Dose estimation service system configured to support multiple computerized medical imaging scan providers
Techniques are disclosed for estimating patient radiation exposure during computerized tomography (CT) scans. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide efficient approaches for generating a suitable patient model used to make such an estimate, to approaches for estimating patient dose by interpolating the results of multiple simulations, and to approaches for a service provider to host a dose estimation service made available to multiple CT scan providers.
1. A computer-implemented method for providing a plurality of medical imaging providers with estimates of radiation dose absorbed by individuals receiving imaging scans, the method comprising:
receiving, from one of the medical imaging providers, a request for an estimate of radiation dose absorbed by an individual in receiving an imaging scan, wherein the request identifies an imaging phantom, a transformation for deforming the imaging phantom, and a set of parameters describing the imaging scan and an image scanning apparatus being used to perform the imaging scan;
deforming the imaging phantom based on the transformation;
evaluating a plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations each estimating radiation dose absorption, wherein the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations are selected from a simulation library;
determining, based on the evaluation, whether to perform a simulation of the imaging scan using the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom to determine the estimate of radiation dose absorbed by the individual, wherein the simulation of the imaging scan, when performed, is stored in the simulation library to thereby increase a probability of identifying, for subsequent imaging scans, suitable previously completed simulations for estimating radiation dose without performing simulations of the subsequent imaging scans; and
returning, to the medical imaging provider, the estimate of radiation dose that is determined based on one of (1) the performed simulation of the imaging scan, and (2) one or more dose estimation simulations of the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to perform the simulation of the imaging scan is based on a measure of similarity of the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations to the received set of parameters and to the deformed imaging phantom.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more dose estimation simulations comprise two or more dose estimation simulations that match the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within a specified tolerance measure, the method further comprising:
interpolating the estimates of radiation dose in the two or more dose estimation simulations to determine the estimate of radiation dose absorbed by the individual in receiving the imaging scan.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is determined to be performed based on meeting a threshold level of dissimilarity between the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom, and the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is added to a queue of other simulations to be performed, and wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is given priority over at least one of the other simulations to be performed because of the increased probability of identifying suitable dose estimation simulations for estimating radiation dose in subsequent imaging scans.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is a Monte Carlo simulation.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable code that, when executed by a processor, performs an operation for providing a plurality of medical imaging providers with estimates of radiation dose absorbed by individuals receiving imaging scans, the operation comprising:
receiving, from one of the medical imaging providers, a request for an estimate of radiation dose absorbed by an individual in receiving an imaging scan, wherein the request identifies an imaging phantom, a transformation for deforming the imaging phantom, and a set of parameters describing the imaging scan and an image scanning apparatus being used to perform the imaging scan;
deforming the imaging phantom based on the transformation;
evaluating a plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations each estimating radiation dose absorption, wherein the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations are selected from a simulation library;
determining, based on the evaluation, whether to perform a simulation of the imaging scan using the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom to determine the estimate of radiation dose absorbed by the individual, wherein the simulation of the imaging scan, when performed, is stored in the simulation library to thereby increase a probability of identifying, for subsequent imaging scans, suitable previously completed simulations for estimating radiation dose without performing simulations of the subsequent imaging scans; and
returning, to the medical imaging provider, the estimate of radiation dose that is determined based on one of (1) the performed simulation of the imaging scan, and (2) one or more dose estimation simulations of the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations.
8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein determining whether to perform the simulation of the imaging scan is based on a measure of similarity of the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations to the received set of parameters and to the deformed imaging phantom.
9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the one or more dose estimation simulations comprise two or more dose estimation simulations that match the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within a specified tolerance measure, the operation further comprising:
interpolating the estimates of radiation dose in the two or more simulations to determine the estimate of radiation dose absorbed by the individual in receiving the imaging scan.
10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is determined to be performed based on meeting a threshold level of dissimilarity between the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom, and the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations.
11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the simulation of the imaging, scan is added to a queue of other simulations to be performed, and wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is given priority over at least one of the other simulations to be performed because of the increased probability of identifying suitable dose estimation simulations for estimating radiation dose in subsequent imaging scans.
12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is a Monte Carlo simulation.
13. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing computer-readable code configured to perform an operation for providing a plurality of medical imaging providers with estimates of radiation dose absorbed by individuals receiving imaging scans, the operation comprising:
receiving, from one of the medical imaging providers, a request for an estimate of radiation dose absorbed by an individual in receiving an imaging scan, wherein the request identifies an imaging phantom, a transformation for deforming the imaging phantom, and a set of parameters describing the imaging scan and an image scanning apparatus being used to perform the imaging scan;
deforming the imaging phantom based on the transformation;
evaluating a plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations each estimating radiation dose absorption, wherein the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations are selected from a simulation library;
determining, based on the evaluation, whether to perform a simulation of the imaging scan using the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom to determine the estimate of radiation dose absorbed by the individual, wherein the simulation of the imaging scan, when performed, is stored in the simulation library to thereby increase a probability of identifying, for subsequent imaging scans, suitable previously completed simulations for estimating radiation dose without performing simulations of the subsequent imaging scans; and
returning, to the medical imaging provider, the estimate of radiation dose that is determined based on one of (1) the performed simulation of the imaging scan, and (2) one or more dose estimation simulations of the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein determining whether to perform the simulation of the imaging scan is based on a measure of similarity of the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations to the received set of parameters and to the deformed imaging phantom.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more dose estimation simulations comprise two or more dose estimation simulations that match the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within a specified tolerance measure, the operation further comprising:
interpolating the estimates of radiation dose in the two or more simulations to determine the estimate of radiation dose absorbed by the individual in receiving the imaging scan.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is determined to be performed based on meeting a threshold level of dissimilarity between the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom, and the plurality of predetermined dose estimation simulations.
17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is added to a queue of other simulations to be performed, and wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is given priority over at least one of the other simulations to be performed because of the increased probability of identifying suitable dose estimation simulations for estimating radiation dose in subsequent imaging scans.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the simulation of the imaging scan is a Monte Carlo simulation.