[ASSIGNMENT ] SEMESTER 1 (2017/2018)

ENT 413 MEDICAL IMAGING

TASK 1

Design of Computed Tomography (CT) Room and CT Room Shielding Calculation

Designing CT room layout is very crucial parts which need to take into account the CT Room
Shielding Regulations. The failure in designing CT room may cause excessive x-ray radiation
exposed to operators even public safety. For the CT scanner, all walls in the room are secondary
barriers, since the detector array provides the primary radiation barrier. The CT scanner presents
a special situation requiring measured data from a typical scan (Refer page 770 for isocenter
chart, Bushberg) to determine the amount of scattered radiation emanating from the gantry. The
factors that have taken into account during room shielding calculation are listed as follows;

a) Workload estimated per week

b) Average mAs per patient (convention or helical)

c) Fraction of head versus body scans

Draw the CT room layout as in Figure 23-11, Page 770 (Bushberg Text Book). Label the
thickness of the each wall and the type of materials have been used as calculated. Your group is
given new task to design CT room layout in new hospital. Assume the workload for Computed
Tomography Section is 25 patients per day undergoing an abdominal CT scan. Of the total,
assume 50% of the exams are pre-post contrast study and 50% are without contrast (average 1.8
studies per patient). Each exam consists of 50 slices acquired 200 mAs per slice. Consider the
wall behind the CT gantry to be located 3 meter from the gantry isocenter with an occupancy
factor of .

Compare and calculate in term of the wall thickness if lead and concrete have been used.
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TASK 2:

Magnetic Resonance Hazards and Safety Guidelines

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is a painless and safe diagnostic procedure that uses a
powerful magnet and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body's organs and structures,
without the use of X-rays or other radiation. A computer converts signals from the MRI scan into
extremely clear, cross-sectional images of the part of the body that has been scanned. Each image
is a slice of the body area scanned, and numerous images are created that clearly show all the
features of that particular part of the body.

The images produced by MRI can be compared to a sliced loaf of bread. Just as you can lift each
individual slice from the loaf and see both the slice and the inside of the bread, so too the image
"slices" produced by the MRI show the exact details of the inside of the body. The computer is
able to reconstruct all the images into a single image resembling an X-ray. This reconstruction
also can be made into three-dimensional images, allowing complete and remarkable visualization
of the body area scanned from all angles.
However, MRI may cause harm to the user if they are not too familiar with MRI safety. MRI
incidents often happened in hospital/healthcare industry due to the lack MRI education.

Concerning the public safety, there are few aspects that have been taken to avoid accidents in

workspace. Discuss the aspects that may take into account in order to ensure personnel and
patient safety. A comprehensive MRI safety programmes must for any health care provider with
a zero tolerance for MRI errors. A zero tolerance protocol should be built on basic steps. Discuss
the steps that can be adopted to achieve zero tolerance of MRI errors. The suggested aspects
include, but not limited to:

a) Features of a magnetic field that are the source of most MRI incidents such as projectile
or missile effect and translation attraction.
b) Implementing best practices such as safety guidelinees, access zone (Zone 1,2,3 etc),
training protocol (level 1,2,3 etc).
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Figure 1: MRI Room Layout

Figure 1 shows the recommended MRI suite layout by the Joint Commission on the
Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO). Discuss the material and structures of the
wall, floor, ceiling, door and window (if any) that have been used in designing MRI suite.

References

1. Bushberg J.T, Anthony J., Edwin J.R.,John M.B (2002) The Essential Physics of Medical
Imaging 2 ed. Lippincott William & Wilkins.
2. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Hazards And Safety Guidelines in Technical
Advisory Bulletin, August 2009 by Willis HRH
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Submission Date: 8 December 2017 (before 12 noon)