Radiation dose reduction in cone-beam computed tomography of extremities: evaluation of a novel radiation shield

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a relatively new technique for imaging of extremities. It provides high-resolution images with lower effective dose compared to conventional CT. However following the ALARA principle, CBCT-imaging protocols and practices must also be optimised to minimize the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of radiological protection 2014-06, Vol.34 (2), p.N57-N63
Main Authors: Matikka, H, Virén, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biological effects of radiation
Body Burden
cone-beam computed tomography
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography - instrumentation
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography - methods
dose reduction
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
extremities
Extremities - diagnostic imaging
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Phantoms, Imaging
Radiation Dosage
Radiation Protection - instrumentation
Radiation Protection - methods
radiation shield
Radiometry
Radioprotection
Reproducibility of Results
Scattering, Radiation
Sensitivity and Specificity
Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics
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Summary:Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a relatively new technique for imaging of extremities. It provides high-resolution images with lower effective dose compared to conventional CT. However following the ALARA principle, CBCT-imaging protocols and practices must also be optimised to minimize the dose absorbed by the patient as well as personnel. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a novel scanner-attached radiation shield on the dose absorbed by the patient and on the amount of scattered radiation around the scanner. An orthopedic CBCT scanner was applied for comparing the doses with and without the shield during an elbow and a knee scan. A homogeneous 8 cm PMMA phantom with either an anthropomorphic Alderson phantom or a 16 cm PMMA phantom simulated the tissues of a patient. Measurements were made for several scan parameters using calibrated dose meters. The results show that the radiation shield significantly decreased the doses measured on the patient during CBCT scans of the elbow and the knee. The usage of the shield decreased the absorbed doses by up to 95.5%. Also scattered radiation around the gantry decreased notably. The use of the shield is highly recommended, especially for pediatric patients.
ISSN:0952-4746
1361-6498
DOI:10.1088/0952-4746/34/2/N57