Dose assesment with fast Monte Carlo codes in interventional radiology

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Protection
• Computational Science

Background:

• Interventional radiology procedures involve significant radiation exposure for operators.
• Accurate assessment of operator doses is crucial for effective radiation protection.
• Monte Carlo simulations offer a powerful tool for dose estimation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of two fast Monte Carlo codes: PENELOPE/penEasyIR and MCGPU-IR.
• To validate these codes for calculating operator doses in interventional radiology, specifically with shielding.
• To compare simulation results with experimental measurements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized fast Monte Carlo codes (PENELOPE/penEasyIR, MCGPU-IR) for dose calculations.
• Conducted experiments in a calibration laboratory environment.
• Employed Thermo EPD and Mirion DMC personal active dosemeters for measurements.
• Assessed code efficiency compared to standard Monte Carlo methods.

Main Results:

• Achieved calculation efficiency approximately four orders of magnitude greater than standard Monte Carlo codes.
• Demonstrated satisfactory agreement between Monte Carlo code calculations and experimental dose measurements.
• Validated the use of shielding in Monte Carlo simulations for operator dose assessment.

Conclusions:

• Fast Monte Carlo codes like PENELOPE/penEasyIR and MCGPU-IR are efficient and accurate for operator dose assessment in interventional radiology.
• These validated codes can reliably predict doses when protective shielding is employed.
• The findings support the use of advanced simulation tools for optimizing radiation safety in medical procedures.