By the early 20th century the question of the biological effects of radioactivity had already come to the fore. Dosimetry makes an important contribution in evaluating the use of ionising radiation on humans. On the one hand, to weigh up whether the use can be justified and if permanent damage is to be expected from (repeated) use. In addition, it can be used to estimate the dose in a defined target volume (organ/tumour).
In the first part of this work, two different software systems are compared to determine the time-activity curves and organ doses from PET data sets. In the second part, the organ dosimetry results from SPECT and 2D gamma camera records of five patients are compared. These were processed and calculated with different segmentation and software instruments using different calculation algorithms. The organ doses from the 2D gamma camera records were calculated with the established MIRD schema, the organ doses from SPECT gamma camera records both according to the MIRD schema and using a voxel-based 3D dosimetry via a Monte Carlo algorithm.
The results of this study show that similar statements can be made concerning a dose in a target volume using different recording methods, evaluation systems and algorithms. Individual deviations in the area of experimental software are (still) most likely due to the level of development. The use of proven software systems and the application of established evaluation procedures reduces the computational error in dose determination in the evaluation of 2D gamma camera records. In contrast, 3D data sets from calibrated PET and SPECT measurements provide quick access to the biological distribution of activity. In particular, the available measurement time and the patient’s health limits the planar gamma camera images and the SPECT and PET imaging by serial recordings. A plausible dose calculation is not possible without a sufficient number of measurements, in particular 3D measurements. 2D imaging using a gamma camera is the preferred method for determining the whole body dose, the dose for several organs and, where necessary, tumour lesions due to the shorter measurement time at multiple locations. In contrast, if the dose in a small target volume or the region of a measuring position of the gamma camera is to be determined then a SPECT measurement provides higher resolution imaging. Likewise calibrated SPECT and PET data can be analysed (more) quickly and made available for clinical decisions. The use of already quantified SPECT/CT systems results in time savings in clinical dosimetry.
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By the early 20th century the question of the biological effects of radioactivity had already come to the fore. Dosimetry makes an important contribution in evaluating the use of ionising radiation on humans. On the one hand, to weigh up whether the use can be justified and if permanent damage is to be expected from (repeated) use. In addition, it can be used to estimate the dose in a defined target volume (organ/tumour).
In the first part of this work, two different software systems are compa...
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