmätt räknehastighet.
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| 11. |
- Antonovic, Laura, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of a lithium formate EPR dosimetry system for dose measurements around Ir-192 brachytherapy sources
- 2009
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Ingår i: MEDICAL PHYSICS. - : Wiley. - 0094-2405. ; 36:6, s. 2236-2247
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A dosimetry system using lithium formate monohydrate (HCO2Li center dot H2O) as detector material and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy for readout has been used to measure absorbed dose distributions around clinical Ir-192 sources. Cylindrical tablets with diameter of 4.5 mm, height of 4.8 mm, and density of 1.26 g/cm(3) were manufactured. Homogeneity test and calibration of the dosimeters were performed in a 6 MV photon beam. Ir-192 irradiations were performed in a PMMA phantom using two different source models, the GammaMed Plus HDR and the microSelectron PDR-v1 model. Measured absorbed doses to water in the PMMA phantom were converted to the corresponding absorbed doses to water in water phantoms of dimensions used by the treatment planning systems (TPSs) using correction factors explicitly derived for this experiment. Experimentally determined absorbed doses agreed with the absorbed doses to water calculated by the TPS to within +/- 2.9%. Relative standard uncertainties in the experimentally determined absorbed doses were estimated to be within the range of 1.7%-1.3% depending on the radial distance from the source, the type of source (HDR or PDR), and the particular absorbed doses used. This work shows that a lithium formate dosimetry system is well suited for measurements of absorbed dose to water around clinical HDR and PDR Ir-192 sources. Being less energy dependent than the commonly used thermoluminescent lithium fluoride (LiF) dosimeters, lithium formate monohydrate dosimeters are well suited to measure absorbed doses in situations where the energy dependence cannot easily be accounted for such as in multiple-source irradiations to verify treatment plans. Their wide dynamic range and linear dose response over the dose interval of 0.2-1000 Gy make them suitable for measurements on sources of the strengths used in clinical applications. The dosimeter size needs, however, to be reduced for application to single-source dosimetry.
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| 12. |
- Carlsson, C.A., et al.
(författare)
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An instrument for measuring ambient dose equivalent, H*(10)
- 1996
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Ingår i: Radiation Protection Dosimetry. - 0144-8420 .- 1742-3406. ; 67:1, s. 33-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The design and calibration of a small and simple instrument for measuring the ambient dose equivalent, H*(10), in photon fields is described. Comprising a thermoluminescence LiF dosemeter inside a 20 mm diameter PMMA sphere, it is capable of measuring the ambient dose equivalent with a nearly isotropic response. In the interval 0.1-100 mSv and for the energy range 30 keV to 1.25 MeV the energy response is within -31% and +15% relative to that of 137Cs gamma radiation (662 keV). In practical use, it is therefore sufficient to calibrate the instrument in a 137Cs gamma field using the corresponding conversion coefficient H*(10)/Kair taken from tabulations. The possibility of using the instrument to monitor the ambient dose equivalent for energies above 1.25 MeV is discussed and indicates that the range of applicability can be extended to 4.4 MeV with an energy response within -10% relative to 662 keV.
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| 13. |
- Carlsson Tedgren, Åsa, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Determination of absorbed dose to water around a clinical HDR 192-Ir source using LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs demonstrates an LET dependence of detector response
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Medical physics (Lancaster). - USA : American Association of Physicists in Medicine. - 0094-2405. ; 39:2, s. 1133-1140
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Experimental radiation dosimetry with thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), calibrated in a (60)Co or megavoltage (MV) photon beam, is recommended by AAPM TG-43U1for verification of Monte Carlo calculated absorbed doses around brachytherapy sources. However, it has been shown by Carlsson Tedgren et al. [Med. Phys. 38, 5539-5550 (2011)] that for TLDs of LiF:Mg,Ti, detector response was 4% higher in a (137)Cs beam than in a (60)Co one. The aim of this work was to investigate if similar over-response exists when measuring absorbed dose to water around (192)Ir sources, using LiF:Mg,Ti dosimeters calibrated in a 6 MV photon beam.Methods: LiF dosimeters were calibrated to measure absorbed dose to water in a 6 MV photon beam and used to measure absorbed dose to water at distances of 3, 5, and 7 cm from a clinical high dose rate (HDR) (192)Ir source in a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) phantom. Measured values were compared to values of absorbed dose to water calculated using a treatment planning system (TPS) including corrections for the difference in energy absorption properties between calibration quality and the quality in the users' (192)Ir beam and for the use of a PMMA phantom instead of the water phantom underlying dose calculations in the TPS.Results: Measured absorbed doses to water around the (192)Ir source were overestimated by 5% compared to those calculated by the TPS. Corresponding absorbed doses to water measured in a previous work with lithium formate electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimeters by Antonovic et al. [Med. Phys. 36, 2236-2247 (2009)], using the same irradiation setup and calibration procedure as in this work, were 2% lower than those calculated by the TPS. The results obtained in the measurements in this work and those obtained using the EPR lithium formate dosimeters were, within the expanded (k = 2) uncertainty, in agreement with the values derived by the TPS. The discrepancy between the results using LiF:Mg,Ti TLDs and the EPR lithium formate dosimeters was, however, statistically significant and in agreement with the difference in relative detector responses found for the two detector systems by Carlsson Tedgren et al. [Med. Phys. 38, 5539-5550 (2011)] and by Adolfsson et al. [Med. Phys. 37, 4946-4959 (2010)].Conclusions: When calibrated in (60)Co or MV photon beams, correction for the linear energy transfer (LET) dependence of LiF:Mg,Ti detector response will be needed as to measure absorbed doses to water in a (192)Ir beam with highest accuracy. Such corrections will depend on the manufacturing process (MTS-N Poland or Harshaw TLD-100) and details of the annealing and read-out schemes used.
