Screening Mammography Diagnostic Reference Level System According to Compressed Breast Thickness: Dubai Health.

Screening mammography is considered to be the most effective means for the early detection of breast cancer. However, epidemiological studies suggest that longitudinal exposure to screening mammography may raise breast cancer radiation-induced risk, which begs the need for optimization and internal auditing. The present work aims to establish a comprehensive well-structured Diagnostic Reference Level (DRL) system that can be confidently used to highlight healthcare centers in need of urgent action, as well as cases exceeding the dose notification level.

Establishing Protocol-based Dose Metrics for Common Abdomen and Pelvis Computed Tomography Protocols.

Background And Aim: The majority of the existing diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) that have been established for computed tomography (CT) are based on various anatomical locations, such as the head, chest, abdomen, etc. However, DRLs are initiated to improve radiation protection by conducting a comparison of similar examinations with similar objectives. The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of establishing dose baselines based on common CT protocols for patients who underwent enhanced CT abdomen and pelvis exams.

Challenges Associated with Effective Implementation of CT Dose Check Standards and Radiation Monitoring Index in Computed Tomography: Healthcare Sector Experience.

Computed tomography (CT) radiation dose management tools should be used whenever possible, particularly with the increasing demand for acquiring CT studies. Herein, we aim to assess the advantages and challenges faced with implementing two CT dose management tools. A second aim was to highlight CT examinations exceeding dose notification values (NVs) and define the common set of causes.

Regression Analysis between the Different Breast Dose Quantities Reported in Digital Mammography and Patient Age, Breast Thickness, and Acquisition Parameters.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Screening mammography is considered the primary imaging modality for the early detection of breast cancer. The radiation dose from mammography increases the patients' risk of radiation-induced cancer.

Gender based lung cancer risks for symptomatic coronary artery disease patients undergone cardiac CT.

We estimate the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of lung cancer incidence in symptomatic Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients receiving enhanced Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA) and the unenhanced Computed Tomography Calcium Scoring (CTCS) examination. Retrospective analysis has been made of CCTA and CTCS data collected for 87 confirmed CAD adult patients. Patient effective dose (E) and organ doses (ODs) were calculated using CT-EXPO.

Challenges experienced in establishing clinical indication based diagnostic reference levels: Pilot study.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to establish clinical-indication based Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) for the Computed Tomography (CT) examinations of Head, Abdomen & Pelvis + Contrast, and Kidney Ureter Bladder (KUB). Further, is to investigate the cases that register high-end doses to enable dose optimization.

Material And Methods: Dose length product total (tDLPs) and scan acquisition parameters of a total of 715 patients who underwent CT Head, CT Abdomen & Pelvis + Contrast, and CT KUB studies were obtained and retrospectively examined.

Assessing visceral and subcutaneous adiposity using segmented T2-MRI and multi-frequency segmental bioelectrical impedance: A sex-based comparative study.

Background And Aim: This study aims to quantify abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and assess the extent of its concordance with VAT surface-area measured by a state-of-the-art segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device. A comparison between manual and semi-automated segmentation was conducted. Further, abdominal VAT and SAT sex-based comparison in healthy Arab adults was piloted.

Utilizing neutron generators in boron neutron capture therapy.

Neutron capture therapy (NCT) is a radiotherapeutic technique that is designed to utilize the neutron capture reaction and damage the tumor cells through the energy release from the reaction. Nuclear reactors are typically utilized in this therapy because of the high neutron fluence rate that can be achieved. There has been minimal work to evaluate the effectiveness of neutron generators in NCT.

Age-dependent effective ingestion dose estimations and lifetime risk assessment for selected radionuclides (K and H) in bottled waters marketed in United Arab Emirates.

Monitoring drinking water, including bottled water, is imperative to safeguarding public health especially where bottled water consumption is high like in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this study, radionuclide activity levels of Tritium (H) and Potassium (K) were assessed in various brands of bottled water marketed in UAE. Activity level data was used to calculate the annual effective doses (E) for different age groups, and the excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for adult males and females in the UAE population.

Effect of Ramadan diurnal fasting on visceral adiposity and serum adipokines in overweight and obese individuals.

Aim: Excessive visceral adiposity is a major risk factor for developing insulin resistance and systemic low-grade inflammation. Ramadan diurnal fasting (RDF) is a religious ritual practiced by more than one billion Muslim throughout the world. It has been considered as one of the most common types of complementary and integrative health practices.

ESTIMATE OF UAE COMMERCIAL AIRCREW EFFECTIVE DOSES USING CARI-6, EPCARD AND SIEVERT CODES.

The aim of this study is to calculate total cruising route effective doses using three commonly used algorithm codes CARI-6, EPCARD and SIEVERT. Further, the impact of flight cruising duration, altitude and latitude on the estimated effective doses will also be investigated. A total of 24 commercial UAE flight data were collected and retrospectively analysed.

PET-based Treatment Response Assessment for Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: An Exploratory Study.

Purpose: Performance of anatomical metrics of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST1.1) versus Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria in Solid Tumors (PERCIST1.0) for neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCR) of pancreatic adenocarcinoma was evaluated based on the pathological treatment response (PTR) data.

Correlation of ADC With Pathological Treatment Response for Radiation Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to assesspathological treatment response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) following neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCR).

Materials/methods: MRI and pathological data collected for 25patients with resectable and borderline resectable PDAC following nCR were retrospectively analyzed. Pre- and post-nCR mean ADC values in the tumors were compared using Wilcoxon matched pairs test.

Early Assessment of Treatment Responses During Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer Using Quantitative Analysis of Daily Computed Tomography.

Purpose: To investigate early tumor and normal tissue responses during the course of radiation therapy (RT) for lung cancer using quantitative analysis of daily computed tomography (CT) scans.

Methods And Materials: Daily diagnostic-quality CT scans acquired using CT-on-rails during CT-guided RT for 20 lung cancer patients were quantitatively analyzed. On each daily CT set, the contours of the gross tumor volume (GTV) and lungs were generated and the radiation dose delivered was reconstructed.

Variability of target and normal structure delineation using multimodality imaging for radiation therapy of pancreatic cancer.

Purpose: To explore the potential of multimodality imaging (dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging [DCE-MRI], apparent diffusion-coefficient diffusion-weighted imaging [ADC-DWI], fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography [FDG-PET], and computed tomography) to define the gross tumor volume (GTV) and organs at risk in radiation therapy planning for pancreatic cancer. Delineated volumetric changes of DCE-MRI, ADC-DWI, and FDG-PET were assessed in comparison with the finding on 3-dimensional/4-dimensional CT with and without intravenous contrast, and with pathology specimens for resectable and borderline resectable cases of pancreatic cancer.

Methods And Materials: We studied a total of 19 representative patients, whose DCE-MRI, ADC-DWI, and FDG-PET data were reviewed.

Effect of window level on target volume delineation in treatment planning.

In radiotherapy the efficacy of medical imaging is central to the selection and delineation of target volume. Of note is that target volume is intended to be larger than tumour volume, including a geometric margin that accounts for the possible uncertainties in patient set-up. However this reduces potential tissue sparing, irradiating not only the target but also normal tissue.

Evaluating commercial image registration packages for radiotherapy treatment planning.

Multi-modality imaging is involved in almost all oncology applications from diagnosis through treatment planning and follow-up. Commercial image fusion software packages are becoming available but require comprehensive evaluation to ensure reliability of fusion and the underpinning registration algorithm. This is especially critical for target volume delineation in radiotherapy.