• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.165-171
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of collimator width on effective atomic number (EAN), relative electron density (RED), and stopping power ratio (SPR) measured by dual-layer dual-energy computed tomography (DL-DECT). Methods: CIRS electron density calibration phantoms with two different arrangements of material plugs were scanned by DL-DECT with two different collimator widths. The first phantom included two dense bone plugs, while the second excluded dense bone plugs. The collimator widths selected were 64 mm×0.625 mm for wider collimators and 16 mm×0.625 mm for narrow collimators. The scanning parameters were 120 kVp, 0.33 second gantry rotation, 3 mm slice thickness, B reconstruction filter, and spectral level 4. An image analysis portal system provided by a computed tomography (CT) manufacturer was used to derive the EAN and RED of the phantoms from the combination of low energy and high energy CT images. The EAN and RED were compared between the images scanned using the two different collimation widths. Results: The CT images with the wider collimation width generated more severe artifacts, particularly with high-density material (i.e., dense bone). RED and EAN for tissues (excluding lung and bones) with the wider collimation width showed significant relative differences compared to the theoretical value (4.5% for RED and 20.6% for EAN), while those with the narrow collimation width were closer to the theoretical value of each material (2.2% for EAN and 2.3% for RED). Scanning with narrow collimation width increased the accuracy of SPR estimation even with high-density bone plugs in the phantom. Conclusions: The effect of CT collimation width on EAN, RED, and SPR measured by DL-DECT was evaluated. In order to improve the accuracy of the measured EAN, RED, and SPR by DL-DECT, CT scanning should be performed using narrow collimation widths.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.1584-1589
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• 2014

본 연구는 경기도 소재 S 대학병원에서 2013년 7월부터 8월까지 GE 사의 DECT(Dual Energy Computed Tomography)를 이용하여 방사선 투과 및 불투과성 물질을 임의로 선정, 에너지 영역 대별로 투과 및 불투과성 물질의 CT 값을 분석하였다. 또한, CT 값 분석 법을 이용하여 기존의 SECT(Single Energy Computed Tomography)에서 적용되는 120kVp CT 값과 가장 유사한 에너지 영역대를 도출하였으며 임상 적용 시 가시 영역 범위 내에서 대조도를 주었을 때 가장 유용하며 적절한 물질을 알아보았다. 결론으로 생리식염수, 메틸셀룰로스, 초음파용 젤과 같이 밀도가 낮고 수분 함유량이 많은 경우 90KeV 이후 CT 값의 감소가 거의 없었으며, 공기와 조영제처럼 밀도가 매우 낮거나 높은 물질의 경우 에너지의 영향을 적게 받는 것으로 분석되었으며 메틸셀룰로오스와 초음파 젤의 경우 임상 적용 시 가장 유용성이 있는 물질로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1555-1568
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• 2021

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal disease if the diagnosis or treatment is delayed. Currently, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is considered the standard imaging method for diagnosing PE. Dual-energy CT (DECT) has the advantages of MDCT and can provide functional information for patients with PE. The aim of this review is to present the potential clinical applications of DECT in PE, focusing on the diagnosis and risk stratification of PE.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.1095-1103
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• 2020

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate whether quantitative dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) parameters offer an incremental risk stratification benefit over the CT ventricular diameter ratio in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) by using propensity score analysis. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 480 patients with acute PE who underwent CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or DECT pulmonary angiography (DE CT-PA). This propensity-matched study population included 240 patients with acute PE each in the CTPA and DECT groups. Altogether, 260 (54.1%) patients were men, and the mean age was 64.9 years (64.9 ± 13.5 years). The primary endpoint was all-cause death within 30 days. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify associations between CT parameters and outcomes and to identify potential predictors. Concordance (C) statistics were used to compare the prognoses between the two groups. Results: In both CTPA and DECT groups, right to left ventricle diameter ratio ≥ 1 was associated with an increased risk of all-cause death within 30 days (hazard ratio: 3.707, p < 0.001 and 5.573, p < 0.001, respectively). However, C-statistics showed no statistically significant difference between the CTPA and DECT groups for predicting death within 30 days (C-statistics: 0.759 vs. 0.819, p = 0.117). Conclusion: Quantitative measurement of lung perfusion defect volume by DECT had no added benefit over CT ventricular diameter ratio for predicting all-cause death within 30 days.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.405-411
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• 2018

