• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2016

The use of cardiac angiography (CA) and the interventional procedures is rapidly increasing due to the increase in modern adult diseases. Cardiovascular intervention (CI) is an examination method where radiation is applied to the same area for a long period, and thus may cause skin injury. In this study, we investigate the diagnostic reference level (DRL) of the cardiovascular intervention (CI) carried out by medical institutions and use it as a tool to reduce patient exposure dose. In this study, the DRL was set by acquiring information about the cumulative fluoroscopy time, cumulative fluoroscopy dose-area product (DAP), radiography DAP, cumulative DAP, air kerma, number of video clips, and the total number of images from the cardiac angiography and interventional procedures performed on 147 patients. The DAPs corresponding to the DRL of cardiac angiography(CA) and that of the interventional procedures were shown to be $44.4Gy{\cdot}cm2$ and $298.6Gy{\cdot}cm2$, respectively; the corresponding DRLs of fluoroscopy time were shown to be 191.5s and 1935.3s, respectively. A DRL is not a strict upper bound for radiation exposure. However, the process of setting, enacting, and reviewing the DRLs for the dose by medical institutions will contribute to a reduction in the unnecessary exposure dose of patients.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.365-371
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• 2019

We have developed and applied a diagnostic Multi-Leaf Collimator (MLC) to optimized the X-ray field in medical imaging and the usefulness evaluated through the fusion of infrared image and X-ray image acquired by infrared camera. The hand and skull radiography with multi-leaf collimator(MLC) showed significant area dose reductions of 22.9% and 31.3% compared to ARC and leakage dose was compliant with KS A 4732. Also scattering doses of 50 cm and 100 cm showed a significant decrease to confirm the usefulness of MLC. It was confirmed that the fusion of infrared images with an adjustable degree of transparency was possible in the X-ray images. Therefore, fusion of anatomical information with physiological convergence is expected to contribute and improvement of diagnostic ability. In addition, the feasibility of convergence X-ray imaging and DITI devices and the possibility of driving MLC with infrared images were confirmed.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2021

This study aims to present new chest AP examination exposure conditions through a study on the effect on image quality and patient dose by applying high tube voltage and scatter ray post-processing software during chest AP examination in digital radiography equipment. This study was used a human body phantom and in the chest AP position, the dosimeter was placed horizontally at the thoracic spine 6. The experiment was conducted by dividing into a low tube voltage (70 kVp, 400 mA, 3.2 mAs) group and a high tube voltage (100 kVp, 400 mA, 1.2 mAs) group. The collimation size (14″× 17″) and the source to image receptor distance(110 cm) were same applied to both groups. Radiation dose was presented to dose area product and entrance surface dose. Image quality was compared and analyzed by comparing the difference between the signal-to-noise ratio and the contrast-to-noise ratio of the image according to the application of the scatter ray post-processing software under each condition. The average value of the entrance surface dose in the low and high tube voltage conditions was 93.04±0.45 µGy and 94.25±1.51 µGy, which was slightly higher in the high tube voltage condition, but the dose area product was 0.97±0.04 µGy and 0.93±0.01 µGy. There was a statistically significant difference in the group mean value(p<0.01). In terms of image quality, the values of the signal-to-noise ratio and the contrast noise ratio were higher in the high tube voltage than in the low tube voltage, and decreased when the scattering line post-processing function was used, but the contrast resolution was improved. If there is a scatter ray post-processing function during chest AP examination, it is helpful to actively utilize it to improve the image quality. However, when this function is not available, I thought that applying a higher tube voltage state than a low tube voltage state will help to realize images with a large amount of information without changing the dose.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.509-517
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• 2023

This study analyzed imaging conditions and exposure index through clinical information collection and dose calculation programs in coronary angiography examinations. Through this, we aim to analyze the effective dose according to examination conditions and provide basic data for dose optimization. In this study, ALARA(As Low As Reasonably Achievable)-F(Fluoroscopy), a program for evaluating the radiation dose of patients and the collected clinical data, was used. First, analysis of imaging conditions and exposure index was performed based on the data of the dose report generated after coronary angiography. Second, after evaluating organ dose according to 9 imaging directions during coronary angiography, with the LAO fixed at 30°, dose evaluation was performed according to tube voltage, tube current, number of frames, focus-skin distance, and field size. Third, the effective dose for each organ was calculated according to the tissue weighting factors presented in ICRP(International Commission on Radiological Protection) recommendations. As a result, the average sum of air kerma during coronary angiography was evaluated as 234.0±112.1 mGy, the dose-area product was 25.9±13.0 Gy·cm², and the total fluoroscopy time was 2.5±2.0 min. Also, the organ dose tended to increase as the tube voltage, milliampere-second, number of frames, and irradiation range increased, whereas the organ dose decreased as the FSD increased. Therefore, medical radiation exposure to patients can be reduced by selecting the optimal tube voltage and field size during coronary angiography, maximizing the focal-skin distance, using the lowest tube current possible, and reducing the number of frames.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.9 no.7
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• pp.535-540
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• 2015

