title: Dosimetric characteristics of a 16-slice computed tomography scanner.
abstract: Standard CT dose measurements were performed on a Siemens Sensation 16 scanner. CT dose indices, free-in-air (CTDI(F)) and weighted (CTDI(W)), were measured in all available axial and helical beam collimations of the head and body scanning modes. The effect of tube current, high voltage, rotation time, beam collimation and pitch on the CT doses was investigated. CT doses increased as a power function of high voltage. The kVp exponent n varied with beam collimation from 2.7 to 3.1 for CTDI(W), and from 2.4 to 2.6 for CTDI(F). Automatic change of the focal spot size increased radiation doses up to a factor of 1.18. Measured small-focus CTDI(W) values differed from those displayed at the console from -24 to 14%. Peripheral doses in the head phantom were higher compared to the body phantom by a factor of 1.5 to 2. Central doses are 2.7 to 4.1 times higher. Differences in beam collimation resulted in 50% variation in the CTDI(W) in the body phantom and 60% in the head phantom. In conclusion, our study has confirmed the great impact of technique factors and acquisition parameters on CT doses. The provided comprehensive dosimetric data will facilitate the dose-effective use of the scanner studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, P.O. Box 2208, Iraklion, 71003, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Theocharopoulos
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Perisinakis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damilakis
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karampekios
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gourtsoyiannis
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014915:Whole-Body Counting