Development of a paediatric head voxel model database for dosimetric applications.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a database of paediatric head voxel models intended for Monte Carlo (MC) dosimetric applications.

METHODS: Seventeen head and neck CT image data sets were retrieved from the picture archiving and communicating system of our hospital and were reformed into voxel models. 22 organs were segmented at each data set. The segmented organ masses were compared to the respective age- and gender-specific ICRP reference mass value. Adjustments were made such that segmented and reference mass values coincide within a tolerance of 10%. A dental cone beam CT cleft palate simulation study was set up to demonstrate the applicability of our database to MC frameworks and to investigate the need for age- and gender-specific paediatric models.

RESULTS: The designed database covers the age range from 2 months to 14 years old. Each model represents a reference head voxel phantom for its corresponding age and gender category. The simulation study revealed absorbed organ dose differences larger than 50% among the 5, 8 and 12 years old models when exposed to identical conditions.

CONCLUSION: Children cannot be represented by one average phantom covering the entire age range like adults due to the fact that their organs change rapidly in size and shape. A database of paediatric head voxel models was designed to enable dose calculations via MC simulations. Advances in knowledge: The application of each model of the database to MC frameworks provides age- and gender-specific organ dose estimations from medical exposures in the head and neck region.