Analysis of uncertainties in Monte Carlo simulated organ and effective dose in chest CT: scanner- and scan-related factors

In Monte Carlo simulation of CT dose, many input parameters are required (e.g. bowtie filter properties and scan start/end location). Our goal was to examine the uncertainties in patient dose when input parameters were inaccurate. Using a validated Monte Carlo program, organ dose from a chest CT scan was simulated for an average-size female phantom using a reference set of input parameter values (treated as the truth). Additional simulations were performed in which errors were purposely introduced into the input parameter values. The effects on four dose quantities were analyzed: organ dose (mGy/mAs), effective dose (mSv/mAs), CTDI vol -normalized organ dose (unitless), and DLP-normalized effective dose (mSv/mGy · cm). At 120 kVp, when spectral half value layer deviated from its true value by  ±1.0 mm Al, the four dose quantities had errors of 18%, 7%, 14% and 2%, respectively. None of the dose quantities were affected significantly by errors in photon path length throu...

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