Cost-effective pediatric head phantom for computed tomography dosimetry and its evaluation using pencil ion chamber and OSLD

This study presents a compelling comparison of computed tomography dose index (CTDI) values obtained using innovative epoxy resin phantoms versus traditional PMMA phantoms, highlighting the potential for cost-effective solutions in pediatric radiology. CTDI measurements were conducted across various tube voltages using both phantom types, employing ion chamber detectors and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs). Remarkably, the dosimetry behavior of both phantoms was found to be comparable at all tested voltages. As expected, CTDI values decreased with lower kVp settings for all configurations. Notably, the differences in CTDI100 between the two phantom materials remained under 5 % across all voltage settings and positions, comfortably within the acceptable ranges established by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM). The findings reveal that the economical epoxy resin phantom not only serves as a feasible alternative for assessing radiation dosage in pediatric CT imaging but also demonstrates measurement capabilities akin to those of more expensive commercial phantoms.