title: Filtration to reduce paediatric dose for a linear slot-scanning digital X-ray machine.
abstract: This paper describes modelling, application and validation of a filtration technique for a linear slot-scanning digital X-ray system to reduce radiation dose to paediatric patients while preserving diagnostic image quality. A dose prediction model was implemented, which calculates patient entrance doses using variable input parameters. Effective dose is calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation. An added filter of 1.8-mm aluminium was predicted to lower the radiation dose significantly. An objective image quality study was conducted using detective quantum efficiency (DQE). The PTW Normi 4FLU test phantom was used for quantitative assessment, showing that image contrast and spatial resolution were maintained with the proposed filter. A paediatric cadaver full-body imaging trial assessed the diagnostic quality of the images and measured the dose reduction using a 1.8-mm aluminium filter. Assessment by radiologists indicated that diagnostic quality was maintained with the added filtration, despite a reduction in DQE. A new filtration technique for full-body paediatric scanning on the Lodox Statscan has been validated, reducing entrance dose for paediatric patients by 36 % on average and effective dose by 27 % on average, while maintaining image quality.
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit and Biomedical Engineering Programme, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Perks
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit and Biomedical Engineering Programme, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dendere
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit and Biomedical Engineering Programme, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Irving
authors.affiliation: Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.affiliation: Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scholtz
authors.affiliation: Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Mowbray, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trauernicht
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit and Biomedical Engineering Programme, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa Lodox Systems, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit and Biomedical Engineering Programme, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa tania@ieee.org.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000737:chemistry; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014915:Whole-Body Counting; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D000535:Aluminum