Estimation of primary radiation output for wide‐beam computed tomography scanner

PURPOSE: To estimate in‐air primary radiation output in a wide‐beam multidetector computed tomography (CT) scanner. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 6‐cc ionization chamber was placed free‐in‐air at the isocenter, and two sheets of lead (1‐mm thickness) were placed on the bottom of the gantry cover, forming apertures of 40–80 mm in increments of 8 mm. The air‐kerma rate profiles were measured with and without the apertures ([Formula: see text] , [Formula: see text]) for 4.8 s at tube potentials of 80, 100, 120, and 135 kVp, tube current of 50 mA, and rotation time of 0.4 s. The nominal beam width was varied from 40 to 160 mm in increments of 40 mm. Upon completion of data acquisition, the [Formula: see text] were plotted as a function of the measured beam width, and the extrapolated dose rates ([Formula: see text]) at zero beam width were calculated by second‐order least‐squares estimation. Similarly, the [Formula: see text] were plotted as a function of the radiation field (measured beam width × aperture size at the isocenter), and the extrapolated dose rates ([Formula: see text]) were compared with the [Formula: see text]. RESULTS: The means and standard errors of the [Formula: see text] with 40‐, 80‐, 120‐, and 160‐mm nominal beam widths at 120 kVp were 10.94 ± 0.01, 11.13 ± 0.01, 11.22 ± 0.01, and 11.31 ± 0.01 mGy/s, respectively, and the [Formula: see text] was reduced to 10.67 ± 0.02 mGy/s. The [Formula: see text] of 40‐, 80‐, 120‐, and 160‐mm beam widths were reduced to 10.6 ± 0.1, 10.6 ± 0.2, 10.5 ± 0.1, and 10.6 ± 0.1 mGy/s and were not significantly different from the [Formula: see text]. CONCLUSIONS: A method for describing the in‐air primary radiation output in a wide‐beam CT scanner was proposed that provides a means to characterize the scatter‐to‐primary ratio of the CT scanner.