• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.1017-1023
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to improve the accuracy of effective atomic number (EAN) and relative electron density (RED) using a polynomial-based calibration method using dual-energy CT images. A phantom composed of 11 tissue-equivalent materials was acquired with dual-energy CT to obtain low- and high-energy images. Using the acquired dual-energy images, the ratio of attenuation of low- and high-energy images for EAN was calibrated based on Stoichiometric, Quadratic, Cubic, Quartic polynomials. EAN and RED were extracted using each calibration method. As a result of the experiment, the average error of EAN using Cubic polynomial-based calibration was minimum. Even in the RED image extracted using EAN, the error of the Cubic polynomial-based RED was minimum. Cubic polynomial-based calibration contributes to improving the accuracy of EAN and RED, and would like to contribute to accurate diagnosis of lesions in CT examinations or quantification of various materials in the human body.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2018

Background: In this study, we investigate the image quality of virtual monochromatic images synthesized from dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) at voltages of 80/140 kV and 100/140 kV. Materials and Methods: Virtual monochromatic images of a phantom are synthesized from DECT scans from 40 to 70 keV in steps of 1 keV under the two combinations of tube voltages. The dose allocation of dual-energy (DE) scan is 50% for both low- and high-energy tubes. The virtual monochromatic images are compared to single-energy (SE) images at the same radiation dose. In the DE images, noise is reduced using the 100/140 kV scan at the optimal monochromatic energy. Virtual monochromatic images are reconstructed from 40 to 70 keV in 1-keV increments and analyzed using two quality indexes: noise and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Results and Discussion: The DE scan mode with the 100/140 kV protocol achieved a better maximum CNR compared to the 80/140 kV protocol for various materials, except for adipose and brain. Image noise is reduced with the 100/140 kV protocol. The CNR values of DE with the 100/140 kV protocol is similar to or higher than that of SE at 120 kV at the same radiation dose. Furthermore, the maximum CNR with the 100/140 kV protocol is similar to or higher than that of the SE scan at 120 kV. Conclusion: It was found that the CNR achieved with the 100/140 kV protocol was better than that with the 80/140 kV protocol at optimal monochromatic energies. Virtual monochromatic imaging using the 100/140 kV protocol could be considered for application in breast, brain, lung, liver, and bone CT in accordance with the CNR results.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.273-279
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effects of energy level, reconstruction kernel, and tube rotation time on Hounsfield unit (HU) values of hydroxyapatite (HA) in virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) obtained with dual-energy computed tomography (DECT)(Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany). Materials and Methods: A bone density calibration phantom with 3 HA inserts of different densities(CTWATER^®; 0, 100, and 200 mg of HA/㎤) was scanned using a twin-beam DECT scanner at 120 kVp with tube rotation times of 0.5 and 1.0 seconds. The VMIs were reconstructed by changing the energy level (with options of 40 keV, 70 keV, and 140 keV). In order to investigate the impact of the reconstruction kernel, virtual monochromatic images were reconstructed after changing the kernel from body regular 40 (Br40) to head regular 40 (Hr40) in the reconstruction phase. The mean HU value was measured by placing a circular region of interests (ROIs) in the middle of each insert obtained from the VMIs. The HU values were compared with regard to energy level, reconstruction kernel, and tube rotation time. Results: Hydroxyapatite density was strongly correlated with HU values(correlation coefficient=0.678, P<0.05). For the HA 100 and 200 inserts, HU decreased significantly at increased energy levels(correlation coefficient= -0.538, P<0.05) but increased by 70 HU when using Hr40 rather than Br40 (correlation coefficient=0.158, P<0.05). The tube rotation time did not significantly affect the HU(P>0.05). Conclusion: The HU values of hydroxyapatite were strongly correlated with hydroxyapatite density and energy level in VMIs obtained with DECT.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.502-512
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• 2021

