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Fast Monte Carlo codes for occupational dosimetry in interventional radiology

García Balcaza, V ; Camp, A ; Badal, A ; Andersson, M LU ; Almen, A LU ; Ginjaume, M and Duch, M A (2021) In Physica Medica 85. p.166-174
Abstract

PURPOSE: Interventional radiology techniques cause radiation exposure both to patient and personnel. The radiation dose to the operator is usually measured with dosimeters located at specific points above or below the lead aprons. The aim of this study is to develop and validate two fast Monte Carlo (MC) codes for radiation transport in order to improve the assessment of individual doses in interventional radiology. The proposed methodology reduces the number of required dosemeters and provides immediate dose results.

METHODS: Two fast MC simulation codes, PENELOPE/penEasyIR and MCGPU-IR, have been developed. Both codes have been validated by comparing fast MC calculations with the multipurpose PENELOPE MC code and with... (More)

PURPOSE: Interventional radiology techniques cause radiation exposure both to patient and personnel. The radiation dose to the operator is usually measured with dosimeters located at specific points above or below the lead aprons. The aim of this study is to develop and validate two fast Monte Carlo (MC) codes for radiation transport in order to improve the assessment of individual doses in interventional radiology. The proposed methodology reduces the number of required dosemeters and provides immediate dose results.

METHODS: Two fast MC simulation codes, PENELOPE/penEasyIR and MCGPU-IR, have been developed. Both codes have been validated by comparing fast MC calculations with the multipurpose PENELOPE MC code and with measurements during a realistic interventional procedure.

RESULTS: The new codes were tested with a computation time of about 120 s to estimate operator doses while a standard simulation needs several days to obtain similar uncertainties. When compared with the standard calculation in simple set-ups, MCGPU-IR tends to underestimate doses (up to 5%), while PENELOPE/penEasyIR overestimates them (up to 18%). When comparing both fast MC codes with experimental values in realistic set-ups, differences are within 25%. These differences are within accepted uncertainties in individual monitoring.

CONCLUSION: The study highlights the fact that computational dosimetry based on the use of fast MC codes can provide good estimates of the personal dose equivalent and overcome some of the limitations of occupational monitoring in interventional radiology. Notably, MCGPU-IR calculates both organ doses and effective dose, providing a better estimate of radiation risk.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Computer Simulation, Humans, Monte Carlo Method, Radiation Dosage, Radiation Dosimeters, Radiology, Interventional, Radiometry
in
Physica Medica
volume
85
pages
166 - 174
publisher
ISTITUTI EDITORIALI E POLGRAFICI INTERNAZIONALI
external identifiers
  • pmid:34015619
  • scopus:85106313370
ISSN
1120-1797
DOI
10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.05.012
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8f8a6e55-ec16-4217-9cd5-855924a81542
date added to LUP
2021-07-09 00:21:25
date last changed
2024-06-15 13:18:02
@article{8f8a6e55-ec16-4217-9cd5-855924a81542,
  abstract     = {{<p>PURPOSE: Interventional radiology techniques cause radiation exposure both to patient and personnel. The radiation dose to the operator is usually measured with dosimeters located at specific points above or below the lead aprons. The aim of this study is to develop and validate two fast Monte Carlo (MC) codes for radiation transport in order to improve the assessment of individual doses in interventional radiology. The proposed methodology reduces the number of required dosemeters and provides immediate dose results.</p><p>METHODS: Two fast MC simulation codes, PENELOPE/penEasyIR and MCGPU-IR, have been developed. Both codes have been validated by comparing fast MC calculations with the multipurpose PENELOPE MC code and with measurements during a realistic interventional procedure.</p><p>RESULTS: The new codes were tested with a computation time of about 120 s to estimate operator doses while a standard simulation needs several days to obtain similar uncertainties. When compared with the standard calculation in simple set-ups, MCGPU-IR tends to underestimate doses (up to 5%), while PENELOPE/penEasyIR overestimates them (up to 18%). When comparing both fast MC codes with experimental values in realistic set-ups, differences are within 25%. These differences are within accepted uncertainties in individual monitoring.</p><p>CONCLUSION: The study highlights the fact that computational dosimetry based on the use of fast MC codes can provide good estimates of the personal dose equivalent and overcome some of the limitations of occupational monitoring in interventional radiology. Notably, MCGPU-IR calculates both organ doses and effective dose, providing a better estimate of radiation risk.</p>}},
  author       = {{García Balcaza, V and Camp, A and Badal, A and Andersson, M and Almen, A and Ginjaume, M and Duch, M A}},
  issn         = {{1120-1797}},
  keywords     = {{Computer Simulation; Humans; Monte Carlo Method; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Dosimeters; Radiology, Interventional; Radiometry}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{166--174}},
  publisher    = {{ISTITUTI EDITORIALI E POLGRAFICI INTERNAZIONALI}},
  series       = {{Physica Medica}},
  title        = {{Fast Monte Carlo codes for occupational dosimetry in interventional radiology}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.05.012}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ejmp.2021.05.012}},
  volume       = {{85}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}