Investigation of Gamma-ray attenuation coefficients for some different tissues

In this study, the half-value thicknesses, linear and mass attenuation coefficients of biological samples such
as adipose tissue, bone, cardiac muscle, liver, lung, muscle skeletal and soft tissue have been measured
at 97, 243.79, 344.89, 662, 778.43, 866.27, 962.31, 1112.87, 1173, 1333 and 1407.52 keV energies by
using the NaI(Tl) spectrometer. The gamma-rays were obtained from 152Eu, 137Cs and 60Co sources. Also
theoretical calculations have been performed in order to obtain the half-value thicknesses, mass and linear
attenuation coefficients, and the tenth-value thicknesses at photon energies 0.001 MeV–10 GeV for some
tissues. The experimental linear mass attenuation coefficients, half value layer for tissue components were
compared with theoretical values obtained using WinXCOM.
The half-value thicknesses, mass and linear attenuation coefficients, and the tenth-value thicknesses of
tissue compounds have been computed in the wide energy region 1 keV to 10 GeV using an accurate
database of photon-interaction cross sections and the WinXCom program. The linear attenuation coefficient
for bone is higher than the tissues of cardiac muscle, liver, lung, skeletal muscle and soft tissue. HVL, TVL
and mean free path are lower for bone than the tissues of cardiac muscle, liver, lung, skeletal muscle and
soft tissue. The studied gamma dosimetric values for the relaxants are useful in medical physics and
radiation medicine. Result shows that attenuation and required thickness to achieve certain attenuation
power are highly photon energy dependent.