• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.117-122
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• 2018

In this study, HU(hounsfield unit) value of CT generated by dental prosthesis was measured according to the type of metal when PET-CT was performed, and the degree of distortion and standard deviation of SUV(standard uptake value) and to propose a method to reduce errors in image reading. PET-CT was performed using actual teeth, metal crown, gold crown, titanium, and zirconia dental prosthesis. Compared with general teeth, the SUV value increased with increasing HU value. The SUV value of metal crown, titanium, and zirconia was increased by 37% and the gold crown increased by 45.4%. In addition, image distortions were small in general teeth, metal crown, titanium, and zirconia, but hard curing of the gold crown occurred and image distortion occurred. Therefore, since the metal type of the dental prosthesis affects the SUV value, the NAC(non attenuation correction) PET image of the dental prosthesis can be helpful in the diagnosis of the patient using the gold material.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to develop an assist device that could correct and support patient position during biopsy on computed tomography (CT) using 3D printing technology. The development method was conducted in the order of 3D design, 3D output, intermediate evaluation for product, final assist device evaluation. The 3D design method was conducted in the order of prior research data survey, measurement, primary modeling, 3D printing, output evaluation, and supplementary modeling. The 3D output was the 3D printer (3DWOX 2X, Sindoh, Korea) with additive manufacturing technology and the polylactic acid (PLA) materials. At this time, the optimal strength was evaluated to infill degree of product as the 3D printing factors into 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%. The intermediate evaluation and supplementation was measured noise in the region of interest (ROI) around the beam hardening artifact on the CT images. We used 128-channel MDCT (Discovery 75 HD, GE, USA) to scan with a slice thickness of 100 kVp, 150 mA, and 2.5 mm on the 3D printing product. We compared the surrounding noise of the final 3D printing product with the beginning of it. and then the strength of it according to the degree of infill was evaluated. As a result, the surrounding noise of the final and the early devices were measured at an average of 3.3 ± 0.5 HU and 7.1 ± 0.1 HU, respectively, which significantly reduced the noise of the final 3D printing product (p<0.001). We found that the percentage of infill according to the optimal strength was found to be 60%. Finally, development of assist devices for CT biopsy will be able to minimize artifacts and provide convenience to medical staff and patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.1025-1033
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• 2019

Although magnetic resonance imaging without linear hardening of CT is recognized as a method of obtaining high contrast of tissue and excellent resolution image in brain disease and head and neck examination, magnetic susceptibility artifact is generated in case of metal implants in the oral cavity, which is an obstacle to image diagnosis. Therefore, an effort was made in this thesis to find a method to reduce artifacts caused by dental implants and prosthesis in MRI. Implant-induced artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging showed that the signal size increased with shorter TE in GE technique and was inconsistent with water temperature change. In SE technique as well, the signal size of water was generally higher than that of air, but the signal to noise ratio (SNR) was not different by air and temperature. In EPI technique, images with fewer artifacts were obtained quantitatively and qualitatively when there was more water than air, and the signal to noise ratio was measured the highest, especially at water temperatures of 20° and 30°. In conclusion, when examining using the EPI technique rather than the SE or the GE technique, obtaining brain diffusion using a 20° and 30° water bag reduces the magnetic susceptibility artifacts caused by implants and prosthesis, suggesting that it may provide images with high diagnostic value.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.969-977
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• 2019

Applying the bismuth shield used to reduce the radiation exposure, image quality may be reduced due to beam hardening caused by the shield during CT scan. Therefore, we tried to find out the energy range that can reduce image degradation by applying GSI mode of G company's dual energy CT and examine the possibility through experiment. As a result, after bismuth shielding, 118 ± 10.6 HU and 50.1 ± 14.6 HU at 50 keV after dual-energy CT scan were the most similar to the CT value before image deterioration(p> 0.05). It was measured 176.6 ± 7.1 and 138.3 ± 1.1 at 50 keV(p> 0.05). Experiments showed that the use of the shield during CT inspection inevitably degrades the image quality, but experiments show that the GSI function of the dual energy CT can maintain the image quality even when the shield is used. If the various shields are secured after the evaluation using the dual energy CT, it is expected to overcome the disadvantages of poor image quality caused by the use of the radiation shield for reducing the exposure, which is the biggest disadvantage of the CT scan.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2012

