• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.522-527
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• 2010

In this paper, a new MBHF(Morphology-Based Homomorphic filter) is presented to enhance contrast in mammographic images. The MBH filtering is performed based on the morphological sub-bands, in which an image is morphologically decomposed. The filter is designed to have optimal gain and structuring element in each sub-band through differential evolution. Experimental results show that the proposed method improves the contrast in mammographic images such that an evaluation criterion, WPSNR(Weighted Peak Signal to Noise Ratio) which takes into account human visual system is increased compared with a wavelet-based Homomorphic filter.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.517-526
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to find the optimal method for clinical application by analyzing image quality and radiation output according to parameter combination when using the Automatic Exposure Control (AEC). The experimental method combines 70, 81 kVp with sensitivity S200, S400, S800 and S1000 of the Automatic Exposure Control for Entrance Surface Dose (ESD), current volume, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR), Time-to-Radiation Dose Curve in abdomen and pelvis. And then, image quality and radiation output stability were evaluated. As a results, Entrance Surface Dose, current volume, Signal to Noise Ratio, Contrast to Noise Ratio decreased as the tube voltage and sensitivity were set higher. In addition, the higher tube voltage and sensitivity, the Time-to-Radiation Dose Curve showed a poor output stability. In conclusion, the higher the combination of tube voltage and sensitivity in the use of Automatic Exposure Control, the more problems can be seen in image quality and stability of the radiation output. Therefore, a relatively low combination of tube voltage and sensitivity showed that the image quality and radiation output stability could be optimized by minimizing the error range that would occur when the detector recognized a combination of parameters.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.951-958
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) obtained using dual-layer dual-energy CT (DL-DECT) for evaluating brain tumors. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 32 patients with brain tumors who had undergone non-contrast head CT using DL-DECT. Among them, 15 had glioblastoma (GBM), 7 had malignant lymphoma, 5 had high-grade glioma other than GBM, 3 had low-grade glioma, and 2 had metastatic tumors. Conventional polychromatic images and VMIs (40-200 keV at 10 keV intervals) were generated. We compared CT attenuation, image noise, contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between tumor and white matter (WM) or grey matter (GM) between VMIs showing the highest CNR (optimized VMI) and conventional CT images using the paired t test. Two radiologists subjectively assessed the contrast, margin, noise, artifact, and diagnostic confidence of optimized VMIs and conventional images on a 4-point scale. Results: The image noise of VMIs at all energy levels tested was significantly lower than that of conventional CT images (p < 0.05). The 40-keV VMIs yielded the best CNR. Furthermore, both contrast and CNR between the tumor and WM were significantly higher in the 40 keV images than in the conventional CT images (p < 0.001); however, the contrast and CNR between tumor and GM were not significantly different (p = 0.47 and p = 0.31, respectively). The subjective scores assigned to contrast, margin, and diagnostic confidence were significantly higher for 40 keV images than for conventional CT images (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In head CT for patients with brain tumors, compared with conventional CT images, 40 keV VMIs from DL-DECT yielded superior tumor contrast and diagnostic confidence, especially for brain tumors located in the WM.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.273-280
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• 2013

This study was proven for the T-spine breathing technique in lateral projection, using computer radiography (CR), charge coupled device (CCD), indirect digital radiography (IDR) and direct digital radiography (DDR). All images were evaluated and compared with CNR and SNR measured with the mean pixels and the standard deviation as setting ROI of spinous process, pedicle, vertebral body, intervertebral foramen and intervertebral disk using Image J. In experiment results of 4 type detectors, T-spine breathing technique was indicated as excellent in ROI of spinous process, pedicle, vertebral body, intervertebral foramen and intervertebral disk. As T-spine breathing technique indicated excellent images compared to the existing T-spine lateral radiography, this method would be useful for elderly patients who have difficulty in deep exhalation. This study was indicated the application possibility of T-spine breathing technique by presenting contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and signal to noise ratio (SNR) with quantitative value in 4 type detectors.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.35
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• pp.41-51
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• 2023

Purpose: This study compares and analyzes the image quality of 3D-CBCT(Cone Beam Computed-Tomography) and Gated CBCT according to baseline changes during SBRT(Stereotactic Body RadioTherapy) in lung cancer patients to find a useful CBCT method for correcting movement due to breathing Materials and methods : Insert a solid tumor material with a diameter of 3 cm into the QUASAR^TM phantom. 4-Dimentional Computed-Tomography(4DCT) images were taken with a speed of the phantom at period 3 sec and a maximum amplitude of 20 mm. Using the contouring menu of the computerized treatment planning system Eclipse^TM Gross Tumor Volume was outlined on solid tumor material. Set-up the same as when acquiring a 4DCT image using Truebeam STx^TM, breathing patterns with baseline changes of 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm were input into the phantom to obtain 3D-CBCT (Spotlight, Full) and Gated-CBCT (Spotlight, Full) images five times repeatedly. The acquired images were compared with the Signal-to-Noise Ratio(SNR), Contrast-to-Noise Ratio(CNR), Tumor Volume Length, and Motion Blurring Ratio(MBR) based on the 4DCT image. Results: The average Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Contrast-to-Noise Ratio, Tumor Volume Length and Motion Blurring Ratio of Spotlight Gated CBCT images were 13.30±0.10%, 7.78±0.16%, 3.55±0.17%, 1.18±0.06%. As a result, Spotlight Gated-CBCT images according to baseline change showed better values than Spotligtht 3D-CBCT images. Also, the average Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Contrast-to-Noise Ratio, Tumor Volume Length and Motion Blurring Ratio of Full Gated CBCT images were 12.80±0.11%, 7.60±0.11%, 3.54±0.16%, 1.18±0.05%. As a result Full GatedCBCT images according to baseline change showed better values than Full 3D-CBCT images. Conclusion : Compared to 3D-CBCT images, Gated-CBCT images had better image quality according to the baseline change, and the effect of Motion Blurring Artifacts caused by breathing was small. Therefore, it is considered useful to image guided using Gated-CBCT when a baseline change occurs due to difficulty in regular breathing during SBRT that exposes high doses in a short period of time

