Emission tomography stimulated by neutrons: experiments for validation and Monte Carlo simulations

• Grant number: 12/01564-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Nuclear Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Adimir dos Santos
• Grantee: Rodrigo Sartorelo Salemi Viana
• Supervisor: Anuj J. Kapadia
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Duke University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/04206-4 - Spectrometry and reconstruction of neutron stimulated emission computed tomography images via the EM algorithm and Monte Carlo Method, BP.DR

Abstract

The development of some diseases is accompanied by changes in the chemical composition of the affected tissue. Assuming that these changes in the isotopic composition are precedent to the morphological changes in affected tissues, the quantification of these elements can provide an early in vivo diagnosis of diseases. The emission tomography stimulated by neutrons is a spectrometric technique to obtain quantitative information about the distribution of chemical elements in a sample. Based on the physical principles of this technique, for the realization of the experimental procedure is necessary to use a source of monoenergetic fast neutrons with specific characteristics. However, this source is not available in the department where the regular doctoral project is conducted. In order to perform the validation of results based on Monte Carlo method, it is necessary to establish an international cooperation with a research center that holds the resources for the experiments. Given this need for the ongoing PhD project, an international support was signed with an American research group which is a pioneer in the studied tomographic technique, being offered to the candidate on a twelve-month internship so that he can actively participate in ongoing research and validate the results related to his regular doctoral project. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

VIANA, R. S.; AGASTHYA, G. A.; YORIYAZ, H.; KAPADIA, A. J.. 3D element imaging using NSECT for the detection of renal cancer: a simulation study in MCNP. Physics in Medicine and Biology, v. 58, n. 17, p. 5867-5883, SEP 7 2013. (10/04206-4, 12/01564-2)