Fetal dose

Fetal dose estimates the radiation dose absorbed by fetuses during Computed Tomography (CT) imaging of pregnant patients for quantitative fetal dose assessment.

Key Features:

• Monte Carlo simulations: Conducted 750 Monte Carlo (MC) simulations using phantoms representing pregnant patients at various gestational stages to generate vendor-independent dose distributions.
• CTDI validation: Validated the MC code against Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDI) measurements from two CT scanners, achieving an average error of 4%.
• Algorithm development: Developed a computational algorithm to estimate fetal doses based on parameters such as body region and exposure settings using validated simulations.
• Clinical validation: Validated the algorithm with patient-specific MC simulations using CT data from 29 pregnant patients (gestational ages 8–35 weeks), reporting an average error of 11% and outperforming existing commercially available software.
• Maternal size correlation: Provides quantitative assessment of the relationship between maternal body size (e.g., abdominal perimeter) and fetal dose for dose–response analyses.

Scientific Applications:

• Fetal dose estimation during CT: Generation of vendor-independent quantitative fetal dose estimates from CT exposure parameters.
• Model validation and benchmarking: Validation of MC-based dose models against CTDI measurements and patient-specific simulations for benchmarking.
• Dose–body size analyses: Investigation of the correlation between maternal body size (abdominal perimeter) and fetal radiation dose to inform risk assessment and management.

Methodology:

Performed 750 Monte Carlo simulations with pregnant patient phantoms across gestational stages to produce vendor-independent dose distributions; validated MC code against CTDI measurements from two CT scanners (average error 4%); developed an algorithm to estimate fetal dose from body region and exposure settings using the validated simulations; and validated the algorithm with patient-specific MC simulations from CT data of 29 pregnant patients (8–35 weeks) with an average error of 11%.