In Vivo Gamma Lung Measurements--a Mathematical Model

A low-background facility is described for rneasuring lung burdens of U, Th, and other nuclides in vivo. Problems associated with this method of radiation measurement are discussed. A mathennatical, computer-oriented simulation was devised to gain insight into the relation of the net observed radiation spectrum to the burden of radioactivity in the body or its organs. Chest cavities for persons of three sizes were synthesized in a three-coordinate space comprised of one-inch cubes and including a 9-in.-diameter crystal detector. Data, describing the tissue composition of each cube in the body and the characteristic radiation attenuation for each tissue-type, were coded for use with a program on a high-speed digital computer. Efficiencies for measuring radiation emitted by numerous point sources of enriched uranium were calculated. Data on in vivo measurement efficiency were obtained assuming uniform distribution of radioactive material throughout the lungs and also for nonuniform deposits. The effects of individual size and geometry, and of detector position on the measurement efficiency were determined for these twvo categories and radiation flux distributions on the detector face were computed in some cases. Data are appended and a flow diagram of the computer program is included. (C.H.