Comparison of Radiation Dose in the Measurement of MDCT Radiation Dose according to Correction of Temperatures and Pressure, and Calibration of Ionization Chamber

MDCT 선량측정에서 온도와 압력에 따른 보정과 Ionization Chamber의 Calibration 전후 선량의 비교평가

This study aims to conduct the comparative analysis of the radiation dose according to before and after the calibration of the ionization chamber used for measuring radiation dose in the MDCT, as well as of $CTDI_w$ according to temperature and pressure correction factors in the CT room. A comparative analysis was conducted based on the measured MDCT (GE light speed plus 4 slice, USA) data using head and body CT dosimetric phantom, and Model 2026C electrometer (RADICAL 2026C, USA) calibrated on March 21, 2007. As a result, the $CTDI_w$ value which reflected calibration factors, as well as correction factors of temperature and pressure, was found to be the range of $0.479{\sim}3.162mGy$ in effective radiation dose than the uncorrected values. Also, under the routine abdomen routine CT image acquisition conditions used in reference hospitals, patient effective dose was measured to indicate the difference of the maximum of 0.7 mSv between before and after the application of such factors. These results imply that the calibration of the ion chamber, and the correction of temperature and pressure of the CT room are crucial in measuring and calculating patient effective dose. Thus, to measure patient radiation dose accurately, the detailed information should be made available regarding not only the temperature and pressure of the CT room, but also the humidity and recombination factor, characteristics of X-ray beam quality, exposure conditions, scan region, and so forth.

본 연구는 MDCT에서 선량을 측정하는데 사용되는 ionization chamber의 calibration 전과 후의 calibration factor에 따른 선량과 촬영실의 온도, 기압의 보정(correction factor) 적용 유무에 따른 $CTDI_w$를 비교 분석하는데 있다. 2007년 3월 21일에 교정된 Model 2026C electormeter (RADICAL 2026C, USA)를 이용한 MDCT (GE light speed plus 4 slice, USA)와 head and body CT dosimetry phantom을 사용하여 측정된 값을 비교 분석하였다. 결과는 calibration factor와 주변 온도, 압력의 correction factor를 보정 해 준 $CTDI_w$ 값이 보정을 하지 않고 계산된 값보다 $0.479{\sim}3.162mGy$의 범위만큼 더 많은 선량 값이 계산되었고 실제 병원에서 사용하는 복부 일반 CT (abdomen routine CT) 조건에서의 환자선량을 측정한 결과 factor적용 전과 후의 유효선량 차는 최고 0.7 mSv의 차이가 남을 확인 할 수 있었다. 이러한 결과는 ionization chamber의 calibration과 촬영실 주변 온도와 압력이 환자선량의 측정과 계산에 중요한 요소임을 알 수 있다. 따라서 정확한 환자 선량 측정을 위해서는 촬영실 주변 온도와 압력뿐만 아니라 습도 및 recombination factor, x-ray beam quality 특성, 촬영조건(exposure conditions), 측정부위(scan region) 등에 대한 보정 factor들의 정확한 정보를 알아야 한다.