Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Investigation of the suitability of new developed epoxy based-phantom for child's tissue equivalency in paediatric radiology

  • Yucel, Haluk (Ankara University, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Besevler 10.Yil Campus) ;
  • Safi, Aziz (Ankara University, Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Besevler 10.Yil Campus)
  • Received : 2020.04.11
  • Accepted : 2021.07.03
  • Published : 2021.12.25
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Abstract

In this study, tissue equivalency (TE) of a newly developed epoxy-based phantom to 3-5 years child's tissue was investigated in paediatric energy range. Epoxy-based TE-phantoms were produced at different glandular/adipose (G/A) ratios of 17/83%, 31/69%, 36/64% and 10/90%. A procedure was developed in which specific amounts of boron, calcium, magnesium, sulphur compounds are mixed with epoxy resin, together with other minor substitutes. In paediatric energy range of 40-60 kVp half-value layer (HVL) values were measured and then Hounsfield Units (HU) were determined from Computed Tomography(CT) scans taken in the X-ray energy range of 80-120kVp. It is found that radiation absorption properties of these phantoms in terms of the measured HVL values related to linear attenuation coefficients (µ) are very well mimicking a 3 years child's soft tissue in case a ratio of 10/90%G/A. Additionally, the HU values of phantoms were determined from the CT scans. The HU = 47.8 ± 4.8 value was found for the epoxy-based phantom produced at a ratio of 10/90%G/A. The obtained HVL and HU values also support the suitability of the new epoxy based-phantom produced at a ratio of 10/90%G/A for a satisfactory mimicking a 3 years child's soft tissue by 5%. Thus they can have a potential use to perform the quality controls of medical X-ray systems and dose optimization studies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Authors are gratefully thankful to Prof. Dr. Durmus Etiz who gave a permission to use Siemens CT system in Eskisehir Osmangazi University Oncology Department. Authors are also thankful to Mr. Ibrahim Demirel, Mr. R. Bora Nartturk, Ms. Gizem Gedik and Ms. Solen Yuksel who helped to perform some experimental works conducted at Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Ankara University.

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