• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.365-373
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• 1998

Purpose: The conventional gamma camera is not ideal for scintimammography because of its large detector size (${\sim}500mm$ in width) causing high cost and low image quality. We are developing a small gamma camera dedicated for breast imaging. Materials and Methods: The small gamma camera system consists of a NaI (T1) crystal ($60 mm{\times}60 mm{\times}6 mm$) coupled with a Hamamatsu R3941 Position Sensitive Photomultiplier Tube (PSPMT), a resister chain circuit, preamplifiers, nuclear instrument modules, an analog to digital converter and a personal computer for control and display. The PSPMT was read out using a standard resistive charge division which multiplexes the 34 cross wire anode channels into 4 signals ($X^+,\;X^-,\;Y^+,\;Y^-$). Those signals were individually amplified by four preamplifiers and then, shaped and amplified by amplifiers. The signals were discriminated ana digitized via triggering signal and used to localize the position of an event by applying the Anger logic. Results: The intrinsic sensitivity of the system was approximately 8,000 counts/sec/${\mu}Ci$. High quality flood and hole mask images were obtained. Breast phantom containing $2{\sim}7 mm$ diameter spheres was successfully imaged with a parallel hole collimator The image displayed accurate size and activity distribution over the imaging field of view Conclusion: We have succesfully developed a small gamma camera using NaI(T1)-PSPMT and nuclear Instrument modules. The small gamma camera developed in this study might improve the diagnostic accuracy of scintimammography by optimally imaging the breast.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.702-709
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• 2010

The performance of mass segmentation is greatly influenced by an initial position of a mass. Some researchers performed mass segmentation with the initial position of a mass given by radiologists. The purpose of our research is to find the initial position for mass segmentation and to notify the segmented mass to radiologists without any additional information on mammograms. The proposed system consists of breast segmentation by region growing and opening operations, decision of an initial seed with characteristics of masses, and mass segmentation by a level set segmentation. A seed for mass segmentation is set based on mass scoring measure calculated by block-based variances and masked information in a sub-sampled mammogram. We used a DDSM database to evaluate the system. The accuracy of mass detection is 78% sensitivity at 4 FP/image, and it reached 92% if multiple views for masses were considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.344-359
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• 2022

Purpose To develop a denoising convolutional neural network-based image processing technique and investigate its efficacy in diagnosing breast cancer using low-dose mammography imaging. Materials and Methods A total of 6 breast radiologists were included in this prospective study. All radiologists independently evaluated low-dose images for lesion detection and rated them for diagnostic quality using a qualitative scale. After application of the denoising network, the same radiologists evaluated lesion detectability and image quality. For clinical application, a consensus on lesion type and localization on preoperative mammographic examinations of breast cancer patients was reached after discussion. Thereafter, coded low-dose, reconstructed full-dose, and full-dose images were presented and assessed in a random order. Results Lesions on 40% reconstructed full-dose images were better perceived when compared with low-dose images of mastectomy specimens as a reference. In clinical application, as compared to 40% reconstructed images, higher values were given on full-dose images for resolution (p < 0.001); diagnostic quality for calcifications (p < 0.001); and for masses, asymmetry, or architectural distortion (p = 0.037). The 40% reconstructed images showed comparable values to 100% full-dose images for overall quality (p = 0.547), lesion visibility (p = 0.120), and contrast (p = 0.083), without significant differences. Conclusion Effective denoising and image reconstruction processing techniques can enable breast cancer diagnosis with substantial radiation dose reduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.6
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• pp.1327-1341
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• 2022

Purpose To evaluate the pattern of use and the perception of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) among Korean breast radiologists. Materials and Methods From March 22 to 29, 2021, an online survey comprising 27 questions was sent to members of the Korean Society of Breast Imaging. Questions related to practice characteristics, utilization and perception of DBT, and research interests. Results were analyzed based on factors using logistic regression. Results Overall, 120 of 257 members responded to the survey (response rate, 46.7%), 67 (55.8%) of whom reported using DBT. The overall satisfaction with DBT was 3.31 (1-5 scale). The most-cited DBT advantages were decreased recall rate (55.8%), increased lesion conspicuity (48.3%), and increased cancer detection (45.8%). The most-cited DBT disadvantages were extra cost for patients (46.7%), insufficient calcification characterization (43.3%), insufficient improvement in diagnostic performance (39.2%), and radiation dose (35.8%). Radiologists reported increased storage requirements and interpretation time for barriers to implementing DBT. Conclusion Further improvement of DBT techniques reflecting feedback from the user's perspective will help increase the acceptance of DBT in Korea.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2015

