Determining the attenuation of bismuth protector by Monte Carlo simulation

The use of ionizing radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes has been increasing, due to the development of the equipment and facilities in the access to the radiographic examination. In Brazil, diagnostic imaging tests increased 45.27%. However, many companies lack sufficient protective equipment for professionals and patients, which can lead to unnecessary exposure of radiosensitive organs such as the eyes and the appearance of cataracts. Thus, for patients with partial vision loss and young people, it would be important to use a dose-reduction protector. Research has shown that use of bismuth protectors during a cranial CT scan reduced the dose in the lens by 40% and the eye protectors reduced the dose by 48.5%, and the uses of these protectors did not affect the quality of the image. Another study reported that use of the bismuth protector for the eyes decreases the dose deposited in the crystals by 34%. Our objective in this work was to determine the attenuation of bismuth protectors through the Monte Carlo simulation. Thus, it used a punctual source, polienergetica and emitting X-ray with 120 kV, a phantom of water constituted of head and trunk. The results showed that the maximum reduction obtained was approximately 67% when the beam was completely focused on the bismuth ocular protector.