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Carlsson Tedgren, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of phantom material and dimensions on experimental Ir-192 dosimetry
- 2009
-
Ingår i: MEDICAL PHYSICS. - : Wiley. - 0094-2405. ; 36:6, s. 2228-2235
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In treatment planning of brachytherapy, absorbed dose is calculated by superposing predetermined distributions of absorbed dose to water in water for the single source according to the irradiation pattern [i.e., placement of the source(s) or dwelling position(s)]. Single-source reference water data are derived from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations and/or experiments. For reasons of positional accuracy, experimental brachytherapy dosimetry is most often performed in plastic phantoms. This work investigates the water equivalence of phantoms made from polystyrene, PMMA, and solid water for Ir-192 dosimetry. The EGSnrc MC code is used to simulate radial absorbed dose distributions in cylindrical phantoms of dimensions ranging in size from diameter and height of 20 cm to diameter and height of 40 cm. Water equivalence prevails if the absorbed dose to water in the plastic phantom is the same as the absorbed dose to water in a water phantom at equal distances from the source. It is shown that water equivalence at a specified distance from the source depends not only on the size of the plastic phantom but also on the size of the water phantom used for comparison. Compared to equally sized water phantoms, phantoms of polystyrene are less water equivalent than phantoms of PMMA and solid water but compared to larger water phantoms they are the most water equivalent. Although phantom dimension is the most important single factor influencing the dose distributions around Ir-192 sources, the effect of material properties is non-negligible and becomes increasingly important as phantom dimensions increase. The importance of knowing the size of the water phantom whose data underlies treatment planning systems, when using such data as a reference in, e.g., detector evaluation studies, is discussed. To achieve the highest possible accuracy in experimental dosimetry, phantom-specific correction factors should be used.
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| 16. |
- Carlsson Tedgren, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Response of LiF:Mg,Ti thermoluminescent dosimeters at photon energies relevant to the dosimetry of brachytherapy (andlt; 1 MeV)
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Medical physics (Lancaster). - : American Association of Physicists in Medicine. - 0094-2405. ; 38:10, s. 5539-5550
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: High energy photon beams are used in calibrating dosimeters for use in brachytherapy since absorbed dose to water can be determined accurately and with traceability to primary standards in such beams, using calibrated ion chambers and standard dosimetry protocols. For use in brachytherapy, beam quality correction factors are needed, which include corrections for differences in mass energy absorption properties between water and detector as well as variations in detector response (intrinsic efficiency) with radiation quality, caused by variations in the density of ionization (linear energy transfer (LET) -distributions) along the secondary electron tracks. The aim of this work was to investigate experimentally the detector response of LiF:Mg, Ti thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) for photon energies below 1 MeV relative to (60)Co and to address discrepancies between the results found in recent publications of detector response. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods: LiF:Mg,Ti dosimeters of formulation MTS-N Poland were irradiated to known values of air kerma free-in-air in x-ray beams at tube voltages 25-250 kV, in (137)Cs- and (60)Co-beams at the Swedish Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory. Conversions from air kerma free-in-air into values of mean absorbed dose in the dosimeters in the actual irradiation geometries were made using EGSnrc Monte Carlo simulations. X-ray energy spectra were measured or calculated for the actual beams. Detector response relative to that for (60)Co was determined at each beam quality. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults: An increase in relative response was seen for all beam qualities ranging from 8% at tube voltage 25 kV (effective energy 13 keV) to 3%-4% at 250 kV (122 keV effective energy) and (137)Cs with a minimum at 80 keV effective energy (tube voltage 180 kV). The variation with effective energy was similar to that reported by Davis [Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 106, 33-43 (2003)] with our values being systematically lower by 2%-4%. Compared to the results by Nunn [Med. Phys. 35, 1861-1869 (2008)], the relative detector response as a function of effective energy differed in both shape and magnitude. This could be explained by the higher maximum read-out temperature (350 degrees C) used by Nunn [Med. Phys. 35, 1861-1869 (2008)], allowing light emitted from high-temperature peaks with a strong LET dependence to be registered. Use of TLD-100 by Davis [Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 106, 33-43 (2003)] with a stronger super-linear dose response compared to MTS-N was identified as causing the lower relative detector response in this work. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions: Both careful dosimetry and strict protocols for handling the TLDs are required to reach solid experimental data on relative detector response. This work confirms older findings that an over-response relative to (60)Co exists for photon energies below 200-300 keV. Comparison with the results from the literature indicates that using similar protocols for annealing and read-out, dosimeters of different makes (TLD-100, MTS-N) differ in relative detector response. Though universality of the results has not been proven and further investigation is needed, it is anticipated that with the use of strict protocols for annealing and read-out, it will be possible to determine correction factors that can be used to reduce uncertainties in dose measurements around brachytherapy sources at photon energies where primary standards for absorbed dose to water are not available.
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| 17. |
- Carlsson Tedgren, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Specification of absorbed dose to water using model-based dose calculation algorithms for treatment planning in brachytherapy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Physics in Medicine and Biology. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 0031-9155 .- 1361-6560. ; 58:8, s. 2561-2579
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs), recently introduced in treatment planning systems (TPS) for brachytherapy, calculate tissue absorbed doses. In the TPS framework, doses have hereto been reported as dose to water and water may still be preferred as a dose specification medium. Dose to tissue medium D-med then needs to be converted into dose to water in tissue D-w,D- med. Methods to calculate absorbed dose to differently sized water compartments/cavities inside tissue, infinitesimal (used for definition of absorbed dose), small, large or intermediate, are reviewed. Burlin theory is applied to estimate photon energies at which cavity sizes in the range 1 nm-10 mm can be considered small or large. Photon and electron energy spectra are calculated at 1 cm distance from the central axis in cylindrical phantoms of bone, muscle and adipose tissue for 20, 50, 300 keV photons and photons from I-125, Yb-169 and Ir-192 sources; ratios of mass-collision-stopping powers and mass energy absorption coefficients are calculated as applicable to convert D-med into D-w,D- med for small and large cavities. Results show that 1-10 nm sized cavities are small at all investigated photon energies; 100 mu m cavities are large only at photon energies andlt;20 keV. A choice of an appropriate conversion coefficient D-w,D- med/D-med is discussed in terms of the cavity size in relation to the size of important cellular targets. Free radicals from DNA bound water of nanometre dimensions contribute to DNA damage and cell killing and may be the most important water compartment in cells implying use of ratios of mass -collision-stopping powers for converting D-med into D-w,D- med.
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| 18. |
- Kaveckyte, Vaiva, et al.
(författare)
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Investigation of a synthetic diamond detector response in kilovoltage photon beams
- 2020
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Ingår i: Medical physics (Lancaster). - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 0094-2405 .- 2473-4209. ; 47:3, s. 1268-1279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose An important characteristic of radiation dosimetry detectors is their energy response which consists of absorbed-dose and intrinsic energy responses. The former can be characterized using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, whereas the latter (i.e., detector signal per absorbed dose to detector) is extracted from experimental data. Such a characterization is especially relevant when detectors are used in nonrelative measurements at a beam quality that differs from the calibration beam quality. Having in mind the possible application of synthetic diamond detectors (microDiamond PTW 60019, Freiburg, Germany) for nonrelative dosimetry of low-energy brachytherapy (BT) beams, we determined their intrinsic and absorbed-dose energy responses in 25-250 kV beams relative to a Co-60 beam, which is usually the reference beam quality for detector calibration in radiotherapy. Material and Methods Three microDiamond detectors and, for comparison, two silicon diodes (PTW 60017) were calibrated in terms of air-kerma free in air in six x-ray beam qualities (from 25 to 250 kV) and in terms of absorbed dose to water in a Co-60 beam at the national metrology laboratory in Sweden. The PENELOPE/penEasy MC radiation transport code was used to calculate the absorbed-dose energy response of the detectors (modeled based on blueprints) relative to air and water depending on calibration conditions. The MC results were used to extract the relative intrinsic energy response of the detectors from the overall energy response. Measurements using an independent setup with a single ophthalmic BEBIG I25.S16 I-125 BT seed (effective photon energy of 28 keV) were used as a qualitative check of the extracted intrinsic energy response correction factors. Additionally, the impact of the thickness of the active volume as well as the presence of extra-cameral components on the absorbed-dose energy response of a microDiamond detector was studied using MC simulations. Results The relative intrinsic energy response of the microDiamond detectors was higher by a factor of 2 in 25 and 50 kV beams compared to the Co-60 beam. The variation in the relative intrinsic energy response of silicon diodes was within 10% over the investigated photon energy range. The use of relative intrinsic energy response correction factors improved the agreement among the absorbed dose to water values determined using microDiamond detectors and silicon diodes, as well as with the TG-43 formalism-based calculations for the I-125 seed. MC study of microDiamond detector design features provided a possible explanation for inter-detector response variation at low-energy photon beams by differences in the effective thickness of the active volume. Conclusions MicroDiamond detectors had a non-negligible variation in the relative intrinsic energy response (factor of 2) which was comparable to that in the absorbed-dose energy response relative to water at low-energy photon beams. Silicon diodes, in contrast, had an absorbed-dose energy dependence on photon energy that varied by a factor of 6, whereas the intrinsic energy dependence on beam quality was within 10%. It is important to decouple these two responses for a full characterization of detector energy response especially when the user and reference beam qualities differ significantly, and MC alone is not enough.
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| 19. |
- Kaveckyte, Vaiva, et al.
(författare)
-
Suitability of microDiamond detectors for the determination of absorbed dose to water around high-dose-rate Ir-192 brachytherapy sources
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Medical physics (Lancaster). - : WILEY. - 0094-2405 .- 2473-4209. ; 45:1, s. 429-437
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Experimental dosimetry of high-dose-rate (HDR) Ir-192 brachytherapy (BT) sources is complicated due to high dose and dose-rate gradients, and softening of photon energy spectrum with depth. A single crystal synthetic diamond detector microDiamond (PTW 60019, Freiburg, Germany) has a small active volume, high sensitivity, direct readout, and nearly water-equivalent active volume. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of microDiamond detectors for the determination of absorbed dose to water around HDR Ir-192 BT sources. Three microDiamond detectors were used, allowing for the comparison of their properties. Methods: In-phantom measurements were performed using microSelectron and VariSource iX HDR Ir-192 BT treatment units. Their treatment planning systems (TPSs), Oncentra (v. 4.3) and BrachyVision (v. 13.6), respectively, were used to create irradiation plans for a cubic PMMA phantom with the microDiamond positioned at one of three source-to-detector distances (SDDs) (1.5, 2.5, and 5.5 cm) at a time. The source was stepped in increments of 0.5 cm over a total length of 6 cm to yield absorbed dose of 2 Gy at the nominal reference-point of the detector. Detectors were calibrated in Co-60 beam in terms of absorbed dose to water, and Monte Carlo (MC) calculated beam quality correction factors were applied to account for absorbed-dose energy dependence. Phantom correction factors were applied to account for differences in dimensions between the measurement phantom and a water phantom used for absorbed dose calculations made with a TPS. The same measurements were made with all three of the detectors. Additionally, dose-rate dependence and stability of the detectors were evaluated in Co-60 beam. Results: The percentage differences between experimentally determined and TPS-calculated absorbed doses to water were from -1.3% to +2.9%. The values agreed to within experimental uncertainties, which were from 1.9% to 4.3% (k = 2) depending on the detector, SDD and treatment delivery unit. No dose-rate or intrinsic energy dependence corrections were applied. All microDiamonds were comparable in terms of preirradiation dose, stability of the readings and energy response, and showed a good agreement. Conclusions: The results indicate that the microDiamond is potentially suitable for the determination of absorbed dose to water around HDR Ir-192 BT sources and may be used for independent verification of TPSs calculations, as well as for QA measurements of HDR Ir-192 BT treatment delivery units at clinical sites. (C) 2017 American Association of Physicists in Medicine
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| 20. |
- Lindstrom, Jan, et al.
