Photon interaction parameters of dosimetric interest in bone.

The effective atomic numbers (Z(eff)) and electron densities (N(el)) of cortical and compact bone have been computed for total and partial photon interactions (photoelectric absorption, coherent scattering, incoherent scattering, pair production in a nuclear field, pair production in an electronic field, and sum of non-coherent scattering) by computing the molecular, atomic, and electronic cross section in the wide energy range of 1 keV-100 GeV using WinXCom. The variations of effective atomic number and electron density with energy are shown graphically for all photon interactions. The effective atomic numbers (ZPEA(eff)) for photon energy absorption are also calculated from mass energy absorption coefficients in the energy range 1 keV-20 MeV. The kerma values of bone relative to air are also computed. Additionally, computed tomography (CT) numbers of bone for photon interaction and energy absorption are also computed. The computed Z(eff) and N(el) may be useful in choosing a substitute composite material in place of bone. The estimated mass energy absorption coefficient may be used to evaluate dose and determine the surviving fraction (S) for bone. The usefulness of computed data in the simulation of tissue substitutes is also discussed.