Determination of the active marrow dose distribution within the paediatric pelvis and spine

The active marrow dose distributions have been determined inside the pelvis and the spine of two heterogeneous phantoms representing children aged one and five years. Both theoretical calculation and experimental measurement were used to simulate radiographic examinations typical for those ages. Twelve typical radiographic examinations were performed on these phantoms to represent common paediatric diagnostic procedures. The calculated and measured tissue-air ratios were compared for the pelvis and the spine. Uncertainty associated with the measured dose was estimated to be +/- 7%. The results show that most calculated absorbed doses agreed with those measured within twice the coefficient of variation of the calculated value.