(författare)
-
Experimental assessment of a phosphor model for estimating the relative extrinsic efficiency in radioluminescent detectors
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Physica medica (Testo stampato). - : Elsevier. - 1120-1797 .- 1724-191X. ; 76, s. 117-124
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Optimising phosphor screens in dose detectors or imaging sensor designs is a cumbersome and time- consuming work normally involving specialised measuring equipment and advanced modelling. It is known that crucial optical parameters of the same phosphor may vary within a wide range of values. The aim of this work was to experimentally assess a simple previously published model where the case specific optical parameters (scattering and absorption) are instead represented by a fixed, single parameter, the light extinction factor, xi. The term extrinsic efficiency, N, of a phosphor is also introduced, differing from the common denotation "absolute efficiency", after noting that unknown factors (such as temperature dependence) can have an influence during efficiency estimations and hence difficult to claim absoluteness. N is expressed as the ratio of light energy emitted per unit area at the phosphor surface to incident x-ray energy fluence. By focusing on ratios and relative changes in this study, readily available instruments in a Medical Physics Department (i.e. a photometer) could be used. The varying relative extrinsic efficiency for an extended range of particle sizes (7.5 and 25 mu m) and layer thicknesses (220 to 830 mu m) were calculated in the model from the input parameters: the mean particle size of the phosphor, the layer thickness, the light extinction factor and the calculated energy imparted to the layer. In-house manufactured screens (Gd2O2S:Tb) were used for better control of design parameters. The model provided good qualitative agreement to experiment with quantitative deviations in relative extrinsic efficiency within approximately 2%.
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| 21. |
- Magnusson, Maria, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
ACCURACY OF CT NUMBERS OBTAINED BY DIRA AND MONOENERGETIC PLUS ALGORITHMS IN DUAL-ENERGY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Radiation Protection Dosimetry. - : Oxford University Press. - 0144-8420 .- 1742-3406. ; 195:3-4, s. 212-217
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dual-energy computed tomography (CT) can be used in radiotherapy treatment planning for the calculation of absorbed dose distributions. The aim of this work is to evaluate whether there is room for improvement in the accuracy of the Monoenergetic Plus algorithm by Siemens Healthineers. A Siemens SOMATOM Force scanner was used to scan a cylindrical polymethyl methacrylate phantom with four rod-inserts made of different materials. Images were reconstructed using ADMIRE and processed with Monoenergetic Plus. The resulting CT numbers were compared with tabulated values and values simulated by the proof-of-a-concept algorithm DIRA developed by the authors. Both the Monoenergetic Plus and DIRA algorithms performed well; the accuracy of attenuation coefficients was better than about ±1% at the energy of 70 keV. Compared with DIRA, the worse performance of Monoenergetic Plus was caused by its (i) two-material decomposition to iodine and water and (ii) imperfect suppression of the beam hardening artifact in ADMIRE.
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| 22. |
- Magnusson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
-
DIRA-3D-a model-based iterative algorithm for accurate dual-energy dual-source 3D helical CT
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Biomedical Engineering & Physics Express. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 2057-1976. ; 5:6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Quantitative dual-energy computed tomography may improve the accuracy of treatment planning in radiation therapy. Of special interest are algorithms that can estimate material composition of the imaged object. One example of such an algorithm is the 2D model-based iterative reconstruction algorithm DIRA. The aim of this work is to extend this algorithm to 3D so that it can be used with cone-beams and helical scanning. In the new algorithm, the parallel FBP method was replaced with the approximate 3D FBP-based PI-method. Its performance was tested using a mathematical phantom consisting of six ellipsoids. The algorithm substantially reduced the beam-hardening artefact and the artefacts caused by approximate reconstruction after six iterations. Compared to Alvarez-Macovskis base material decomposition, DIRA-3D does not require geometrically consistent projections and hence can be used in dual-source CT scanners. Also, it can use several tissue-specific material bases at the same time to represent the imaged object.
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| 23. |
- Magnusson, Maria, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
On the Choice of Base Materials for Alvarez–Macovski and DIRA Dual-energy Reconstruction Algorithms in CT
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Photon Counting Computed Tomography. - Cham : Springer. - 9783031260629 - 9783031260612 ; , s. 153-175
-
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The choice of the material base to which the material decomposition is performed in dual-energy computed tomography may affect the quality of reconstructed images. Resulting inaccuracies may lower their diagnostic value, or if the data are used for radiation treatment planning, the accuracy of such plans. The aim of this work is to investigate how the commonly used (water, bone) (WB), (water, iodine) (WI), and (approximate photoelectric effect, Compton scattering) (PC) doublets affect the reconstructed linear attenuation coefficient in the case of the Alvarez–Macovski (AM) method. The performance of this method is also compared to the performance of the dual-energy iterative reconstruction algorithm DIRA. In both cases, the study is performed using simulations.The results show that the PC and WB doublets accurately predicted the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) values for human tissues and elements with Z = 1, …, 20, in the 20–150 keV range, though there was a small (<5% discrepancy in the 20–35 keV range. The WI doublet did not represent the tissues as well as PC and WB; the largest discrepancies (>50% in some cases) were in the 20–40 keV range.LACs reconstructed with the AM and DIRA followed this trend. AM produced artifacts when iodine was present in the phantom together with human tissues since AM can only work with one doublet at a time. It was shown that these artifacts could be avoided with DIRA using different doublets at different spatial positions, i.e., WB for soft and bone tissue and WI for the iodine solution.