Objective: To objectively and subjectively assess and compare the characteristics of monoenergetic images [MEI (+)] and polyenergetic images (PEI) acquired by dual-energy CT (DECT) of patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the images and data of 42 patients with breast cancer who had undergone dual-phase contrast-enhanced DECT from June to September 2019. One standard PEI, five MEI (+) in 10-kiloelectron volt (keV) intervals (range, 40-80 keV), iodine density (ID) maps, iodine overlay images, and Z effective (Z_eff) maps were reconstructed. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were calculated. Multiple quantitative parameters of the malignant breast lesions were compared between the arterial and the venous phase images. Two readers independently assessed lesion conspicuity and performed a morphology analysis. Results: Low keV MEI (+) at 40-50 keV showed increased CNR and SNR_{breast lesion} compared with PEI, especially in the venous phase ([CNR: 40 keV, 20.10; 50 keV, 14.45; vs. PEI, 7.27; p < 0.001], [SNR_{breast lesion}: 40 keV, 21.01; 50 keV, 16.28; vs. PEI, 10.77; p < 0.001]). Multiple quantitative DECT parameters of malignant breast lesions were higher in the venous phase images than in the arterial phase images (p < 0.001). MEI (+) at 40 keV, ID, and Z_eff reconstructions yielded the highest Likert scores for lesion conspicuity. The conspicuity of the mass margin and the visual enhancement were significantly better in 40-keV MEI (+) than in the PEI (p = 0.022, p = 0.033, respectively). Conclusion: Compared with PEI, MEI (+) reconstructions at low keV in the venous phase acquired by DECT improved the objective and subjective assessment of lesion conspicuity in patients with malignant breast lesions. MEI (+) reconstruction acquired by DECT may be helpful for the preoperative evaluation of breast cancer.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.253-259
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• 2017

이중에너지 전산화단층촬영으로 뼈를 검사하여 다양한 keV와 조영제 물질 억제(material suppression iodine; MSI), 물질구분(material decomposition; MD)기법을 적용하였을 때, 단일에너지 전산화단층촬영과 비교 평가함으로써 칼슘 부피의 변화를 파악하고자 하였다. 인체유사 팬톰을 이용하여 단일에너지 전산화단층촬영의 영상을 기준으로 이중에너지 전산화단층촬영의 각각 70 keV, 100 keV, 140 keV 및 70 keV-MSI와 MD 칼슘강조-물제거(material calcium weighting; MCW)와 MD 요오드강조-물제거(material iodine weighting; MIW)기법을 적용한 후, 칼슘의 부피를 Agatston score 값으로 비교 평가하였다. 인체유사 팬톰의 칼슘 부피는 keV가 증가할수록 감소하였다(p<0.05). 가장 유사한 이중에너지 전산화단층촬영 집단은 70 keV로 그 차이는 각각 갈비뼈 $35.8{\pm}12.2$, 대퇴골 $16.1{\pm}24.1$, 골반 $13.7{\pm}18.8$, 척추 $179.0{\pm}61.8$이었다. 그러나 MSI의 부피는 부위별로 각각 갈비뼈 5.55%, 대퇴골 76.34%, 골반 55.16%, 척추 87.58%가 감소하였고, MD(MCW)는 각각 갈비뼈 55.96%, 대퇴골 80.78%, 골반 69.64%, 척추 54.23%가 줄었으며, MD(MIW)는 각각 갈비뼈 83.51%, 대퇴골 87.68%, 골반 86.64%, 척추 82.62%의 차이로 감소되었다(p<0.05). 이중에너지 전산화단층촬영으로 검사 시, 뼈의 부피는 keV의 증가에 따라서 감소하게 되고 약 70 keV의 에너지 영역에서 CSCT 집단과 유사한 부피로 측정할 수 있다. 그리고 MSI와 MD의 임상기법을 적용한 부피측정은 상당한 오차가 발생하므로 유의하여 사용하여야 한다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.1104-1113
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• 2020

