Highlights
- •A modified lead-covered case method can determines the half-value layers.
- •The method does not require X-ray tubes to be fixed during measurements.
- •The method can be applied to dual-source dual-energy computed tomography scans.
- •The peak method shows a more accurate half-value layer than the integrated method.
- •A combination of a 1.0-cm aperture of the case and the peak method is adequate.
Abstract
Purpose
We have proposed a method for determining the half-value layers (HVL) in dual-source
dual-energy computed tomography (DS-DECT) scans without the need for the X-ray tubes
to be fixed.
Methods
A custom-made lead-covered case and an ionizing chamber connected with a multi-function
digitizer module (a real-time dosimeter) were used. The chamber was placed in the
center of the case, and aluminum or copper filters were placed in front of the aperture.
The HVL was measured using aperture widths of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 cm for tube potentials
of 80, 120, and 150 kV in single-source single-energy CT (SS-SECT) scans and was calculated
from the peak air kerma rate (peak method) and the integrated air kerma rate (integrating
method); the obtained values were compared with those from a conventional non-rotating
method performed using the same procedure. The HVL was then measured using an aperture
width of 1.0 cm for tube potential combinations of 70/Sn150 kV and 100/Sn150 kV in
DS-DECT scans using the peak method.
Results
In the SS-SECT scans, the combination of a 1.0-cm aperture and the peak method was
adequate due to the small differences in the HVL values obtained for the conventional
non-rotating method. The method was also found to be applicable for the DS-DECT scans.
Conclusions
Our proposed method can determine the HVL in SS-SE and DS-DECT scans to a good level
of accuracy without the need for the X-ray tubes to be fixed. The combination of a
1.0-cm aperture and the peak method was adequate.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 27, 2017
Accepted:
October 21,
2017
Received in revised form:
August 9,
2017
Received:
March 3,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
