Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1 Faculty of Nuclear Engineering and Physics, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Radiotherapy, Chamran Hospital, P.O. Box 1693715814, Tehran, Iran
3 Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
By the rapid development of imaging systems such as PET/CT for diagnosis of cancer, the protection of staff and public has become a main health concern. Due to serious and irreversible harms of ionization radiations, protection of all those who are exposed is the main concern of health issues. The main basis of the calculation of the shielding design in the medical imaging systems is that the absorbed dose should not exceed the allowed limit. In this study, the current shielding status of the PET/CT installations in Tehran's Shariati hospital was investigated using the MCNPX Monte Carlo code to ensure that the dose limits for both the controlled and uncontrolled area are not violated. The proposed simulation method was benchmarked with a validated analytical method. Shariati hospital provides services to four patients every day, leading to a dose rate in the range of 2.6 × 10-6 to 9.35 × 10-3 mSv/week. The minimum dose rate in this range represents the value behind the door of the waiting room (public uncontrolled area), while the maximum in this range corresponds to the value behind the glass of the scanner room (operator controlled area). The simulation results for 8 patients/day in this center showed that the dose rate behind the wall of the injection room will increase from 4.88 ×10-6 mSv/week to 2.81 × 10-2 mSv/week, which is well below the recommended levels. This indicates that the present shielding is adequate for up to four more patients per day.
Highlights
- Calculation of a present PET/CT installation shielding using simulation and analytical method.
- Comparison of Monte Carlo with analytical method of above PET/CT shielding requirement.
- Showing that present shielding structure is adequate for treating up to four more patients a day.
Keywords
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