Objective: To assess the regional ventilation in patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) using xenon-ventilation dual-energy CT (DECT), and to compare it to that in patients with COPD. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with ACOS and 46 patients with COPD underwent xenon-ventilation DECT. The ventilation abnormalities were visually determined to be 1) peripheral wedge/diffuse defect, 2) diffuse heterogeneous defect, 3) lobar/segmental/subsegmental defect, and 4) no defect on xenon-ventilation maps. Emphysema index (EI), airway wall thickness (Pi10), and mean ventilation values in the whole lung, peripheral lung, and central lung areas were quantified and compared between the two groups using the Student's t test. Results: Most patients with ACOS showed the peripheral wedge/diffuse defect (n = 14, 66.7%), whereas patients with COPD commonly showed the diffuse heterogeneous defect and lobar/segmental/subsegmental defect (n = 21, 45.7% and n = 20, 43.5%, respectively). The prevalence of ventilation defect patterns showed significant intergroup differences (p < 0.001). The quantified ventilation values in the peripheral lung areas were significantly lower in patients with ACOS than in patients with COPD (p = 0.045). The quantified Pi10 was significantly higher in patients with ACOS than in patients with COPD (p = 0.041); however, EI was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: The ventilation abnormalities on the visual and quantitative assessments of xenon-ventilation DECT differed between patients with ACOS and patients with COPD. Xenon-ventilation DECT may demonstrate the different physiologic changes of pulmonary ventilation in patients with ACOS and COPD.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.171-177
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• 2020

Background: This study aims to determine the effective atomic number (Zeff) from dual-energy image sets obtained using a conventional computed tomography (CT) simulator. The estimated Zeff can be used for deriving the stopping power and material decomposition of CT images, thereby improving dose calculations in radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: An electron-density phantom was scanned using Philips Brilliance CT Big Bore at 80 and 140 kVp. The estimated Zeff values were compared with those obtained using the calibration phantom by applying the Rutherford, Schneider, and Joshi methods. The fitting parameters were optimized using the nonlinear least squares regression algorithm. The fitting curve and mass attenuation data were obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The fitting parameters obtained from stopping power and material decomposition of CT images, were validated by estimating the residual errors between the reference and calculated Zeff values. Next, the calculation accuracy of Zeff was evaluated by comparing the calculated values with the reference Zeff values of insert plugs. The exposure levels of patients under additional CT scanning at 80, 120, and 140 kVp were evaluated by measuring the weighted CT dose index (CTDIw). Results and Discussion: The residual errors of the fitting parameters were lower than 2%. The best and worst Zeff values were obtained using the Schneider and Joshi methods, respectively. The maximum differences between the reference and calculated values were 11.3% (for lung during inhalation), 4.7% (for adipose tissue), and 9.8% (for lung during inhalation) when applying the Rutherford, Schneider, and Joshi methods, respectively. Under dual-energy scanning (80 and 140 kVp), the patient exposure level was approximately twice that in general single-energy scanning (120 kVp). Conclusion: Zeff was calculated from two image sets scanned by conventional single-energy CT simulator. The results obtained using three different methods were compared. The Zeff calculation based on single-energy exhibited appropriate feasibility.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권6호
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• pp.1477-1492
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• 2021

목적 Dedicated breast CT (이하 DBCT)는 유방 압박의 고통이 없는 영상 진단 기법으로 최근 주목받고 있다. 본 연구에서는 DBCT 영상에서 약하게 조영증강된 작은 병변의 검출률을 높이기 위해 피사체의 기하학적 정보를 이용하여 최적의 영상 문턱값을 제공하는 adaptive image rescaling (이하 AIR) 기법을 제안하였다. 대상과 방법 5개의 동일 크기의 구멍과 서로 다른 크기의 구멍을 가지는 두 개의 디스크를 각각 제작하고, 이를 60 kVp와 100 kVp로 스캔하여 single-energy CT (이하 SECT), dual-energy CT (이하 DECT), 그리고 AIR 영상을 생성하였다. 전임상 평가를 위해 돼지 조직 영상도 획득하였다. Image contrast (이하 IC)와 contrast-to-noise ratio (이하 CNR)로 화질을 평가하였으며, student's t test를 이용하여 영상 간 화질의 차이를 검증하였다. 결과 AIR의 평균 IC (0.70)는 DECT (0.94)의 74.5%로 나타났으며, SECT (0.22) 보다 318.2% 높았다. 또한 AIR의 평균 CNR (5.08)은 SECT (14.30)의 35.5%로 나타났고 DECT (2.28) 보다 222.8% 높게 측정되었다. 돼지 조직의 전임상 평가 결과도 비슷한 양상을 보였다. 결론 AIR은 SECT보다 높은 영상 대조도를 가지며, 50% 선량만으로도 DECT에 비견할 만한 화질 성능을 제공할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 따라서 AIR은 DBCT 영상에서 약하게 조영증강된 병변의 검출률을 개선할 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.