Dose estimation service system configured to support multiple computerized medical imaging 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 dose estimation simulations estimating radiation dose absorption;

upon determining, based on the evaluation, that two or more of the plurality of simulations match the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within a specified tolerance measure, 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;

upon determining, based on the evaluation, that the plurality of simulations do not include at least two simulations matching the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within the specified tolerance measure:

performing a simulation of the imaging scan using the deformed imaging phantom and the received set of parameters;

estimating, based on the simulation, amounts of radiation absorbed by the individual as a result of performing the imaging scan; and

adding the performed simulation to the plurality of dose estimation simulations; and

returning, to the medical imaging provider, one of the interpolated estimate of patient dose or the estimated amounts of absorbed radiation from performing the simulation of the imaging scan.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging scan is a computerized tomography (CT) scan.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interpolation is a multivariate scatter interpolation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the simulation is a Monte Carlo simulation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transformation for deforming the imaging phantom is determined by performing an image registration process mapping a set of points in at least one localizer image associated with the imaging phantom to a corresponding set of points in a scout image of the individual.

6. The method of claim, 1 wherein the transformation for deforming the imaging phantom is determined by:

segmenting a reference CT scan associated with the individual to identify a three-dimensional (3D) position of a plurality of anatomical landmarks of the individual present in the reference CT scan;

matching one or more of the identified anatomical landmarks in the segmented reference CT scan to corresponding anatomical landmarks in the imaging phantom;

determining a three dimensional (3D) displacement map from the matched anatomical landmarks;

voxelizing the imaging phantom; and

determining an image transformation for transforming the voxelized imaging phantom to match the displacement map.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more application programs, which, 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 dose estimation simulations estimating radiation dose absorption;

upon determining, based on the evaluation, that two or more of the plurality of simulations match the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within a specified tolerance measure, 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;

upon determining, based on the evualuation, that the plurality of simulations do not include at least two simulations matching the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within the specified tolerance measure:

performing a simulation of the imaging scan using the deformed imaging phantom and the received set of parameters;

estimating, based on the simulation, amounts of radiation absorbed by the individual as a result of performing the imaging scan; and

adding the performed simulation to the plurality of dose estimation simulations; and

returning, to the medical imaging provider, one of the interpolated estimate of patient dose or the estimated amounts of absorbed radiation from performing the simulation of the imaging scan.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the imaging scan is a computerized tomography (CT) scan.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the interpolation is a multivariate scatter interpolation.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the simulation is a Monte Carlo simulation.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the transformation for deforming the imaging phantom is determined by performing an image registration process mapping a set of points in at least one localizer image associated with the imaging phantom to a corresponding set of points in a scout image of the individual.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the transformation for deforming the imaging phantom is determined by:

segmenting a reference CT scan associated with the individual to identify a three-dimensional (3D) position of a plurality of anatomical landmarks of the individual present in the reference CT scan;

matching one or more of the identified anatomical landmarks in the segmented reference CT scan to corresponding anatomical landmarks in the imaging phantom;

determining a three dimensional (3D) displacement map from the matched anatomical landmarks;

voxelizing the imaging phantom; and

determining an image transformation for transforming the voxelized imaging phantom to match the displacement map.

13. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing an application program 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 dose estimation simulations estimating radiation dose absorption, and

upon determining, based on the evaluation, that two or more of the plurality of simulations match the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within a specified tolerance measure, 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;

upon determining, based on the evaluation, that the plurality of simulations do not include at least two simulations matching the received set of parameters and the deformed imaging phantom within the specified tolerance measure:

performing a simulation of the imaging scan using the deformed imaging phantom and the received set of parameters;

estimating, based on the simulation, amounts of radiation absorbed by the individual as a result of performing the imaging scan; and

adding the performed simulation to the plurality of dose estimation simulations; and

returning, to the medical imaging provider, one of the interpolated estimate of patient dose or the estimated amounts of absorbed radiation from performing the simulation of the imaging scan.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the imaging scan is a computerized tomography (CT) scan.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the interpolation is a multivariate scatter interpolation.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the simulation is a Monte Carlo simulation.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the transformation for deforming the imaging phantom is determined, by the medical imaging provider submitting the request, by performing an image registration process mapping a set of points in at least one localizer image associated with the imaging phantom to a corresponding set of points in a scout image of the individual.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the transformation for deforming the imaging phantom is determined, by the medical imaging provider submitting the request, by:

segmenting a reference CT scan associated with the individual to identify a three-dimensional (3D) position of a plurality of anatomical landmarks of the individual present in the reference CT scan;

matching one or more of the identified anatomical landmarks in the segmented reference CT scan to corresponding anatomical landmarks in the imaging phantom;

determining a three dimensional (3D) displacement map from the matched anatomical landmarks;

voxelizing the imaging phantom; and

determining an image transformation for transforming the voxelized imaging phantom to match the displacement map.