• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.281-285
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• 2016

The purpose of study was to evaluate SNR and CNR with different contrast agent contents (1.0 mmol/mL gadobutrol and 0.5 mmol/mL gadoterate meglumine) for spin echo (SE) and 3-dimension contrast-enhanced fast field echo (3D CE-FFE) pulse sequences. In this study, we compared the SNR and the CNR between 0.5 mmol/mL gadoterate meglumine and 1.0 mmol/mL gadobutrol according to the concentration of contrast agent in brain MRI. When we compared between SE and 3D CE-FFE pulse sequences, the higher SNR and CNR using 3D CE-FFE pulse sequence can be acquire regardless of contrast agent contents. Also, a statistically significant difference was found for SNR and CNR between all protocols. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the SNR and CNR have not risen proportionately with contrast agent contents. We hope that these results presented in this paper will contribute to decide contrast agent contents for brain MRI.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2012

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of women cancer death in Korea. The key for reducing disease mortality is early detection. Although digital mammography (DM) has been credited as one of the major reasons for the early detection to decrease in breast cancer mortality observed in the last 20 years, DM is far from perfect for several limitations. Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is expected to overcome some inherent limitations of conventional mammography caused by overlapping of normal tissue and pathological tissue during the standard 2D projections for the improved lesion margin visibility and early breast cancer detection. In this study, we compared a DM system and DBT system acquired with different thickness of breast phantom. We acquired breast phantom data with same average glandular dose (AGD) from 1 mGy to 4 mGy under same experimental condition. The contrast, micro-calcification measurement accuracy and observer study were conducted with breast phantom images. As a result, the higher accuracy of lesion detection with DBT system compared to DM system was demonstrated in this study. Furthermore, the pain of patients caused by severe compression can be reduced with DBT system. In conclusion, the results indicated that DBT system play an important role in breast cancer detection.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.219-229
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• 2023

In this study, basic characteristics such as reproducibility, linearity, and directionality of RPL glass dosimeters were evaluated to improve the reliability of dose evaluation through RPL glass dosimeters, and uncertainty elements such as sensitivity by glass element and magazine slot sensitivity were evaluated. Using a mathematical model to calibrate the measured values of the RPL glass dosimeter, the measurement uncertainty was calculated assuming an example. As a result of the characteristic evaluation, the RPL glass dosimeter showed excellent performance with a standard deviation of ±1% (1 SD) for the reproducibility of the reading process, a coefficient of determination for linearity of 0.99997. And the read-out of the RPL glass dosimeter are affected by the circular rotation direction of the glass dosimeter during irradiation, fading according to the period after irradiation, the number of laser pulses of the reader, and response degradation due to repeated reading, it is judged that measurement uncertainty can be reduced by irradiation and reading in consideration of these factors. In addition, it was confirmed that the dose should be determined by calculating the correction factors for the sensitivity of each element and, the sensitivity of each reading magazine slot. It is believed that the reliability of dosimetry using glass dosimeters can be improved by using a mathematical model for correction of glass dosimeter readings and calculating measurement uncertainty.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2021

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the importance of hospital hygiene and infection control in hospital settings. To raise hygiene awareness among ultrasound technicians, we evaluated the hygiene status of an ultrasound room, in comparison with that of objects used in daily life. Using the swab method, the following surfaces were examined: eight surfaces in the ultrasound room including the ultrasound probes (convex, linear, sector, 3D), ultrasound track ball, ultrasound keyboard, ultrasound gel (sealed and in use) and pillow as well as four surfaces of everyday objects including subway handles, common computer keyboards, common computer mouse, and cell phones. The streak plate technique was used for inoculation into media, which was observed for the formation of bacterial colonies following incubation for 24 h. Six bacterial strains were detected from objects used in the ultrasound room, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Four strains of bacteria were detected on surfaces of everyday objects. The equipment and accessories used in an ultrasound room can act as vehicles for infecting patients. Establishment of standardized hygiene protocols and periodic training of the staff are recommended to avoid cross-infection.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2018

Cone beam Computed Tomography(CBCT) is an increasing trend in clinical applications due to its ability to increase the accuracy of radiation therapy. However, this leaded to an increase in exposure dose. In this study, the simulation using Monte Carlo method is performed and the absorbed dose of CBCT is analyzed and standardized data is presented. First, after simulating the CBCT, the photon spectrum was analyzed to secure the reliability and the absorbed dose of the tissue in the human body was evaluated using the MIRD phantom. Compared with SRS-78, the photon spectrum of CBCT showed similar tendency, and the average absorbed dose of MIRD phantom was 8.12 ~ 25.88 mGy depending on the body site. This is about 1% of prescription dose, but dose management will be needed to minimize patient side effects and normal tissue damage.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2008

Porcelain gallbladder is a rare disorder by deposition of calcium in the wall of gallbladder. The chronic cholecystitis is reported to produce mural calcification and obstruction to the cystic duct by stone. Since porcelain gallbladder is commonly associatedwith gallbladder cancer, cholecystectomy is prerformed to prevent it. We report here a case of a patient with porcelain gallbladder. This case showedthe typical ultrasonogaphic, computer tomogaphic and radiaographic findings of the disease.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2021