Collimator has important functions with control primary X-ray that decrease radiation exposure dose for patients and reduce scatter ray and make better quality of image. But there are no regulations for X-ray mammography device of collimator, so widely used device adopt rectangularly controlled collimator. Though digital X-ray mammography device expand supply recently, rectangularly controlled collimator of film/screen mode still used. After searching for real condition of beam field with digital mammography, we made a multi-leaf collimator which is able to adjust the beam field in accordance with size and shape of breast, and we measuring up the transitions of image quality, average glandular dose(AGD) and, Dose area product(DAP). There are no significant differences between rectangularly controlled collimator and multi-leaf collimator, and DAP value decreased by 50.72%. As conclusion, there needs to expand the use of multi-leaf collimator for optimum adoption of beam field in digital mammography, and also need to develop an automatic regulation of beam field for reduce of exposure dose to patients.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2023

Interventional cardiology procedures can involve relatively high radiation doses compared to conventional radiography. During CAG, CAG + PCI and PCI the same area is exposed to radiation for a long period. In this study, radiation exposure data of 421 examinations in Gyeongsang area were collected, and the DRLs and ADs in actual medical practice for three types of interventional cardiology procedures in Korea were established. In CAG 286 case, 75th percentile DRLs and ADs of the total DAP were 55.89 Gy·cm² and 37.47 Gy·cm² , respectively. In CAG + PCI 92 case, those values were 222.84 Gy·cm² and 117.51 Gy·cm² respectively. In PCI 43 case, those values were 198.73 Gy·cm² and 120.13 Gy·cm² respectively. In this study, for the first time, the diagnostic reference level of interventional cardiology procedures in Gyeongsang area were established. Using the diagnostic reference level of interventional cardiology procedures derived from this study, it will help to identify and improve the level of exposure dose in the region and country.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.573-579
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is predicted easily the entrance surface dose (ESD) in chest digital radiography. We used two detector type such as flat-panel detector (FP) and IP (Imaging plate detector). ESD was measured at each exposure condition combined tube voltage with tube current using dosimeter, after attaching on human phantom, it was repeated 3 times. Phantom images were evaluated independently by three chest radiologists after blinding image. Dose-area product (DAP) or exposure index (EI) was checked by Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) header on phantom images. Statistical analysis was performed by the linear regression using SPSS ver. 19.0. ESD was significant difference between FP and IP($85.7{\mu}Gy$ vs. $124.6{\mu}Gy$, p=0.017). ESD was positively correlated with image quality in FP as well as IP. In FP, adjusted R square was 0.978 (97.8%) and linear regression model was $ESD=0.407+68.810{\times}DAP$. DAP was 4.781 by calculating the $DAP=0.021+0.014{\times}340{\mu}Gy$. In IP, adjusted R square was 0.645 (64.5%) and linear regression model was $ESD=-63.339+0.188{\times}EI$. EI was 1748.97 by calculating the $EI=565.431+3.481{\times}340{\mu}Gy$. In chest digital radiography, the ESD can be easily predicted by the DICOM header information.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.619-627
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent on the area dose in the body when using automatic exposure control system in general radiography. After making rectangular holes in the center of the abdominal thickness paraffin phantom, CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent were respectively diluted with physiological saline solution for contrast medium dilution ratio of 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 3:7, 2:8, 1:9, 0:10%. Each experiment was set to 78 kVp, 320 mA, which is the proper condition for KUB photography, and thereafter a total of 30 inspections were made for each dilution ratio using an automatic exposure control device, and the area dose corresponding to the dilution ratio of each contrast agent, Average comparison and correlation analysis were performed on the exposure index. As a result, the CT contrast agent and the MRI contrast agent appeared different in area dose according to the dilution ratio(p<0.05), and as the dilution ratio increased, the area dose increased for CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent(P<0.05). In each test, the exposure index showed the manufacturer's recommendation of 200-800 EI value, and the exposure index and area dose increased as the area dose increased(p<0.05). In conclusion, CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent confirmed to increase the area dose by general imaging test using all automatic exposure control device. Therefore, it is considered that it is necessary to perform it after the contrast medium has been excreted sufficiently when using usual imaging test after using the contrast agent in CT and MRI examination.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2012

To know which parameters were acceptable for achieving lowest radiation exposure to the patients and highest image quality at the diagnostic X-ray radiography, we measured the patient radiation dose and image quality in transmitted PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) at variable combinations of the added filters. As a result, the Dose Area Product (DAP: $mGy{\cdot}cm^2$) and Entrance Surface Doses (ESDs: $mGy$) was lowest at 1 mmAl + 0.2 mmCu and highest at 0 mmAl. The histogram of the image quality by transmitted PACS was not significantly different at variable combinations of exposure parameters on the MATLAB. In conclusion, this study can be helpful for expecting radiation dose-exposure and control exposure parameters for the diagnostic X-ray radiography.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.147-154
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• 2020

In this study, four types of composite added filtration (aluminum, nickel, copper, and zinc) were combined for each thickness to evaluate dose reduction and optimal images due to X-ray attenuation. To evaluate dose and image quality. X-ray generators, Dose Area Product(DAP) and ICY programs with RQR9 standard quality were used. In the image quality evaluation element (PSNR, RMSE, SSIM), only images with PSNR value of 30 dB or more were analyzed. As a result, the best combination in dose evaluation was 3 mmAl + 0.6 mmNi (0.16µGy㎡), and the best filter in image quality evaluation was 0.9 mmAl (PSNR 34.24dB, RMSE 79.52, SSIM 0.24). In this study, the dose aspect and the image quality aspect are mentioned, So it is considered that further studies on patient's exposure dose and optimal image will be needed in the future.