In vivo dosimetry of total body irradiation patients: A 10 year retrospective analysis.

Myeloablative Total Body Irradiation (TBI) used in our Institution, as part of the conditioning scheme for haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is an extended-distance supine technique that has been implemented using a 15 MV LINAC beam, lead lung compensators, PMMA, and water bolus to improve homogeneity. This study reviews in-vivo dosimetry (IVD) over 10 years of treatments, assessing the technique's robustness, accuracy, and efficiency. A 2-lateral opposite fields plan was calculated from planning CT with validated Oncentra TPS (Elekta AB, Sweden).

Typical values of z-resolution for different Digital Breast Tomosynthesis systems evaluated in a multicenter study.

Purpose: The aim of the present study, conducted by a working group of the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM), was to define typical z-resolution values for different digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) models to be used as a reference for quality control (QC). Currently, there are no typical values published in internationally agreed QC protocols.

Methods: To characterize the z-resolution of the DBT models, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the artifact spread function (ASF), a technical parameter that quantifies the signal intensity of a detail along reconstructed planes, was analyzed.

Spatio-temporal generalized Model Observers methods for Low Contrast Detectability assessment in digital angiography: Application to moving targets.

The purpose of this work is to investigate the feasibility of spatio-temporal generalized Model Observer methods for protocol optimization programs in the field of interventional radiography. Two Model Observers were taken under examination: a Channelized Hotelling Observer with 24 spatio-temporal Gabor channels and a Non Pre-Whitening Model Observer with two different implementations of the spatio-temporal contrast sensitivity function. The images of targets, both stationary and in motion, were acquired in fluoroscopic mode using a CDRAD phantom for signal-present images and an homogenous slab of PMMA for signal-absent ones.

Statement of the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM) task group on radiation dose monitoring systems.

The evaluation of radiation burden in vivo is crucial in modern radiology as stated also in the European Directive 2013/59/Euratom-Basic Safety Standard. Although radiation dose monitoring can impact the justification and optimization of radiological procedure, as well as effective patient communication, standardization of radiation monitoring software is far to be achieved. Toward this goal, the Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM) published a report describing the state of the art and standard guidelines in radiation dose monitoring system quality assurance.

A single phantom, a single statistical method for low-contrast detectability assessment.

Purpose: The assessment of low-contrast-details is a part of the quality control (QC) program in digital radiology. It generally consists of evaluating the threshold contrast (Cth) detectability details for different-sized inserts, appropriately located in dedicated QC test tools. This work aims to propose a simplified method, based on a statistical model approach for threshold contrast estimation, suitable for different modalities in digital radiology.