Application of the fundamental parameter method to the in vivo x-ray fluorescence analysis of Pt

The application of the fundamental parameter method (FPM) to the in vivo x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of Pt has been investigated. The FPM is conventionally used to carry out elemental analysis of samples in vitro without the need to use standard samples of accurately known composition for system calibration. The present work has involved the use of the FPM to calculate the concentration of Pt solutions in phantoms, with concentrations ranging from 25-1000 ppm. The phantoms simulate the measurement of Pt-based chemotherapy drugs in head and neck tumours. The radiation sources were a 150 kV tungsten-anode x-ray tube and the isotope 99mTc. The minimum detection limit measured for Pt was in the range 8-30 ppm (depending on radiation source and geometry), using a narrow (5 mm) diameter beam. Dose rates in the phantom were 0.1-5 mGy h(-1). Average differences between nominal and calculated values of Pt concentration were <8% using the phantoms in air to simulate measurement of Pt in superficial body sites. If the phantoms were placed in a water bath, to simulate measurement at greater depths of overlying tissue, higher systematic differences (15-20%) were observed. This effect is probably due to multiple scattering processes in the surrounding medium.