Program Information
In-House Development of a Pediatric Thorax Simulation Phantom for Use in Tomosynthesis Studies
N Kasraie*, A Robinson , S Chan , Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, MO
Presentations
MO-RAM-GePD-IT-4 (Monday, July 31, 2017) 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Room: Imaging ePoster Theater
Purpose: This study reports on the methodology and materials used to construct an anthropomorphic phantom for use in evaluating digital tomosynthesis protocols for volumetric imaging of the pediatric airway.
Methods: Two different modular phantoms were constructed in coronal slabs using materials designed to approximate a one and three-year old pediatric thorax at diagnostic photon energies for use with digital tomosynthesis protocols such as those offered on GE's VolumeRad application.
Results: Exposures were made using both phantoms with inserted food particles aimed at evaluating (1) if the currently used protocol is sufficient to image the airway despite breathing motion and (2) if it is not, to find the optimal protocol by testing various commercially available protocols using this phantom.
Conclusion: The construction of a phantom aimed at optimizing GE's VolumeRAD protocol for pediatric airway imaging is demonstrated in this study. This airway phantom is capable of mimicking natural breathing motion, and can be used to test VolumeRAD's ability to image the airways with and without a low density foreign body within the airways.
Funding Support, Disclosures, and Conflict of Interest: This work was supported by a research grant from GE Healthcare.
Contact Email: