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We report on the suitability of two different ranges of Hounsfield units (HU) in computed tomography (CT) for the quantification of metallic components of active implantable medical devices (AIMD). The conventional Hounsfield units (CHU) range, which is traditionally used in radiology, is well suited for tissue but suspected inappropriate for metallic materials. Precise HU values are notably beneficial in radiotherapy (RT) for accurate dose calculations, thus for the safety of patient carrying implants. Some of today’s CT machines offers an extended Hounsfield units (EHU) range. This study presents CT acquisitions of a water phantom containing various metallic discs and an implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (IPG). We show that the comparison of HU values at EHU and CHU ranges clearly reveals the superiority and accuracy of EHU. Some geometrical discrepancies perpendicular to slices are observed. At EHU metal artifact reduction algorithms (MAR) underestimates HU values rendering MAR potentially inappropriate for RT.
Radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning is based on computed tomography (CT) images and traditionally uses the conventional Hounsfield unit (CHU) range. This HU range is suited for human tissue but inappropriate for metallic materials. To guarantee safety of patient carrying implants precise HU quantification is beneficial for accurate dose calculations in planning software. Some modern CT systems offer an extended HU range (EHU). This study focuses the suitability of these two HU ranges for the quantification of metallic components of active implantable medical devices (AIMD). CT acquisitions of various metallic and non-metallic materials aligned in a water phantom were investigated. From our acquisitions we calculated that materials with mass-density ρ > 3.0 g/cm3 cannot be represented in the CHU range. For these materials the EHU range could be used for accurate HU quantification. Since the EHU range does not effect the HU values for materials ρ < 3.0 g/cm3, it can be used as a standard for RT treatment planning for patient with and without implants.
In this paper, the effect of computed tomography (CT) values of metals in 12-bit and 16-bit extended Hounsfield Unit (EHU) scale on dose calculations in radiotherapy treatment planning systems (TPS) were quantified. Dose simulations for metals in water environment were performed with the software PRIMO in 6MV photon mode. The depth dose profiles were analysed and the relative dose differences between the metals determined with 12-bit and 16-bit CT imaging, respectively, were calculated. Maximum dose differences of ΔAl= 3.0%, ΔTi= 4.5%, ΔCr= 6.2% and ΔCu= 11.6% were measured. In order to increase the accuracy of dose calculation on patients with implants, CT imaging in the EHU scale is recommended.