We will provide basic data on the evaluation of patient dose in terms of DECT quality control by comparing the equipment-provided dose with the measured dose according to the configuration method of the X-ray generator by the manufacturer of the dual-energy CT unit. For computed tomography (CT) equipment, Discovery 750HD, Aquilion ONE GENESIS Edition, and Somatom Definition Flash were used. The $CTDI_{vol}$ value was measured by inserting the Unfors Xi ion chamber into a 32 cm PMMA acryl Phantom. The results of estimated $CTDI_{vol}$ DECT and measured $CTDI_{vol}$ showed that the dose difference between DECT 80 + 140 kVp of G company was at least 0.51% and -1.90% max, and measured $CTDI_{vol}$ was slightly lower (p<0.05). The difference of 80 + 140 kVp of S company was the minimum of 5.84% and the maximum of 7.52% (p<0.05). The measured $CTDI_{vol}$ was less than estimated $CTDI_{vol}$. The C company's 80 + 135 kVp showed a difference of at least 7.58% and a maximum of 13.58% (P<0.05), and all of measured $CTDI_{vol}$ was less. The linearity of exposure dose for all DECT equipment was very linearly reflected with $R^2$ being 0.97 or above, and the measured dose of the ionization chamber was less than the predicted dose of the monitor.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권6호
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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.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.835-841
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• 2023

팬텀모델에서 이중에너지 전산화단츨촬영(DECT)를 이용한 요로결석의 성분분석을 통해 임상적 유용성에 대해 알아보고자 한다. 17명의 환자로부터 요로결석을 추출하여, 작은 플라스틱 병(Plastic Bottle) 안에 각각의 요로결석을 삽입한 후, 인체와 비슷한 돈육을 이용하여 실험팬텀을 제작하였다. 640-Slice MSCT(Auquilion ONE, Toshiba Medical Center, Japan)의 이중에너지 방식에서 Volume scan 방식을 사용하여 촬영하였고, 얻어진 두 가지의 영상을 Dual-energy software("DE stone Analysis" software version 4.3, Toshiba)에서 요산석과 비요산석의 성분분석하고 HU값을 각각 측정하였다. 요로결석의 성분은 전체 17개의 요로결석 중에서 요산석은 6개(35.29%)였고, 비요산석은 11개(64.71%)로 나타났다. 요산석의 경우 135kV는 348.87±166.37, 100kV는 345.33±151.18, 80kV는 337.94±172.77로 나타났고, 비요산석의 경우 135kV는 551.93±297.09, 100kV는 747.04±351.31, 80kV는 958.19±424.72로 나타났다. 80kV에서는 요산석과 비요산석의 HU값의 차이가 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보였고(P<0.05), 비요산석의 경우에 80kV와 135kV의 HU값은 통계적의 유의한 차이를 보였다(P<0.05). 시술 후 적출된 요로결석을 이용한 팬텀실험연구에서는 DECT를 이용하여 에너지에 따라 서로 다르게 변화하는 HU값의 차이로 요산석과 비요산석을 구분할 수 있었다. 향후, 이중에너지에 대한 연구와 재구성방법의 연구가 진행된다면, 요로결석의 치료에 DECT가 유용할 것으로 기대된다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.125-130
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• 2016

