Masters Thesis Defense - Monte Carlo Phantom Simulations for Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine

Who: Jawad Mohammad Ahmad

Time: 10am, Thursday, 20th December, 2007

Place: P-250

Abstract: An upper torso geometrical phantom model suitable for nuclear medicine imaging and x-ray imaging has been developed using a diagnostic imaging phantom (DIP). Using the Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended (MCNPX) program, computer simulations involving emission and transmission imaging of the brain, breasts, chest, kidneys, and thyroid have created output images which show the average flux and energies in each detector pixel. External imaging devices such as a gamma camera collimator, an x-ray anti-scatter grid, Lucite plates (used for mammography) and a 2-D detector are also created for imaging purposes. Radionuclides such as iodine-123 (for brain and thyroid imaging) and technetium-99m (for breast, chest, and kidney imaging) are used for nuclear medicine imaging simulations. Typical x-ray spectra used for imaging specific organs are simulated. For x-ray kidney and thyroid imaging, iodinated contrast material is used to account for the density issue. A 1-to-1 collimator is used for nuclear medicine imaging simulations while an anti-scatter grid with a grid ratio of 10 is used for x-ray imaging simulations. The file input, output, and images for each x-ray and nuclear medicine imaging simulations are included as the Appendix is available for viewing at the Media Center of Love Library.

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