Applicability and limitations of the Adam mathematical phantom with respect to radiological protection.
Monte Carlo (MC) simulation of radiation transport is applied to an anthropomorphic mathematical (ADAM) or Zubal's voxel phantom, representing a male adult. The purpose is to compare absorbed energy in various organs (liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, spleen, adrenals and heart) in the simplified (mathematical) and more realistic (voxel) anatomy. A broad beam of monodirectional and monoenergetic photons (20 keV to 10 MeV), perpendicular to the longitudinal body axis, is incident on the front (AP) or the back (PA) of the phantom. Two MC codes, MCNP-4C and MCNPX-2.1.5, are used for the calculations. Specific absorbed fraction as a function of energy reflects the shielding of an organ by other organs. Comparison of the results for the two phantoms enables an evaluation of the applicability and the limitations of ADAM with respect to radiological protection. The cases studied indicate no urgent need to replace the (commonly used) mathematical phantom by a more sophisticated voxel phantom.
Smiljanic
I
I
Department of Radiation Technology, Interfaculty Reactor Institute, Delft University of Technology, Medical Physics Group, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands. I.Smiljanic@IRI.TUDelft.nl
Schultz
F W
FW
D003198:Computer Simulation; D006321:Heart / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009928:Organ Specificity; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed