• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.219-228
• /
• 2003

Purpose: The amount of salvaged myocardium is an important prognostic factor in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). We investigated if early Tl-201 SPECT imaging could be used to predict the salvaged myocardium and functional recovery in acute MI after primary PTCA. Materials and Methods: In 36 patients with first acute MI treated with primary PTCA, serial echocardiography and Tl-201 SPECT imaging ($5.8{\pm}2.1$ days after PTDA) were performed. Regional wall motion and perfusion were quantified with on 16-segment myocardial model with 5-point and 4-point scaling system, respectively. Results: Wall motion was improved in 78 of the 212 dyssynergic segments on 1 month follow-up echocardiography and 97 on 7 months follow-up echocardiography, which were proved to be salvaged myocardium. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves of Tl-201 perfusion score for detecting salvaged myocardial segments were 0.79 for 1 month follow-up and 0.83 for 7 months follow-up. The sensitivity and specificity of Tl-201 redistribution images with optimum cutoff of 40% of peak thallium activity for detecting salvaged myocardium were 84.6% and 55.2% for 1 month follow-up, and 87.6% and 64.3% for 7 months follow-up, respectively. There was a linear relationship between the percentage of peak thallium activity on early redistribution imaging and the likelihood of segmental functional improvement 7 months after reperfusion. Conclusion: Tl-201 myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging performed early within 10 days after reperfusion can be used to predict the salvaged myocardium and functional recovery with high sensitivity during the 7 months following primary PTCA in patients with acute MI.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.15-22
• /
• 2017

Purpose During Brain SPECT study, critical factor for proper study with $^{99m}Tc-ECD$ or $^{99m}Tc-HMPAO$ is one of the important causes to patent's movement. It causes both improper diagnosis and examination failure. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Dynamic Continuous Mode Acquisition compared to Step and Shoot Mode to raise efficacy and reject the data set with movement, as well as, be reconstructed in certain criteria. Materials and Methods Deluxe Jaszczak phantom and Hoffman 3D Brain phantom were used to find proper standard data set and exact time. Step and Shoot Mode and Dynamic Continuous Mode Acquisition were performed with SymbiaT16. Firstly, Deluxe Jaszczak phantom was filled with $Na^{99m}TcO_4$ 370 MBq and obtained in 60 minutes to check spatial resolution compared with Step and Shoot Mode and Dynamic Continuous Mode. The second, the Hoffman 3D Phantom filled with $Na^{99m}TcO_4$ 74 MBq was acquired for 15 Frame/minutes to evaluate visual assessment and quantification. Finally, in the Deluxe Jaszczak phantom, Spheres and Rods were measured by MI Apps program as well as, checking counts with the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, cerebellum and hypothalamus parts was performed in the Hoffman 3D Brain Phantom. Results In Brain SPECT Study, using Dynamic Continuous Mode rather than current Step and Shoot Mode, we can do the reading using the 20 to 50 % of the acquired image, and during the test if the patient moves, we can remove unneeded image to reduce the rate of restudy and reinjection. Conclusion Dynamic Continuous Mode in Brain study condition enhances effects compared to Step and Shoot Mode. And also is powerful method to reduce reacquisition rate caused by patient movement. The findings further indicate that it suggest rejection limit to maintain clinical value with certain reconstruction factors compared with Tomo data set. Further examination to improve spatial resolution, SPECT/CT should be the answer for that.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.172-180
• /
• 2007

