Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

An analytical and Monte Carlo investigation of the sufficiency of the present shielding of PET/CT imaging system at Tehran's Shariati hospital‎

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

‎Fereshteh Gholami 1, 2
‎Ehsan Alibeigi 1, 3
‎Mojtaba Shamsaei-Zafarghandi 1
‎Ehsan Nazemi 3

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

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2020.89330
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

‎Positron-emission-tomography
‎Computed-tomography shielding
‎Dose rate
‎Monte Carlo method
‎Analytical method‎
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Radiation Physics and Engineering
Volume 1, Issue 3
Summer 2020
Pages 37-41

  • Receive Date 28 February 2018
  • Revise Date 21 August 2018
  • Accept Date 18 September 2018

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