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2521-2526
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate computed tomography (CT) virtual non-contrast (VNC) spectral imaging for gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with histologically proven gastric carcinomas underwent gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) including non-contrast and contrast-enhanced hepatic arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase acquisitions prior to surgery. VNC arterial phase (VNCa), VNC venous phase (VNCv), and VNC equilibrium phase (VNCe) images were obtained by subtracting iodine from iodine/water images. Images were analyzed with respect to image quality, gastric carcinoma-intragastric water contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), gastric carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR, serosal invasion, and enlarged lymph nodes around the lesions. Results: Carcinoma-water CNR values were significantly higher in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (2.72, 2.60, 2.61, respectively, vs 2.35, $p{\leq}0.008$). Carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR values were significantly lower in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (7.63, 7.49, 7.32, respectively, vs 8.48, p< 0.001). There were no significant differences of carcinoma-water CNR and carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR among VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images. There was no difference in the determination of invasion or enlarged lymph nodes between normal CT and VNCa images. Conclusions: VNC arterial phase images may be a surrogate for conventional non-contrast CT images in gastric carcinoma evaluation.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.507-517
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• 2022

The PhotoAcoustic Microscopy (PAM) has been proved to be a useful tool for biological and medical applications due to its high spatial and contrast resolution. PAM is based on transmission of laser pulses and reception of PA signals. Since the strength of PA signals is generally low, not only are high-performance optical and acoustic modules required, but high-performance electronics for imaging are also particularly needed for high-quality PAM imaging. Most PAM systems are implemented with a combination of several pieces of equipment commercially available to receive, amplify, enhance, and digitize PA signals. To this end, PAM systems are inevitably bulky and not optimal because general purpose equipment is used. This paper reports a PA signal receiving system recently developed to attain the capability of improved Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) of PAM images; the main module of this system is a low noise, wideband signal receiver that consists of two low-noise amplifiers, two variable gain amplifiers, analog filters, an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC), and control logic. From phantom imaging experiments, it was found that the developed system can improve SNR by 6.7 dB and CNR by 3 dB, compared to a combination of several pieces of commercially available equipment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2019

It was reported that there were some cases in which signal was not inhibited but high signal appeared in cerebrospinal fluid on FLAIR(fluid attenuated inversion recovery) of MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) in case a person inhales high-concentration oxygen. This study was to prepare basic database. We produced a phantom fixed with agar gel and by using it, obtained the images of the signals of normal saline into which oxygen was injected and normal saline diluted with contrast media by changing the TI(Inversion Time) of FLAIR technique and analyzed them. In the result of FLAIR technique of MRI using Philips Achieva MR 3.0T in Busan P Hospital, the SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) of normal saline into which oxygen was injected was higher than the SNR of normal saline into which oxygen was not injected. However, it was not higher than the SNR of normal saline diluted with contrast media. In the TI 1,800ms, we could obtain the images which do not have the rise of the signal due to oxygen. In the CNR(Contrast to Noise Ratio) of normal saline into which oxygen was injected and normal saline diluted with contrast media as well, it was higher in the TI 1,800ms than in the TI 2,800ms that is mainly used clinically. It is thought that the result of this study could be basic database for studies on change of signal of cerebrospinal fluid as a result of injection of oxygen in FLAIR technique of MRI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting picture quality in Roadmap images, which were studied by varying the dilution rate, collimation field and flow rate of contrast medium. For a quantitative evaluation of the quality of the picture, a 3mm vessel model Water Phantom was self-produced using acrylic, a roadmap image was acquired with a self-produced vascular model Water Phantom, and the SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio) and CNR (Contrast to Noise Ratio) were analyzed. CM:N/S In the study on the change of dilution rate, CM:N/S dilution rate changed to (100%~10%:100%), and the measurement of the roadmap image taken using the vascular model Water Phantom showed that the measurement value of SNR gradually decreased as the N/S dilution rate was increased, and the measurement of CNR was gradually reduced. It was confirmed that the higher the dilution rate of CM:N/S, the lower the SNR and CNR, and also significant image can be obtained at the dilution rate of CM:N/S (100%~70:30%). The study showed the value of SNR and CNR in Roadmap image was increased as the Collimation Field was narrowed to the center of the vascular phantom; the Collimation Field was narrowed to the center of the vessel model by 2cm intervals to 0cm through 12cm. To verify the relationship with Roadmap image and Flow Rate, volume of the autoinjector was kept constant at 15 and the flow rate was gradually increased 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. The value of SNR and CNR of images taken by using water Phantom gradually decreased as the Flow Rate increased, but at Flow Rate 9 and 10, the SNR and CNR value was increase. It was not possible to confirm the relationship with SNR and CNR by ROI mean value and Background mean value. It is considered that further study is needed to evaluate the correlation about Roadmap image and Flow Rate. In conclusion, as the dilution rate of N/S in contrast medium was increased, the value of SNR and CNR was decreased. The narrower the Collimation Field, the higher image quality by increasing value of SNR and CNR. However, it is not confirmed the relationship Roadmap image and Flow Rate. It is considered that appropriate contrast medium concentration to minimize the effects of kidney and proper Collimation Field to improve contrast of image and reduce exposure X-ray during procedure is needed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2015.11a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2015