Purpose: In the whole body PET/CT scan, it is natural to lift the patient's arm for its quality improvement. However, when the lesion is located in head and neck, the arms should be located lower. This study was designed to compare the CT effective dose for each arm position applying Automatic Exposure Control (AEC). Materials and Methods: 45 patients who had $^{18}F$-FDG whole body PET/CT scan were studied with Biograph Truepoint 40 (SIEMENS, GERMANY), Biograph Sensation 16 (SIEMENS, GERMANY), Discovery STe 8 (GE healthcare, USA). The CT effective dose of 15 patients for each equipment was measured and comparatively analyzed in both arm-lifted position and lower-arm position. ImPACT v1.0 program was used as the method of measurement for CT effective dose. For the statistics analysis, Paired t-test which paired with SPSS 18.0 statistic program was applied. Results: In the case of arm-lifted, it was measured as $6.33{\pm}0.93mSv$ for Biograph Sensation 16, $8.01{\pm}1.34mSv$ for Biograph Truepoint 40, and $9.69{\pm}2.32mSv$ for Discovery STe 8. When arms are located lower position, it was measure as $6.97{\pm}0.76mSv$, $8.95{\pm}1.85mSv$, $13.07{\pm}2.87mSv$ for each. CT effective dose according to the arm position was 9.2% for Biograph Truepoint 40, 10.5% for Biograph Sensation 16, and 25.9% for Discovery Ste 8. The statistics analysis showed the meaningful difference ($p$<0.05). Conclusion: For the whole body PET/CT case, CT effective dose applying AEC was decreased the radiation exposure of the patients when the arm was lifted for 15.2% of average value. The patient who has no lesion in head and neck would decrease the artifact occurrence in objective part and lower the CT effective dose. Also, for the patient who had lesion in head and neck, the artifact in objective part can be lower by putting the arms down, the fact that CT effective dose increases should be concerned in its whole body PET/CT scan.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2016

The paper discusses radiation dose of dual energy CT on which copper modulation layer, is mounted in order to improve diagnostic performance of the dual energy CT. The radiation dose is estimated using MCNPX and its results are compared with that of the conventional dual energy CT system. CT X-ray spectra of 80 and 120 kVp, which are usually used for thorax, abdominal, head, and neck CT scans, were generated by the SPEC78 code and were used for the source specification 'SDEF' card for MCNPX dose modeling. The copper modulation layer was located 20 cm away from a source covering half of the X-ray window. The radiation dose was measured as changing its thickness from 0.5 to 2.0 mm at intervals of 0.5 mm. Since the MCNPX tally provides only normalized values to a single particle, the dose conversion coefficients of F6 tally for the modulation layer-based dual energy CBCT should be calculated for matching the modeling results into the actual dose. The dose conversion coefficient is $7.2*10^4cGy/output$ that is obtained from dose calibration curve between F6 tally and experimental results in which GAFCHORMIC EBT3 films were exposed by an already known source. Consequently, the dose of the modulation layer-based dual energy cone beam CT is 33~40% less than that of the single energy CT system. On the basis of the results, it is considered that scattered dose produced by the copper modulation layer is very small. It shows that the modulation layer-based dual energy CBCT system can effectively reduce radiation dose, which is the major disadvantage of established dual energy CT.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.3-7
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• 2014

Purpose SPECT/CT scan to be performed attenuation correction on the basis of CT induce an overestimation of the site due to the beam hardening artifact by metal cover and reduce the images quality. Therefore, this study using a phantom that has been inserted artificial hip joint investigated that effect on the SPECT/CT image causing by metal artifact for varying the parameters of the Attenuation Map. Materials and Methods Siemens Symbia T16 SPECT/CT equipment was used. Artificial hip joint was inserted to SPECT/PET phantom, 17 mm sphere of Bright Streak area in CT image was filled with Tc-99m so that the radiation activity was 8 times compared to background. And then Hot and Background was measured in varying Wide Beam Coefficient on Attenuation Map and RBR (Region to Background Ratio) of Metal and Non-Metal was calculated and analyzed depending on the presence or absence of the hip joint. Results It tended to hot count of Non-Metal and Metal to increase as the value of the manual mode is increased, hot count ratio with the group of both manual mode 0.5 and 0.4 is the best match. Also, in automatic mode, the ratio of RBRNon-Metal and RBRMetal was 1.135, statistically significant difference was not observed in the manual mode 0.5 and 0.4. Conclusion In the automatic mode of Wide Beam Coefficient in attenuation correction map, it was found that it is over-correction by 13.52%, it was possible to minimize the over-correction by the artifact in 0.5 and 0.4 of manual mode. Further studies should be performed in order to apply to a patient with the help of this and it is considered possible to reduce the over-correction by the metal artifact of an artificial hip joint for Hip-Resurfacing Arthroplasty patients, and to improve the diagnostic performance.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.35-43
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• 2012