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| 24. |
- Magnusson, Maria, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
Optimal Selection of Base Materials for Accurate Dual-Energy Computed Tomography : Comparison Between the Alvarez–Macovski Method and DIRA
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Radiation Protection Dosimetry. - : Oxford University Press. - 0144-8420 .- 1742-3406. ; 195:3-4, s. 218-224
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The choice of the material base to which the material decomposition is performed in dual-energy computed tomography may affect the quality of reconstructed images. The aim of this work is to investigate how the commonly used bases (water, bone), (water, iodine) and (photoelectric effect, Compton scattering) affect the reconstructed linear attenuation coefficient in the case of the Alvarez–Macovski method. The performance of this method is also compared with the performance of the Dual-energy Iterative Reconstruction Algorithm (DIRA). In both cases, the study is performed using simulations. The results show that the Alvarez–Macovski method produced artefacts when iodine was present in the phantom together with human tissues since this method can only work with one doublet. It was shown that these artefacts could be avoided with DIRA using the (water, bone) doublet for tissues and the (water, iodine) doublet for the iodine solution.
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
- Sandborg, Michael, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
Shaping X-ray spectra with filters in X-ray diagnostics
- 1994
-
Ingår i: Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing. - 0140-0118 .- 1741-0444. ; 32:4, s. 384-390
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The influence on image contrast, tube load and patient mean absorbed dose of different ways of shaping diagnostic X-ray spectra by placing filters in the beam is derived for two radiographic models (abdominal screen-film radiography and intra-oral, dental radiography) using a computational model. The filters are compared at either equal tube load (keeping tube potential constant) or equal contrast (adjusting the tube potential with the different filters), but always at equal energy imparted per unit area to the image receptor. Compared at equal tube load and relative to standard aluminium filtration, reductions in the mean absorbed dose in the patient of 15–25% can be achieved using filters of Cu, Ti, W and Au (increasing the tube load by 30–40% compared with standard aluminium filtration). However, contrast is also reduced by 7%. Compared at equal contrast, the dose reductions are smaller, about 10%. Filters of copper are generally recommended, as are filters of aluminium. The use of bandpass filters (K-edge filters) should be restricted to examinations where the need for substantial variation in tube potential from patient to patient is small. The benefit of using thicker filters than those commonly used today (increasing tube load by factors of 1.4–2.0 compared with no added filter) is small as the dose reduction is most rapid for small initial values of added filters, and the increase in tube load increases steadily with increasing filter thickness.
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| 27. |
- Stenström, Mats, 1960-
(författare)
-
Computerised Microtomography : Non-invasive imaging and analysis of biological samples, with special reference to monitoring development of osteoporosis in small animals
- 2001
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The use of Computerised microtomography (CμT) in biomedical research is well established, with most applications developed at synchrotron facilities. The possibility to non-invasively monitor morphological changes in biological samples, makes it an attractive technique in biomedicine. However, high absorbed doses and long examination times are a disadvantage that limits the possibilities of performing longitudinal examinations.The aim of this work was to optimise CmT using conventional X-ray tubes for applications in non-destructive material testing and for skeleton research in small animals (rat). A calculational model of the imaging system was developed and used to optimise the relation between image quality, expressed as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in detecting a contrasting detail, and imaging time in material testing. The model was modified to optimise the relation between the SNR in detecting a trabecular detail in cancelleous bone and the mean absorbed dose in spongiosa and skin for (rat) tibia and femur.Gastrectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were used to initiate osteoporotic changes. In order to detect differences in between gastrectomized rats and controls, spatial resolutions of 150 mm or better were needed. The minimum absorbed doses in femur spongiosa at SNR = 5 were 1mGy - 700 mGy at spatial resolutions from 100 mm to10 mm. In femur skin, the corresponding minimum absorbed doses were 2 mGy - 2000 mGy. Corresponding values for tibia were 0.3 mGy - 300 mGy for both spongiosa and skin (spatial resolution of 100 mm to10 mm). Taking 0.5 Gy as the tolerance limit for the spongiosa dose, longitudinal studies with six repeated examinations will be possible at a spatial resolution of 25 mm in femur and 17 examinations in tibia.
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| 28. |
- Stenström, Mats, et al.
(författare)
-
Methodologic aspects of computed microtomography to monitor the development of osteoporosis in gastrectomized rats
- 1995
-
Ingår i: Academic Radiology. - 1076-6332. ; 2:9, s. 785-791
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale and Objectives We investigated the methodologic development of computed microtomography (CMT) for monitoring the development of osteoporosis in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods Eight rats were gastrectomized and eight rats were sham operated. Femurs, tibias, and tails were prepared, and CMT scans with spatial resolutions of 5–500 μm were made. Bone diameters, bone areas, and moments of inertia were determined from the CMT scans. Optimal slice position and the need for spatial resolution and energy optimization for future in vivo applications were investigated. Results Gastrectomy caused dramatic changes in the bone architecture of the tibia and the femur. The main features were vacuolization of the bone and reduced amounts of compact bone. Although the outer diameters of tubular bones (femur and tibia) were largely unaffected, their inner diameters were greatly increased following gastrectomy. Relative bone area and moment of inertia were greatly reduced. The optimal photon energy was 12 keV. Conclusion It is possible to monitor gastrectomy-evoked changes in bone morphology at various sites in rats using CMT scanning. The changes are suggestive of osteoporosis. By optimizing the energy spectrum and spatial resolution, as well as choosing the proper slice position, it should be possible to keep absorbed doses low enough to avoid acute radiation injury in repeated in vivo measurements.