Among the nuclear medicine imaging methods available today, $H_2^{15}O-PET$ is most widely used by cognitive neuroscientists to examine regional brain function via the measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). The short half-life of the radioactively labeled probe, $^{15}O$, often allows repeated measures from the same subjects in many different task conditions. $H_2^{15}O-$ PET, however, has technical limitations relative to other methods of functional neuroimaging, e.g., fMRI, including relatively poor time and spatial resolutions, and, frequently, insufficient statistical power for analysis of individual subjects. However, recent technical developments, such as the 3-D acquisition method provide relatively good image quality with a smaller radioactive dosage, which in turn results in more PET scans from each individual, thus providing sufficient statistical power for the analysis of individual subject's data. Furthermore, the noise free scanner environment $H_2^{15}O$ PET, along with discrete acquisition of data for each task condition, are important advantages of PET over other functional imaging methods regarding studying state-dependent changes in brain activity. This review presents both the limitations and advantages of $^{15}O-PET$, and outlines the design of efficient PET protocols, using examples of recent PET studies both in the normal healthy population, and in the clinical population.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.123-129
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The way check the movement of the fiducial marker insertion in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer. However the existing methods of fiducial marker verification process difficult to identify the specific location of the marker behind the femur and pelvic bone. So to study the evaluation of maker match with using kilo voltage (KV) X-ray by On-board imager to both oblique verification method. Materials and Methods: Five patients were selected for rectal ballooning and inserted fiducial marker. Compare the position of the fiducial marker of reference plan 2D/2D Anterior/Posterior verification method and 2D/2D both oblique verification method. So to measurement the shift score of X, Y, Z (axis) and measure exposure dose given to patients and compare matching time. Results: 2 dimensional OBI KV X-ray imaging using two-dimensional matching image are orthogonal, so locating fiducial marker matching clear and useful DRR (digital reconstruction radiography) OBI souce angle ($45^{\circ}/315^{\circ}$) matching most useful. 2D/2D both oblique verification method was able to see clearly marker behind the pelvic bone. Also matching time can be reduced accordingly. According to the method of each matching results for each patient in each treatment fraction, X, Y, and Z axis the Mean $value{\pm}SD$ (standard deviation) is X axis (AP/LAT: $0.4{\pm}1.67$, OBLIQUE: $0.4{\pm}1.82$) mm, Y axis (AP/LAT: $0.7{\pm}1.73$, OBLIQUE: $0.2{\pm}1.77$) mm, Z axis (AP/LAT: $0.8{\pm}1.94$, OBLIQUE:$1.5{\pm}2.8$) mm. In addition, the KV X-ray source dose radiation exposure given to the patient taking average when AP/LAT matching is (0.1/2.1) cGY, when $315^{\circ}/45^{\circ}$ matching is (0.27/0.26) cGY. Conclusion: In conclusion for inserted fiducial marker of prostate cancer patients 2D/2D both oblique matching method is more accurate verification than 2D/2D AP/LAT matching method. Also the matching time less than the 2D/2D AP/LAT matching method. Taken as the amount of radiation exposure to patients less than was possible. Suggest would improve the treatment quality of care patients more useful to establish a protocol such as case.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.372-378
• /
• 2014

Noise in biomedical X-ray image degrades the quality so that it might causes to decrease the accuracy of diagnosis. Especially the noise reduction techniques is quite essential for low-dose biomedical X-ray images obtained from low radiation power in order to protect patients, because their noise level is usually high to well discriminate objects. This paper proposes an efficient method to remove the noise in low-dose X-ray images while preserving the edges with diverse resolutions. In the proposed method, a noisy image is at first decomposed into several images with different resolutions in pyramidal representation, then the stable map of edge confidence is obtained from each of analyzed image using a fuzzy logic-based edge detector. This map is used to adaptively determine the parameter for guided filters, which eliminate the noise while preserving edges in the corresponding image. The filtered images in the pyramid are extended and synthesized into a resulted image using interpolation technique. The superiority of proposed method compared to the median, bilateral, and guided filters has been experimentally shown in terms of noise removal and edge preserving properties.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2017

In addition to tumors, normal tissues, such as the brain and myocardium can intake $^{18}F$-FDG, and the amount of $^{18}F$-FDG intake by normal tissues can be altered by the surrounding environment. Therefore, a process is necessary during which the contrasts of the tumor and normal tissues can be enhanced. Thus, this study examines the effects of glucose levels on FDG PET images of brain tissues, which features high glucose activity at all times, in small animals. Micro PET scan was performed on fourteen mice after injecting $^{18}F$-FDG. The images were compared in relation to fasting. The findings showed that the mean SUV value w as 0.84 higher in fasted mice than in non-fasted mice. During observation, the images from non-fasted mice showed high accumulation in organs other than the brain with increased surrounding noise. In addition, compared to the non-fasted mice, the fasted mice showed higher early intake and curve increase. The findings of this study suggest that fasting is important in assessing brain functions in brain PET using $^{18}F$-FDG. Additional studies to investigate whether caffeine levels and other preprocessing items have an impact on the acquired images would contribute to reducing radiation exposure in patients.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2007

