The Physics of CT Dosimetry: CTDI and Beyond

This book explores the physics of CT dosimetry and provides practical guidance on best practice for medical researchers and practitioners. A rigorous description of the basic physics of CT dosimetry is presented and illustrates flaws of the current methodology. It also contains helpful (and rigorous) shortcuts to reduce the measurement workload for medical physicists. The mathematical rigor is accompanied by easily-understood physical explanations and numerous illustrative figures. Features: Authored by a recognised expert in the field and award-winning teacher Includes derivations for tube current modulation and variable pitch as well as stationary table techniques Explores abnormalities present in dose-tracking software based on CTDI and presents methods to correct them Chapter 1: Introduction and History Chapter 2: Derivation of Dose Equations for Shift-Invariant Techniques and the Physical Interpretation of the CTDI-Paradigm Chapter 3: Experimental Validation of a Versatile System of CT Dosimetry Using a Conventional Small Ion Chamber Chapter 4: An Improved Analytical Primary Beam Model for CT Dose Simulation Chapter 5 : Cone Beam CT Dosimetry: A Unified and Self-Consistent Approach Including All Scan Modalities – With or Without Phantom Motion Chapter 6: Analytical Equations for CT Dose Profiles Derived Using a Scatter Kernel of Monte Carlo Parentage Having Broad Applicability to CT Dosimetry Problems Chapter 7: Dose Equations for Tube Current Modulation in CT Scanning and the Interpretation of the Associated CTDIvol Chapter 8: Dose Equations for Shift-Variant CT Acquisition Modes Using Variable Pitch, Tube Current, and Aperture, and the Meaning of their Associated CTDIvol Chapter 9: Stationary Table CT Dosimetry and Anomalous Scanner-Reported Values of CTDIvol Chapter 10: Future Directions of CT Dosimetry and A Book Summary "This textbook is a great resource for medical physicists involved in CT dosimetry, even for those who have followed the publications of Dr. Dixon over the years, since it offers a comprehensive discussion, as well as important pitfalls in present-day CT dosimetry. The author is very direct in his criticism of the CTDI-formalism and eloquent points aremade on why a new formalism is needed. However, the take-away message from this textbook is not the criticism, but rather the rigour of mathematics and physics in the derivation and application of the convolution method, which can be used to further the understanding of CT dosimetry.