The purpose of these experiments is often to scan infected patients with MRI. Therefore, it is to investigate whether the antibacterial film containing silver ions, which is a non-magnetic substance, affects magnetic resonance imaging. In this experiment, the ACR phantom was used, not the patient. The ACR phantom was wrapped in an antibacterial film and the SNR, CNR, sagittal localization image, and geometrical accuracy were compared before and after. The experiment was performed 10 times and the averaged values were compared. There were no significant differences in the results of all experiments. The FDA recommends removing metal and antibacterial film masks during MRI scans. The reason is that there was one case of injury with facial burns. When I touched the antibacterial film to check the fever during the 2 hour experiment, I did not feel any particular fever. In light of the experimental results, it would be helpful to use an antibacterial film when testing an infected patient. The reason is that there isn't a difference before and after the experiment of SNR, CNR, and sagittal localization images.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2013

Objective : Intracavitary injection of beta-emitting radiation source for control of cystic tumors has been tried with a benefit of localized internal radiation. The authors treated cystic brain tumor patients with Holmium-166-chitosan complex (Ho-166-chico), composed of a beta-emitting radionuclide Holmium-166 and biodegradable chit polymer, and evaluated the safety and effective measurement for response. Methods : Twenty-two patients with recurrent cystic brain tumor and/or located in a deep or eloquent area were enrolled in this pilot study. The cyst volume and wall thickness were determined on CT or MRI to assess radiological response. The activity of Ho-166-chico injected via Ommaya reservoir was prescribed to be 10-25 Gy to the cyst wall in a depth of 4 mm. Results : There was neither complications related to systemic absorption nor leakage of Ho-166-chico in all 22 patients. But, two cases of oculomotor paresis were observed in patients with recurrent craniopharyngioma. Radiological response was seen in 14 of 20 available follow-up images (70%). Seven patients of 'evident' radiological response experienced more than 25% decrease of both cyst volume and wall thickness. Another 7 patients with 'suggestive' response showed decrease of cyst volume without definitive change of the wall thickness or vice versa. All patients with benign tumors or low grade gliomas experienced symptomatic improvement. Conclusion : Ho-166-chico intracavitary radiation therapy for cystic tumor is a safe method of palliation without serious complications. The determination of both minimal effective dosage and time interval of repeated injection through phase 1 trial could improve the results in the future.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2019

Purpose: To assess the feasibility of the use of spin-echo echo-planar imaging (SE-EPI) magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in livers of children and young adults. Materials and Methods: Patients (${\leq}20$ years old) who underwent 3T SE-EPI MRE were included retrospectively. Subjects were divided into three groups according to the purpose of the liver MRI: suspicion of fatty liver or focal fat deposition in the liver (FAT group), liver fibrosis after receiving a Kasai operation from biliary atresia (BA group), and hepatic iron deposition after receiving chemotherapy or transfusions (IRON group). Technical failure of MRE was defined when a stiffness map showed no pixel value with a confidence index higher than 95%, and the patients were divided as success and failure groups accordingly. Clinical findings including age, gender, weight, height, and body mass index and magnetic resonance imaging results including proton density fat fraction (PDFF), $T2^*$, and MRE values were assessed. Factors affecting failure of MRE were evaluated and the image quality in wave propagation image and stiffness map was evaluated using the appropriate scores. Results: Among total 240 patients (median 15 years, 211 patients in the FAT, 21 patients in the BA, and 8 patients in the IRON groups), technical failure was noted in six patients in the IRON group (6/8 patients, 75%), while there were no failures noted in the FAT and BA groups. These six patients had $T2^*$ values ranging from 0.9 to 3.8 ms. The image quality scores were not significantly different between the FAT and BA groups (P > 0.999), while the scores were significantly lower in the IRON group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The 3T SE-EPI MRE in children and young adults had a high technical success rate. The technical failure was occurred in children with decreased $T2^*$ value (${\leq}3.8ms$) from iron deposition.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2023

To have highly reliable diagnostic performance of it, this study comparatively analyzed spatial resolution of SPECT images and interrelationship depending on the changes of system uniformity of ga㎜a camera through phantom analysis. This study chose 6 kinds of results from quality control (uniformity) of triple head SPECT scanner operated in an university hospital in Seoul for six months. Then, study measured spatial resolutions (FWHM) of the images restructured by injecting radiopharmaceuticals to Jaszczak phantom, and doing SPECT scanning under the same conditions as clinical ones using the analytical program (image J). Quality controls performed by the experimental institution showed that differential uniformity of UFOV ranged from 2.76% to 7.61% (4.46±2.07), and integral uniformity of UFOV ranged from 1.98% to 5.42% (3.01±1.43). Meanwhile, Quantitative analysis evaluations of phantom images depending on the changes of uniformity of SPECT scanner detector showed that as the uniformity values of UFOV and CFOV decreased, FWHM values of phantom images decreased from 8.5 ㎜ to 5.8 ㎜. That is, it was quantitatively identified that the higher uniformity of detector is, the better spatial resolution of images gets (P<0.05). It is very important to perform continuous and consistent quality control of the nuclear medicinal system, and users should be clearly conscious of it.