Purpose: In digital mammography QC program was used for the purpose of reducing low-dose and high-definition images of the radiation dose. Materials and Methods: In digital mammography using a QC phantom according to the average glandular dose in the exposure method MLO view $0^{\circ}C$, $30^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$, $50^{\circ}C$, $55^{\circ}C$, $70^{\circ}C$, was measured at $90^{\circ}C$ intervals, an image with Hologic QC program to the SNR and CNR was measured to evaluate. Results: The average dose in the MLO view was wired to $90^{\circ}C$ when the maximum was 1.75 mGy, it decreased approximately 6% was measured at $45^{\circ}C$ 1.65 mGy. In addition, 1.67 mGy, manual record, there were an average wired in accordance with the exposure dose and the dose of 1.52 mGy difference in the way auto filter. Image quality evaluation at every angular section SNR 50 ~ 52, shows a slight difference in CNR 11 ~ 12, it was included in the manufacturer's recommended value. Conclusion: The dose was lowest in MLO view $45^{\circ}C$, the difference between SNR and CNR were insignificant. The method of exposure will need a way to reduce the exposure of the patient's body or unnecessary patient by placing a difference in settings in which the characteristics.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.217-224
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of IDEAL technique in breast MRI by performing a quantitative comparative analysis in patients diagnosed with DCIS. On a 3.0T MR scanner, fat-suppressed T2-weighted images and T1-weighted images before and after contrast enhancement were obtained from 20 patients histologically diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The findings from the quantitative image analysis are the following: 1) On T2-weighted images, SNR were not significantly different in the lesion area itself between the CHESS and IDEAL groups, while the IDEAL group showed higher SNR at the ductal area and fat area than the CHESS group. In addition, the CNR were higher for the IDEAL group in those regions. 2) On T1-weighted images before enhancement, SNR were not significantly different in the lesion area itself between the CHESS and IDEAL groups, while the IDEAL group showed higher SNR at the ductal area and fat area than the CHESS group. In addition, the CNR were higher for the IDEAL group in those regions. 3) On T1-weighted images after enhancement, SNR were not significantly different in the lesion area itself between the CHESS and IDEAL groups, while the IDEAL group showed higher SNR at the ductal area and fat area than the CHESS group.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.253.2-253.2
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• 2013

탄소나노튜브(CNT)는 나노미터의 직경과 마이크로미터의 길이를 갖는 기하학적 구조와 우수한 전계방출 특성으로 디지털 엑스선 소스와 같은 차세대 전자소스 소자에 활용되고 있다. 본 발표에서는 고밀착성의 CNT 에미터와 진공 브레이징 공정 개발을 기초로 설계, 제작된 CNT 기반 디지털 엑스선 튜브에 대해서 논의한다. 나노 필러를 함유한 페이스트를 제조하여 캐소드 기판에 대한 CNT 에미터의 밀착성을 향상시켰으며, 진공 브레이징을 고온에서 최적화함으로써 진공 밀봉된 엑스선 튜브내의 진공도를 안정적으로 확보하였다. 유방암 진단을 위한 디지털 단층합성 시스템용으로 50 mA 이상의 고전류 엑스선 튜브를 제작함과 아울러 근접 암치료 또는 강내형 엑스선 영상용으로 6 mm 이하의 직경을 갖는 초소형 엑스선 튜브를 제작하였다. 개발된 CNT 기반 엑스선 튜브는 우수한 안정성과 신뢰성을 보이며, 에너지와 강도를 쉽게 제어할 수 있는 디지털 특성도 잘 나타냈다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2013

The optimum exposure parameters are found when examined using the automatic mode in FFDM. improve the image quality by applying denoising algorithm and propose methods to reduce AGD(Average Grandular Dose) a patient can receive. For the experiment, Nuclear Associates Model 18-222 phantom was the used, and the entrance dose and AGD were measured. And then, Signal, Noise, SNR and FOM(Figure of Merit) were measured, compared and analyzed image denoising before and after. As the experiment result, first, SNR was the highest at Mo/Mo 23kVp and W/Rh 35kvp was the lowest for the average glandular dose. It showed to use 28kVp of W/Rh to be the best through the result of FOM. SNR was the highest at Mo/Mo 23kVp(image denoising), and it showed to W/Rh and 28kVp to be the best in the FOM result which AGD was considered at the same time. By the image denoising, it is possible to reduce noise while maintain important information in the image.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2012

Digital mammogram is effective for detecting the micro-calcification that is early symptom of breast cancer. In the digital mammogram, many image processing techniques have been studied for accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment of micro-calcification lesion. The wavelet based multi-scale method was mainly used to enhance the image contrast. This paper presents an advanced mammography enhancement method which is based both on the brightness and the contrast enhancement in the wavelet domain. The proposed method normalizes a dynamic range using histogram of the image. The brightness is enhanced by modifying coefficients of low frequency components, and the contrast is enhanced by coefficients of high frequency component based on the multi-scale contrast measure. The experiment results show that the proposed method yields better performance of the image enhancement over the existing methods.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2010

High contrast and high resolution are the most important factors for examining mammography images. Despite of the inconveniences of screen-film, most clinics still prefer them to computed radiography(CR) and direct radiography(DR). The reading of screen-film mammography images is influenced by the brightness from the X-ray illuminator, the exam room and incoming light from outside sources. Therefore, a comparative analysis on the results of mammo phantom images would be variated by the changes in the reading environment. There was no influence on reading results from the examiners close distance eyesight(p > 0.05); however, reading of micro lesions improved with greater darkness in the X-ray film reading room and the brightness of the X-ray illuminator(p < 0.05). Also, observation of fiber and mass images were maximized at a distance of 50 cm from the reader. Now, it is possible to observe these small classification groups using a magnifying glass without being physically close to the image. For the image of mammography, obtaining high quality images is important but in order to get an accurate clinical lesions of the reading also needs to be considered the optimal environmental factors.