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| 29. |
- 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.
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| 30. |
- 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.
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| 31. |
- 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
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| 32. |
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| 33. |
- 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.
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| 34. |
- 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.
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| 35. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
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Fotonspridningsprocessen vid röntgendiagnostiska strålkvaliteter
- 1981
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Spridd strålning utgör ett allvarligt problem inom röntgendiagnostiken. Kunskap om den spridda strålningen, dess uppträdande i patient och detektor, är en förutsättning för att finna effektiva metoder att reducera den och begränsa dess negativa inverkan på bildkvaliten. Denna kunskap kan vinnas genom transportberäkningar, t ex Monte Carlo simulering (ALM CARLSSON). Detaljerad kännedom om tvärsnitten för inkoherent och koherent spridning är därvid av stor betydelse. Vid utnyttjandet av datortomografi för bestämning av elektrontäthet eller benmineralhalt och annan s.k. tomokemi krävs också välbestämda totala attenueringstvärsnitt, varav Compton och koherent spridning utgör en icke försumbar andel av attenueringen i energiområdet 10-100 keV. Fotonspridningen kan också utnyttjas positivt för att ge information om den kropp i vilken spridningen ägt rum. En review över metoder att använda Comptonspridningen till att göra elektrontäthetsbestämningar, såväl i enskilda volymer som i tomografiska snitt har publicerats av CARLSSON och ALM CARLSSON (1979). En viktig applikation av Comptonspridningen (inkoherent spridning) i diagnostisk radiologi är metoden att ur mätningar av antalet och energifördelningen av de fotoner, som spridits en viss vinkel bestämma energispektret av den primära röntgenstrålningen. Även här är kännedom om spridningstvärsnitten av vital betydelse för noggrannheten i bestämningen. Jag skall här ge en redogörelse för vår aktuella kunskap om tvärsnitten för koherent och inkoherent spridning för fotoner av röntgendiagnostisk kvalitet (10-200 keV). För dessa är det inte tillräckligt att applicera Klein-Nishina tvärsnittet, som gäller för spridning mot fria elektroner i vila utan hänsyn måste tas till att de atomära elektronerna är bundna och i rörelse i kollisionsögonblicket. Speciellt kommer konsekvenserna för metoden att bestämma primärstrålningsspektrum ur uppmätta spektra av spridd strålning att belysas.
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| 36. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Kavitetsteori : allmänna grunder
- 1981
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Kavitetsteori är av fundamental betydelse för dosimetrin. Dess uppgift är att relatera den absorberade dosen i en dosimeter till den absorberade dosen i en given punkt i det medium dosimetern är placerad. Idealt har dosimetern samma strålningsabsorberande egenskaper som mediet. Detta är emellertid nästan aldrig möjligt att uppnå.
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| 37. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Klassisk elektrodynamik : Växelverkan mellan laddade partiklar och elektromagnetiska fält
- 1975
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Varifrån kommer det elektromagnetiska fältet? Elektromagnetiska fält genereras av laddningar i rörelse (en laddning i vila genererar ett elektrostatiskt fält). I definitionen av fältstorheterna ovan tänks i första hand att det elektromagnetiska fält i vilket den betraktade laddningen q rör sig härstammar från alla de övriga laddningarna och deras rörelser i rymden. (Laddningen q genererar även själv ett elektromagnetiskt fält, som under vissa omständigheter återverkar på dess egen rörelse. Denna effekt diskuteras i ett senare avsnitt).
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| 38. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Kvantelektrodynamik för elektroner : Feynmandiagram och strålningskorrektioner av tvärsnitt
- 1975
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Utvecklingen av kvantelektrodynamiken startade strax efter det att den icke-relativistiska kvantmekaniken fullbordats och innebär en kombination av kvantmekaniska principer och klassisk elektrodynamik. Upphovsmän till kvantelektrodynamiken var Dirac, Heisenberg och Pauli. Diracs relativistiska, kvantmekaniska teori för elektroner ledde till den så kallade hålteorin för och förutsägelsen av en positivt laddad elektron = positronen. Väsentliga insatser inom kvantelektrodynamiken har gjorts av R.P. Feynman från vilken de så kallade Feynmandiagrammen härstammar. Genom en omtolkning av lösningarna till Diracs relativistiska, kvantmekaniska ekvation för elektronerna ersättes hålteorin för positroner med en beskrivning enligt vilken positronen representeras av vågor, som går bakåt i tiden. Denna tolkning av positronen möjliggör väsentliga förenklingar i beräkningen av tvärsnitt för växelverkansprocesser mellan elektroner och elektromagnetiska fält -förenklingar, som blir speciellt betydelsefulla vid behandlingen av mer komplicerade växelverkansprocesser inkluderande de så kallade strålningskorrektionerna till de enklare processerna. Feynmandiagram över även enklare växelverkansprocesser börjar dyka upp i moderna läroböcker (t ex Roy & Reed: "Interactions of photons and leptons with matter". Academic Press 1968) liksom tabellverk som ger strålningskorrektioner till olika elektrodynamiska växelverkansprocesser, (t ex Hubbell: "Photon cross sections, attenuation coefficients, and energy absorption coefficients from 10 keV to 100 GeV. NSRDS-NBS 29 (1969)). I det följande göres ett försök att kvalitativt redogöra för innebörden av Feynmandiagrammen och strålningskorrektionerna. (Analoga diagram kan användas vid beskrivningen av växelverkansprocesserna mellan nukleoner och mesonfält. För dessa redogöres dock inte här).
