Prof. Endarko SSi MSi Ph.D. when delivering his scientific oration on the development of medical fantom in the field of medical applications

ITS Campus, ITS News – The use of diagnostic modalities is one of the efforts of  doctors in increasing efficiency and accuracy in diagnosing diseases suffered by patients. Along with the increasing use of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities,  the 177th Professor of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Prof. Endarko  SSi MSi Ph.D. seeks to develop phantoms to encourage the independence of quality assurance and quality control of diagnostic modalities in Indonesia.

Fantom or medical mannequin is an artificial model that has the same anatomical and tissue form as  real humans. Fantom has an important role as a substitute for humans in diagnostic planning to  treatment of patient therapy with ionizing radiation. “Fantom has an important role, so Indonesia  must be able to develop fantom independently,” said the 49-year-old lecturer. 

Through his scientific oration entitled Fantom Development in Medical Physics Applications for  Independent Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Indonesia, Endarko revealed the importance of  Fantom to estimate the radiation dose sent to patients. This is because doses that are too high can  cause tissue damage, increasing the risk of cancer.

Prof Endarko SSi MSi PhD ketika menunjukkan keakuratan fantom hasil penelitiannya dengan fantom pasien sebenarnya

One of the successful development of Endarko is thyroid fantom which is useful in therapy, diagnosis,  and radiation protection in the field of nuclear medicine. In the process of radioactive iodine therapy,  phantoms are expected to be an evaluation of safe levels of doses used. “Hopefully it can also be the  basis for the preparation of radiation protection in hospitals,” continued the Head of the Medical  Physics and Biophysics Laboratory, ITS Physics Department. 

Not only that, Endarko also succeeded in developing breast phantoms to assess image quality at  dosage levels that are in accordance with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy  Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency (BAPETEN). Thus, the breast phantom is  useful as a guarantee of radiotherapy quality in cases of postmastectomy breast cancer or breast  removal.

Prof Endarko SSi MSi PhD ketika menunjukkan hasil penelitiannya mengenai fantom tiroid

In addition to developing symptoms in cancer, the Professor of Biophysics and Medical  Instrumentation also succeeded in developing children’s medical symptoms that suit the size of  Indonesian children. The lack of medical fantom producers in Indonesia has an impact on the  unavailability of body fantom that suits the size of Indonesian children. “Even though this can have an  impact on the inaccuracy of the dose given to children,” he added. 

The lecturer who was born in Klaten added that the risk of exposure to ionizing radiation will increase  if exposed to pregnant women. The reason is, the fetus she is carrying will be at risk of experiencing  damage to body tissues, abnormalities, to miscarriage. So, if there is an emergency that requires the  role of ionizing radiation, a phantom that resembles the real form of pregnant women is needed.

Certificate handover procession to the 177th ITS professor Prof. Endarko SSi MSi Ph.D. (right) by the  Chairman of the ITS Board of Professors Prof. Dr. Ir Imam Robandi MT (left)

Looking at some of the important roles of these phantoms, it is concluded that phantoms are an  important element in the field of diagnostics and therapy. Therefore, every hospital in Indonesia needs  to have these medical phenomena as quality assurance and quality control. Especially those made in house in Indonesia. “The development of fantom in Indonesia is expected to reduce dependence on  imported products,” he concluded hopefully. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Mohammad Febryan Khamim