It is important to consider the contrast of object in Mammography because an absorption gap between tissues of body and breast in breast is low. This study is to evaluate MTF image with resolution chart according to change of combination of target and filter. The results were as follows : 1. There were significant differences in X-ray energy according to combination of filter(Mo/Mo, Mo/Rh. Mo/Al, Rh/Rh, Rh/Al) and acrylic thickness(2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm). 2. The value of lp/mm on MTF to 0.5 showed that the sharpness in MTF curve was 2.4 compared to Mo/Mo and 2cm acryl, 2.63 in Mo/Rh and 4 cm acryl, and 2.9 in Rh/Rh and 6cm acryl. 3. The value of lp/mm on MTF showed that the resolution in MTF curve was 6.0 compared to Mo/Mo and 2 cm acryl, 4.60 in Rh/Al and 4cm acryl, and 6.03 in Rh/Al and 6 cm acryl. 4. The value of MTF on 2.5 lp/mm distinguishable visually was 0.48 compared to Mo/Mo and 2 cm acryl, 0.53 in Mo/Rh and 4cm acryl, and 0.59 in Rh/Rh and 6cm acryl. 5. For the evaluation of an image of the mammo-phantom, the score of Mo/Mo was 12 points, Mo/Rh 11, Rh/Rh 10.5, Mo/Al 10, Rh/Al 9.0, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.11 no.7
• /
• pp.663-669
• /
• 2017

In diagnostic medical imaging, it is essential to reduce the scattered radiation for the high medical image quality and low patient dose. Therefore, in this study, the influence of the scattered radiation on medical images was analyzed as the tube voltage increases. For this purpose, ANSI chest phantom was used to measure the scattering ratio, and the scattering effect on the image quality was investigated by RMS evaluation, RSD and NPS analysis. It was found that the scattering ratio with increasing x-ray tube voltage gradually increased to 48.8% at 73 kV tube voltage and to 80.1% at 93 kV tube voltage. As a result of RMS analysis for evaluating the image quality, RMS value according to increase of tube voltage was increased, resulting in low image quality. Also, the NPS value at 2.5 lp/mm spatial frequency was increased by 20% when the tube voltage was increased by 93 kV compared to the tube voltage of 73 kV. From this study, it can be seen that the scattering radiation have a significant effect on the image quality according to the increase of x-ray tube voltage. The results of this study can be used as basic data for the improvement of medical imaging quality.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.94-101
• /
• 2011

Various kinds of medical imaging devices have been studied to develop periapical radiography. However, there are some problems such as high x-ray exposure rate and pains for patients because of the problems caused by intra-oral sensor based radiography system. In this study, a new concept of periapical radiography, intra oral X-ray tube and detector system, is introduced to solve these problems. This system is made up of miniature X-ray tube based on subminiature thermal electron or cold electron, CMOS based detector, and a body including automatic position and system control devices. In order to confirm the possibility of proposed new concept to periapical radiography, miniature x-ray tube from XOFT corporation is used to develop new x-ray system, and the performance evaluation of this system is performed according to collimator. Also, dental images are compared after acquiring both images from existing system versus new concept of system. As a result, new concept of system showed excellent image. Thus, it is considered that new concept of system will have a significant effect on medical imaging technology.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2016

Room-temperature operating CdZnTe(CZT) material is an innovative radiation detector which could reduce the patient dose to one-tenth level of conventional CT (Computed Tomography) and mammography system. The pixel and pixel pitch in the imaging device determine the conversion efficiency of incident X-or gamma-ray and the cross-talk of signal, that is, image quality of detector system. The weighting potential is the virtual potential determined by the position and geometry of electrode. The weighting potential obtained by computer-based simulation in solving Poisson equation with proper boundaries condition. The pixel was optimized by considering the CIE (charge induced efficiency) and the signal cross-talk in CT detector system. The pixel pitch was 1-mm and the detector thickness was 2-mm in the simulation. The optimized pixel size and inter-pixel distance for maximizing the CIE and minimizing the signal cross-talk is about $750{\mu}m$ and $125{\mu}m$, respectively.