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Published on: February 20, 2021
Monte Carlo derivation of filtered tungsten anode X-ray spectra for dose computation in digital mammography
Lucas Paixão1, Bruno Beraldo Oliveira1, Carolina Viloria2
1M.Sc., Post-graduation in Science and Technology of Radiations, Minerals and Materials - Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear / Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (CDTN/CNEN), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Objective:
Derive filtered tungsten X-ray spectra used in digital mammography systems by means of Monte Carlo simulations.
Materials And Methods:
Filtered spectra for rhodium filter were obtained for tube potentials between 26 and 32 kV. The half-value layer (HVL) of simulated filtered spectra were compared with those obtained experimentally with a solid state detector Unfors model 8202031-H Xi R/F & MAM Detector Platinum and 8201023-C Xi Base unit Platinum Plus w mAs in a Hologic Selenia Dimensions system using a direct radiography mode.
Results:
Calculated HVL values showed good agreement as compared with those obtained experimentally. The greatest relative difference between the Monte Carlo calculated HVL values and experimental HVL values was 4%.
Conclusion:
The results show that the filtered tungsten anode X-ray spectra and the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code can be used for mean glandular dose determination in mammography.
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