Radiological properties of 3D printed materials in kilovoltage and megavoltage photon beams

O L Dancewicz; S R Sylvander; T S Markwell; S B Crowe; J V Trapp

doi:10.1016/j.ejmp.2017.05.051

Radiological properties of 3D printed materials in kilovoltage and megavoltage photon beams

Phys Med. 2017 Jun:38:111-118. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2017.05.051. Epub 2017 May 26.

Authors

O L Dancewicz¹, S R Sylvander², T S Markwell³, S B Crowe⁴, J V Trapp⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia; Department of Nuclear Medicine and Specialised PET Services Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston 4029, Australia. Electronic address: odancewicz@gmail.com.
² Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston 4029, Australia.
³ Radiation Oncology Mater Center, South Brisbane 4101, Australia.
⁴ School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia; Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston 4029, Australia.
⁵ School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia.

PMID: 28610691
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2017.05.051

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluates the radiological properties of different 3D printing materials for a range of photon energies, including kV and MV CT imaging and MV radiotherapy beams.

Methods: The CT values of a number of materials were measured on an Aquilion One CT scanner at 80kVp, 120kVp and a Tomotherapy Hi Art MVCT imaging beam. Attenuation of the materials in a 6MV radiotherapy beam was investigated.

Results: Plastic filaments printed with various infill densities have CT values of -743±4, -580±1 and -113±3 in 120kVp CT images which approximate the CT values of low-density lung, high-density lung and soft tissue respectively. Metal-infused plastic filaments printed with a 90% infill density have CT values of 658±1 and 739±6 in MVCT images which approximate the attenuation of cortical bone. The effective relative electron density RED_eff is used to describe the attenuation of a megavoltage treatment beam, taking into account effects relating to the atomic number and mass density of the material. Plastic filaments printed with a 90% infill density have RED_eff values of 1.02±0.03 and 0.94±0.02 which approximate the relative electron density RED of soft tissue. Printed resins have RED_eff values of 1.11±0.03 and 1.09±0.03 which approximate the RED of bone mineral.

Conclusions: 3D printers can model a variety of body tissues which can be used to create phantoms useful for both imaging and dosimetric studies.

Keywords: 3D printing; Computed tomography; Radiological properties; Radiotherapy.

MeSH terms

Humans
Lung
Phantoms, Imaging*
Photons
Printing, Three-Dimensional*
Radiography*
Radiometry
Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed