Polymethyl Methacrylate Phantom on CT Imaging To Evaluate Size-Specific Effective Dose in Pediatric and Adult Body

Computed tomography (CT) is crucial for determining the effective dose in medical imaging. This study estimates size-specific effective doses during CT scans of the brain for both pediatric and adult patients using a Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) 16 cm reference phantom. The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Report No. 204 protocol was employed. Measurements included lateral, anterior-posterior (AP), and effective diameters with a 32 cm PMMA reference phantom. Effective doses were calculated in the range of 346-587 mSv. The relationship between effective diameter, AP, lateral dimensions, SSDE, and patient age were analyzed. Understanding the effective diameter in CT images allows for better estimation of size-specific effective doses, aiding doctors and medical physicists in optimizing patient care.