KEYWORDS: Gold, Monte Carlo methods, Sensors, Computed tomography, Signal to noise ratio, Photons, Compton scattering, Tissues, X-ray computed tomography, Signal attenuation
Newly developed spectral CTs with a photon-counting and energy-selective detector provide the possibility to obtain additional information about an object’s absorption properties, the footprint of which can be found in the energy spectrum of the detected photons. These new CT systems are capable of yielding valuable insight into the elemental composition of the tissue and open up the way for new CT contrast agents by detecting element-specific K-edge patterns. Gold could be a promising new CT contrast agent. The major goal of this study is to determine the minimum amount of gold that is needed to use it as a spectral CT contrast agent for medical imaging in humans. To reach this goal, Monte Carlo simulations with EGSnrc were performed.
The energy-selective detector, on which this study is based, has 6 energy bins and the energy thresholds can be selected freely. First different energy thresholds were analyzed to determine the best energy thresholds with respect to detecting gold. The K-edge imaging algorithm was then applied to the simulation results with these energy bins. The reconstructed images were evaluated with respect to signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio and contrast.
The K-edge imaging algorithm is able to convert the information in the six energy bins into three images, which correspond to the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and gold content; however, it requires very long computing time. The simulations indicate that at least 0.2w% of gold are required to use it as a CT contrast agent in humans.
Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were demonstrated as X-ray imaging contrast agents and radiosensitizers in mice. However, the translational medical applications of GNPs in to the clinical practice need further detailed information on the biological effects related to the enhanced doses in malignant and healthy cells. The idea of improving radiotherapy with high atomic number materials, especially gold foils, was initiated in our research unit in the 1980s. Recently, experimental and theoretical efforts were made to investigate the potential improvement of imaging and radiotherapy with GNPs. Initially, the present work attempts to validate the dose enhancement effects of GNPs to cancer cells; secondly, it intends to examine the possible side effects on healthy cells when using GNPs as X-ray contrast agent. In this study, three Monte Carlo simulation programs, namely PENELOPE-2011, GEANT4 and EGSnrc were used to simulate the local energy deposition and the resulting dose enhancement of GNPs. Diameters of the GNPs were assumed to be 2 nm, 15 nm, 50 nm, 100 nm and 200 nm. The X-ray energy spectra for irradiation were 60 kVp, 80 kVp, 100 kVp, 150 kVp with a filtering of 2.7 mm Al for projectional radiography, and 8 mm Al for 100 kVp and 150 kVp for computed tomography. Additional peak energy of 200 kVp was simulated for radiotherapy purpose. The information of energy deposition and dose enhancement can help understanding the physical processes of medical imaging and the implication of nanoparticles in radiotherapy.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.