Purpose : PET/CT performed CT-based attenuation correction generates the beam hardening artifact by metallic implant. The attenuation correction causes over or underestimate of the area adjacent to metallic hip prosthetic material and change of $^{18}F$-FDG uptake. Also, the image quality and the diagnosability on genitourinary disease are reduced. Therefore, this study will evaluate the usefulness of MAR (Metal Artifact Reduction) algorithm method to improve the image quality on PET/CT. Materials and Methods : PET/CT was performed by fixing hip prosthesis in SPECT/PET phantom. In PET images with and Without MAR algorithm, the Bright streak, Dark streak, Metal region and Background area that appeared on CT were confirmed, and the change of each SUV (standardized uptake value) was analyzed. Also, in 15 patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, each MAR algorithm and Without MAR algorithm and non attenuation correction was evaluated. Results : In PET image Without MAR algorithm, SUV of Bright streak region was $0.98{\pm}0.48$ g/ml; Dark streak region was $0.88{\pm}0.02$ g/ml; Metal region was $0.24{\pm}0.16$ g/ml, Background area was $0.91{\pm}0.18$ g/ml. In SUV of PET image with MAR algorithm, Bright streak region was $0.88{\pm}0.49$ g/ml, Dark streak region was $0.63{\pm}0.21$ g/ml, Metal region was $0.06{\pm}0.07$ g/ml, Background was $0.90{\pm}0.02$ g/ml. SUV generally decreased when applying MAR algorithm. In PET image Without MAR algorithm, SUVs of Bright region were higher than those measured in the Background, and it was false positive uptake. But, in PET image with MAR algorithm, SUVs of Bright region were similar to the Background, and false positive uptake disappeared. Conclusion : MAR algorithm could reduce an increase of $^{18}F$-FDG uptake due to attenuation correction in the hip surrounding tissue. However, decrease of SUV in Dark streak region should be considered in the future. Therefore, this study propose that the diagnostic accuracy can be improved in genitourinary diseases adjacent to metallic hip prosthesis, if provided PET images with and Without MAR algorithm, and non attenuation correction images at the same time.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.127-133
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• 2014

Purpose: Low dose of PET/CT is important because of Patient's X-ray exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose PET/ CT image through the CTAC and QAC of patient study and phantom study. Materials and Methods: We used the discovery 710 PET/CT (GE). We used the NEMA IEC body phantom for evaluating the PET data corrected by ultra-low dose CT attenuation correction method and NU2-94 phantom for uniformity. After injection of 70.78 MBq and 22.2 MBq of 18 F-FDG were done to each of phantom, PET/CT scans were obtained. PET data were reconstructed by using of CTAC of which dose was for the diagnosis CT and Q. AC of which was only for attenuation correction. Quantitative analysis was performed by use of horizontal profile and vertical profile. Reference data which were corrected by CTAC were compared to PET data which was corrected by the ultra-low dose. The relative error was assessed. Patients with over weighted and normal weight also underwent a PET/CT scans according to low dose protocol and standard dose protocol. Relative error and signal to noise ratio of SUV were analyzed. Results: In the results of phantom test, phantom PET data were corrected by CTAC and Q.AC and they were compared each other. The relative error of Q.AC profile was been calculated, and it was shown in graph. In patient studies, PET data for overweight patient and normal weight patient were reconstructed by CTAC and Q.AC under routine dose and ultra-low dose. When routine dose was used, the relative error was small. When high dose was used, the result of overweight patient was effectively corrected by Q.AC. Conclusion: In phantom study, CTAC method with 80 kVp and 10 mA was resulted in bead hardening artifact. PET data corrected by ultra- low dose CTAC was not quantified, but those by the same dose were quantified properly. In patients' cases, PET data of over weighted patient could be quantified by Q.AC method. Its relative difference was not significant. Q.AC method was proper attenuation correction method when ultra-low dose was used. As a result, it is expected that Q.AC is a good method in order to reduce patient's exposure dose.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2019

With regard to current Neck CT, Bismuth shielding boards are often being used to reduce exposure to superficial organs such as the thyroid. However, beam hardening often occurs near superficial organs with Bismuth shielding boards and variations in CT Number, Noise, and Uniformity values occur severely. This study looked into the usefulness of shielding boards made from aluminum and silicone that can be easily obtained and have good machinability by comparing them to the existing Bismuth shielding board. An Aluminum 7.3mm and a Silicone 21.5mm were made with shielding ratios similar to that of the Bismuth(0.06 mmPb). TLD (TLD-100) was placed on the thyroid area of the Phantom (RS-108T) and 5 doses were measured for each. To compare image quality, CT Number and Noise variations in axial images of the thyroid area in Neck CT images were compared. Also, variations in CT Number, Noise, and Uniformity were measured in the AAPM phantom images and compared. In the results, when thyroid doses for each shielding board were compared, the Bismuth shielding board showed a 14% reduction, the Silicone 21.5mm showed a 15% reduction, and the Aluminum 7.3mm showed a 13% reduction compared to the Non-Shield. Statistically, there were no significant differences in comparison with the Bismuth shielding board. In CT Number variations of thyroid area images, variations were largest for the Bismuth shielding board. With Uniformity evaluations of the AAPM phantom, the Bismuth shielding board was found unsuitable and the Aluminum 7.3mm and Silicone 21.5mm satisfied the acceptance criteria. Research results show that the Aluminum 7.3mm and Silicone 21.5mm have a similar shielding ratio to the high-priced Bismuth shielding board that is currently being used clinically and in comparison tests of CT Number attenuation coefficient variations, Noise, and Uniformity which are phantom image evaluation items, they proved to be better than Bismuth shielding boards. If various shielding boards are made using aluminum and silicone, sized appropriately for superficial organs, it would be useful in decreasing patient doses.