Assessment of MCNPX Monte Carlo Code for Absorbed Dose Calculations in Mammogarphy Examination

Year 2017, Volume: 17 Issue: 1, 48 - 55, 24.04.2017

Huseyin Ozan Tekin Asghar Mesbahi Viswanath P. Singh Umit Kara Tugba Manici Elif Ebru Altunsoy

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate capabities of MCNPX monte carlo code for calculations

of average absorbed dose in a breast phantom during mammography examination. Also, the effect of

tube voltage and breast thickness on absorbed dose was determined by using Monte carlo method.

Materials & Methods: In this study, the average absorbed dose values were investigated by using

MCNPX (version 2.4.0) Monte Carlo code. Validation of modeled simulation setup has been obtained

by calculating the HVL values of Al attenuator material for different tube voltage (26 to 32 kV ).

Obtained HVL values were found to be comparable with experimental results and available Monte

Carlo results. Thus, validated simulation setup has been used for investigation of average absorbed

dose in a %50-%50 grandular-adipose breast phantom. Results: Our calculated results was consistent

with the previous studies and our MC model was validated. The results showed that changing tube

voltage from 26 to 32 kV leads to about 4 times increase in breast dose. While increasing breast thick

ness from 2 to 5 cm results in 1.6 times higer dose to breast. Conclusion: It can concluded that the

breast recieved dose depends strongly beam quality and breast thickness. Our modeling using MCNPX

can be used future dosimteric studies concering breast dose investigations in mamograpgy

examinations.

Keywords

Mammography, Average Glandular Dose, Monte Carlo Method

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