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| 39. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
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Kärnfysikaliska grunder för radioaktiva nuklider
- 1974
-
Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Förståelsen av den joniserande strålningen och dess växelverkan med materia förutsätter kännedom om atomens natur. Atomen (grekiska "atomos" = odelbar) är den minsta del av ett grundämne, som bibehåller ämnets identitet, dvs. uppvisar dess karakteristiska kemiska egenskaper. Individuella atomer är för små för att direkt kunna observeras. Man kan däremot observera vissa egenskaper hos atomen. Med hjälp av dessa försöker man bygga upp en enkel och åskådlig bild av atomen, en atommodell, med vars hjälp man kan förklara experimentellt gjorda observationer. Atomen består av en central, elektriskt positivt laddad kärna, till vilken den största delen av atomens massa är koncentrerad. Runt kärnan kretsar elektriskt negativt laddade elektroner, vilka neutraliserar kärnans positiva laddning, så att atomen utåt verkar elektriskt neutral. Atomkärnan är uppbyggd av två sorters elementarpartiklar, protoner och neutroner. En proton och en neutron har ungefär samma massa, men medan protonen är bärare av en positiv laddning lika stor som elektronens negativa laddning är neutronen elektriskt neutral. En elektriskt neutral atom innehåller alltså lika många protoner i kärnan som elektroner i det omgivande elektronskalet. Ett gemensamt namn på protoner och neutroner är nukleon.
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| 40. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun, et al.
(författare)
-
Monte Carlo metoden : ett verktyg inom strålningsfysiken
- 1995
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Detta kompendium är tänkt att användas som ett propedeutiskt kursmaterial för kursdeltagare i kursen "Monte Carlo simulering av foton- och elektrontransport vid diagnostiska och radioterapeutiska strålkvaliteter". Först följer en kort repetition av den grundläggande statistik som utnyt1jas i beräkningarna. Därefter följer en beskrivning av slumptal. det fundament som metoden bygger på. Vidare beskrivs val ur olika frekvensfunktioner. Valet kan även göras ur så kallade falska fördelningar för att reducera variansen i den skattade storheten. Metoderna belyses i ett avsnitt om problemlösningsmetodik. först i allmänna termer för att sen gå in på ett specifikt problem (Buffons nålproblem) där en analys och strukturering av problemet görs varefter flödesschema och kodning exemplifieras. Så följer två moment där en beskrivning görs av färderna av fotoner respektive elektroner genom materia. För elektronfärderna gör man en indelning i klass 1- och klass II-färder. Vad detta innebär och hur deltapartiklar tas om hand beskrivs i ett kapitel. Till sist kommer en kort introduktion till de tre laborationerna med laborationshandledningar. Speciell vikt har lagts vid att initiera laboranten att fundera på fysiken i de simulerade experimenten. Detta kompendium har tillkommit som examinationsarbete vid en kurs i "Monte Carlo simulering av foton- och elektrontransport vid diagnostiska och radioterapeutiska strålkvaliteter", med andra ord den kurs du själv nu ämnar studera. Författarna önskar dig lycka till med kursen och hoppas att du kommer att få glädje av den. Speciellt hoppas vi att denna skrift ska underlätta för dig att tillgodogöra dig informationen vid föreläsningarna och under laborationerna.
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| 41. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun, 1939-
(författare)
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Radiation protection of the patient.
- 1999
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Ingår i: The Journal of the Australasian Radiation Protection Society. - 1444-2752. ; 16, s. 20-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 42. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
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Skalära och vektoriella fysikaliska storheter : Deras betydelse för förståelsen av röntgendetektorernas uppträdande i ett strålningsfält
- 1981
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Joniserande strålning är ett fysikaliskt fenomen. Varje del av rymden där detta fenomen uppträder utgör ett strålningsfält. För att kunna ge ett mått på "mängden strålning" i fältet krävs att vi först definierar en storhet och därefter mäter eller beräknar storleken på denna uttryckt i antalet enheter av storheten i fråga. Det förekommer alltför ofta att man talar om att "mäta strålningen", vilket egentligen är en omöjlighet. Om man t.ex. anger att ett visst raster "reducerar den spridda strålningen med en faktor 2" så säger detta ingenting om man inte samtidigt anger vilken storhet man avser; fluensen, energifluensen, antalet fotoner som träffar en detektor, summaenergin hos fotonerna som träffar detektorn eller energin absorberad (energy imparted) i detektorn. Signalen från en detektor, som placeras i strålningsfältet beror i första hand av den i detektorn absorberade strålningsenergin även om modifikationer till följd av den aktuella fördelningen i tid och rum kan förekomma. Förståelsen aven detektors uppträdande i strålningsfältet är i första hand av dosimetrisk natur. Vi skall här närmare betrakta de storheter, som används för att beskriva strålningsfältet och hur dessa kan användas för att bestämma väntevärdet av den i en strålningsdetektor absorberade strålningsenergin. Samtidigt ges tillfälle att presentera de nya storheter och den nya terminologi, som infördes i senaste ICRU-rapporten över kvantiteter och enheter.
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| 43. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Spencer-Attix Cavity Theory
- 2002
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The cavity theory by Spencer and Attix treats the energy deposition in a Bragg-Gray (B-G) cavity (detector). Originally the theory was developed for the case of a B-G detector inside a medium irradiated with photons and assuming electronic equilibrium in the medium at the position of the cavity. The theory is also applicable in media irradiated with other types of uncharged ionizing particles (e.g., neutrons) and charged particles such as electrons and protons. The special case of photon irradiation under CPE (charged particle equilibrium) conditions was coupled to a model for calculating the energy spectrum of the equilibrium fluence of electrons in the undisturbed medium. For other situations, e.g., in a medium externally irradiated with electrons, the problem is to evaluate the energy spectrum of the electron fluence at the point considered in the medium. Today, this is mostly accomplished using Monte Carlo simulations. A Bragg-Gray cavity is regarded to be so small that: the energy imparted to the cavity from electrons released by photons in the cavity is negligible compared to the energy imparted from electrons released by photons in the surrounding medium and passing through the cavity the cavity should not disturb the fluence of electrons in the medium, i. e., the fluence of electrons traversing the cavity is assumed to be identical to that existing at the point of interest in the medium in the absence of the cavity.
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| 44. |
- Alm Carlsson, Gudrun
(författare)
-
Spencer-Attix kavitetsteori
- 2001
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Spencer-Attix kavitetsteori behandlar energideponeringen i en Bragg-Gray kavitet (detektor) inuti ett medium bestrålat med fotoner och med elektronjämvikt i mediet på kavitetens plats. Med en Bragg-Gray kavitet menas en kavitet så liten att energideponeringen i kaviteten från elektroner frigjorda av fotoner i kaviteten är försumbar jämfört med energideponeringen från elektroner frigjorda av fotoner i omgivande mediet och som passerar in kaviteten kaviteten skall inte nämnvärt störa fluensen av elektronerna i mediet, dvs kaviteten antas i varje punkt genomkorsad av samma fluens av elektroner, som finns i mediet i frånvaro av kaviteten
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| 45. |
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| 46. |
- Carlsson, Gudrun Alm, et al.
(författare)
-
Basic Atomic and Nuclear Physics
- 2022. - 1
-
Ingår i: Handbook of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging for Physicists : Instrumentation and Imaging Procedures, Volume I - Instrumentation and Imaging Procedures, Volume I. - 9781138593268 - 9780429489556 ; 1, s. 15-37
-
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nuclear medicine and molecular imaging are mostly based on radioactive elements that, when decaying due to an excess of energy, emit radiation in the form of electromagnetic radiation (photons), or by charge-particles (electron, positrons, or alpha particles). The first part of this chapter describes in general the atom and its components and states some definitions important for further reading. There are several ways that a nucleus can decay (by alpha, beta+, and beta decay, electron capture and internal conversion). Each of these processes together with the conditions required for such a decay, are discussed in the chapter. In several of these decays there are also secondary emissions, such as characteristic x-rays and Auger electrons, and these are described together with which conditions they become important. Decay processes are generally described in the literature by decay schemes, and the chapter therefore includes a section on how these schemes are constructed and how to read them. The nature of the decay rate (the activity) is described since this is a fundamental quantity in the nuclear medicine field together with some examples of more complex decays.
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| 47. |
- Dance, D, et al.
(författare)
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Breast dosimetry using high-resolution voxel phantoms
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Radiation Protection Dosimetry. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0144-8420 .- 1742-3406. ; 114:1-3, s. 359-363
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A computer model of X-ray mammography has been developed, which uses quasi-realistic high-resolution voxel phantoms to simulate the breast. The phantoms have 400 μm voxels and simulate the three-dimensional distributions of adipose and fibroglandular tissues, Cooper's ligaments, ducts and skin and allow the estimation of dose to individual tissues. Calculations of the incident air kerma to mean glandular dose conversion factor, g, were made using a Mo/Mo spectrum at 28 kV for eight phantoms in the thickness range 40-80 mm and of varying glandularity. The values differed from standard tabulations used for breast dosimetry by up to 43%, because of the different spatial distribution of glandular tissue within the breast. To study this further, additional voxel phantoms were constructed, which gave variations of between 9 and 59% compared with standard values. For accurate breast dosimetry, it is therefore very important to take the distribution of glandular tissues into account. © The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
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| 48. |
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| 49. |
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| 50. |
- Dance, David, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of anode/filter material and tube potential on contrast, signal-to-noise ratio and average absorbed dose in mammography: a Monte Carlo study
- 2000
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Radiology. - 0007-1285. ; 73, s. 1056-1067
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The comparative performance of mammographic X-ray systems that use different anode/filter combinations has been assessed for screen±®lm and digital imaging. Monte Carlo techniques have been used to calculate average glandular dose as well as contrast and signal-tonoise ratio for imaging two test details. Five anode/filter combinations have been studied to establish the potential for dose saving or image quality improvement. For screen±film mammography, it was found that little bene®t is gained by changing from a standard 28 kV molybdenum/molybdenum spectrum for breasts up to 6 cm thick. For thicker breasts, where the tube potential for the standard technique might be increased, 20% improvement in contrast can be achieved without dose penalty using molybdenum/rhodium or rhodium/rhodium spectra, whereas dose savings of more than 50% can be attained whilst maintaining contrast using tungsten/rhodium or rhodium/aluminium spectra. In digital mammography, a molybdenum/ molybdenum spectrum delivers the lowest dose for a 2 cm breast, but gives the highest dose for thicker breasts. Tungsten/rhodium or rhodium/aluminium spectra provide the lowest doses at greater thicknesses. It is concluded that for screen±film mammography, molybdenum/ molybdenum is the spectrum of choice for all but the thickest or most glandular breasts. In digital mammography, an alternative spectrum is preferable for breasts thicker than 2 cm.
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