title: Clinical evaluation of a dose monitoring software tool based on Monte Carlo Simulation in assessment of eye lens doses for cranial CT scans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to verify the results of a dose monitoring software tool based on Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) in assessment of eye lens doses for cranial CT scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  In cooperation with the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Neuherberg, Germany), phantom measurements were performed with thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD LiF:Mg,Ti) using cranial CT protocols: (I) CT angiography; (II) unenhanced, cranial CT scans with gantry angulation at a single and (III) without gantry angulation at a dual source CT scanner. Eye lens doses calculated by the dose monitoring tool based on MCS and assessed with TLDs were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eye lens doses are summarized as follows: (I) CT angiography (a) MCS 7 mSv, (b) TLD 5 mSv; (II) unenhanced, cranial CT scan with gantry angulation, (c) MCS 45 mSv, (d) TLD 5 mSv; (III) unenhanced, cranial CT scan without gantry angulation (e) MCS 38 mSv, (f) TLD 35 mSv. Intermodality comparison shows an inaccurate calculation of eye lens doses in unenhanced cranial CT protocols at the single source CT scanner due to the disregard of gantry angulation. On the contrary, the dose monitoring tool showed an accurate calculation of eye lens doses at the dual source CT scanner without gantry angulation and for CT angiography examinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dose monitoring software tool based on MCS gave accurate estimates of eye lens doses in cranial CT protocols. However, knowledge of protocol and software specific influences is crucial for correct assessment of eye lens doses in routine clinical use.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany. nika.guberina@uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: Nika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guberina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Saravanabavaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suntharalingam
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naßenstein
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forsting
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Theysohn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wetter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ringelstein
mesh_terms: D065638:Absorption, Radiation / Q000502:physiology; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D000069079:Radiation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Dose monitoring software tool; Eye lens dose; Monte Carlo Simulation; Phantom study; Radiation exposure