Surface Dose Reduction by Filtering Effect in the X-Ray Spectrum of a Pediatric Abdominal Examination

Velarde L.G.; Marquez J.F. · Momento (2026) · DOI: 10.15446/mo.n73.120193

Resumen

The reduction of surface dose through the filtering effect on the X-ray spectrum in a pediatric abdominal study was evaluated. The XCOM-NIST database was used to assess the absorption spectrum, and IPEM Report 78 was used to generate the X-ray spectra. A RADCAL AGMS-DM+ multisensor was employed for dosimetric characterization, together with a CIRS 715 pediatric torso phantom and a TOR 18FG physical phantom for image quality assessment. The routine technique used at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases showed a total filtration of 2.946 mmAl + 0.1 mmCu, a mean energy of 49.30 keV, and a measured skin dose of 27.77 µGy. An undesirable energy range of 0-45 keV was defined, and the absorption spectra of I, Pd, and Mo were analyzed. It was found that 0.04 mmI, 0.03 mmPd, and 0.05 mmMo increased the mean energy to 50.50 keV, 52.60 keV, and 53.10 keV, respectively, and reduced the surface dose by 30.23%, 55.43%, and 61.91%, respectively. The application of Mo, which is commercially available, as the proposed technique reduced the measured surface dose to 13.55 µGy without affecting spatial resolution (3.55 lp/mm) or low-contrast threshold (0.015), while producing a torso phantom image similar to that obtained with the routine technique. These results demonstrate the feasibility of optimizing surface dose in 5-year-old pediatric patients by using the XCOM-NIST database and the X-ray filtration effect, without compromising image quality. © (2026), (Universidad Nacional de Colombia). All rights reserved.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería