title: Comparing different methods for estimating radiation dose to the conceptus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare different methods available in the literature for estimating radiation dose to the conceptus (Dconceptus) against a patient-specific Monte Carlo (MC) simulation and a commercial software package (CSP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight voxel models from abdominopelvic CT exams of pregnant patients were generated. Dconceptuswas calculated with an MC framework including patient-specific longitudinal tube current modulation (TCM). For the same patients, dose to the uterus, Duterus, was calculated as an alternative for Dconceptus, with a CSP that uses a standard-size, non-pregnant phantom and a generic TCM curve. The percentage error between Duterusand Dconceptuswas studied. Dose to the conceptus and percent error with respect to Dconceptuswas also estimated for three methods in the literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage error ranged from -15.9% to 40.0% when comparing MC to CSP. When comparing the TCM profiles with the generic TCM profile from the CSP, differences were observed due to patient habitus and conceptus position. For the other methods, the percentage error ranged from -30.1% to 13.5% but applicability was limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimating an accurate Dconceptusrequires a patient-specific approach that the CSP investigated cannot provide. Available methods in the literature can provide a better estimation if applicable to patient-specific cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • A patient's internal anatomy affects the dose to the conceptus. • Conceptus position has an influence on its dose estimation. • Patient anatomy and specific TCM must be considered for accurate conceptus dosimetry. • Duterusto a standard-size phantom should not be used as Dconceptus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Pathology, Division of Medical Physics & Quality Assessment, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. xochitl.lopezrendon@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lopez-Rendon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Walgraeve
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woussen
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Pathology, Division of Medical Physics & Quality Assessment, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dedulle
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Pathology, Division of Medical Physics & Quality Assessment, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Pathology, Division of Medical Physics & Quality Assessment, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, box 7003, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.|GE Healthcare, Buc, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014599:Uterus; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Commercial software package; Dose to the conceptus; Monte Carlo simulations; Pregnancy; Tube current modulation