Dual energy computed tomography (DECT) is used to classify two materials and quantify the mass density of each material in the human body. An energy modulation filter based DECT could acquire two images, which are generated by the low- and high-energy photon spectra, in one scan, with one tube and detector. In the case of DECT using the energy modulation filter, the filter should perform the optimization process for the type of materials and thicknesses for generating two photon spectra. In this study, Geant4 Monte-Carlo simulation toolkit was used to execute the optimization process for determining the property of the energy modulation filter. In the process, various materials used for the energy modulation filter are copper (Cu, $8.96g/cm^3$), niobium (Nb, $8.57g/cm^3$), stannum (Sn, $7.31g/cm^3$), gold (Au, $19.32g/cm^3$), and lead (Pb, $11.34g/cm^3$). The thickness of the modulation filter varied from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. To evaluate the overlap region of the low- and high-energy spectrum, Geant4 Monte-Carlo simulation is used. The variation of the photon flux and the mean energy of photon spectrum that passes through the energy modulation filter are evaluated. In the primary photon spectrum of 80 kVp, the optimal modulation filter is a 0.1 mm lead filter that can acquire the same mean energy of 140 kVp photon spectrum. The lead filter of 0.1 mm based dual energy CBCT is required to increase the tube current 4.37 times than the original tube current owing to the 77.1% attenuation in the filter.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권1호
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• pp.170-184
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• 2023

목적 Twin beam dual-energy CT (이하 tbDECT)와 dual source DECT (이하 dsDECT)를 통해 얻은 true non-contrast image (이하 TNC)와 virtual non-contrast image (이하 VNC)의 attenuation values 차이를 평가해 보고자 한다. 대상과 방법 간 DECT를 촬영한 62명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다(tbDECT, 32명; dsDECT, 30명). TNC와 재구성한 arterial VNC (이하 AVNC), portal VNC (이하 PVNC), delayed VNC (이하 DVNC)에서 복부내 11개 장기에 대해 attenuation values를 측정하여 비교하였다. 또한 TNC와 VNC attenuation values의 절대오차가 10 Hounsfield units (이하 HU) 이하인 비율을 구하였다. 결과 TNC와 VNC의 평균 attenuation values 비교에서 각 DECT별 33개의 항목(3시기 VNC, 11개 장기) 중 tbDECT는 17개, dsDECT 19개 항목에서 유의한 차이를 보였다(Bonferroni correction p < 0.0167). 절대오차 10 HU이하인 비율은 tbDECT의 AVNC, PVNC, DVNC에서 각각 56.7%, 69.2%, 78.6%, dsDECT는 각각 70.5%, 78%, 78%이었고, 두 DECT모두 AVNC에서 가장 낮았다. 결론 두 DECT의 VNC는 적지 않은 attenuation values 차이로 TNC를 대체하기에는 충분하지 않다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권1호
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• pp.212-225
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• 2023

목적 본 연구에서는 손과 손목의 이중에너지 CT (dual-energy CT)에서 요산나트륨(monosodium urate) 결정이 검출된 환자들은 그렇지 않은 환자들과 비교하여 어떤 특성을 가지는지 그리고 검출된 요산나트륨 결정은 어떤 양상으로 관찰되는지를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법 2015년 8월 1일부터 2020년 8월 31일까지 임상적으로 통풍이 의심되어 이중에너지 CT를 촬영한 93명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 이중에너지 CT에서 검출된 요산나트륨 결정의 부피 및 개수, 혈중 요산 농도와 그 최고치를 알아보았고, 요산나트륨 결정의 침착 양상을 분석하였다. 결과 이중에너지 CT에서 검출된 요산나트륨 결정의 부피는 0.01-16.11 cm³ (평균 1.07 cm³) 였다. 혈중 요산 농도의 평균값은 이중에너지 CT상 요산나트륨 결정이 발견된 환자군에서 유의미하게 높았다. 이중에너지 CT에서 요산나트륨 결정은 손목, 손가락, 수지건 순으로 많이 관찰되었다. 결론 이중에너지 CT에서 요산나트륨 결정은 손목 앞쪽에서 가장 흔하게 발견되었다.