• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.123-133
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• 2007

Z-axis automatic tube current modulation technique automatically adjusts tube current based on size of body region scanned. The purpose of the current study was to compare noise, and radiation dose of multi-detector row CT (MDCT) of lower extremity performed with Z-axis modulation technique of automatic tube current modulation with manual selection fixed tube current. Fifty consecutive underwent MDCT venography of lower extremity with use of a MDCT scanner fixed tube current and Z-axis automatic tube current modulation technique (10, 11 and 12 HU noise index, $70{\sim}450\;mA$). Scanning parameters included 120 kVp, 0.5 second gantry rotation time, 1.35:1 beam pitch, and 1 mm reconstructed section thickness. For each subject, images obtained with Z-axis modulation were compared with previous images obtained with fixed tube current (200, 250, 300 mA) and with other parameters identical. Images were compared for noise at five levels: iliac, femoral, popliteal, tibial, and peroneal vein of lower extremity. Tube current and gantry rotation time used for acquisitions at these levels were recorded. All CT examinations of study and control groups were diagnostically acceptable, though objective noise was significantly more with Z-axis automatic tube current modulation. Compared with fixed tube current, 2-axis modulation resulted in reduction of CTDIvol (range, $-6.5%{\sim}-35.6%$) and DLP (range, $-0.2%{\sim}-20.2%$). Compared with manually selected fixed tube current, 2-axis automatic tube current modulation resulted in reduced radiation dose at MDCT of lower extremity venography.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.55-60
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine both patient exposure dose during mammography and the utility status of mammograpy equipments. The data of this study were collected through questionnaire survey for 278 medical facilities registered at Korean Hospital Association and finally 161 medical facilities's data were analyzed. According to data analysis, medical facilities of 14.9% used the average glandular dose of less than 0.5 mGy, $0.51{\sim}1.0\;mGy$ 8.6%, $1.01{\sim}1.5\;mGy$ 14.9%, $1.51{\sim}2.0\;mGy$ 11.1%, $2.01{\sim}2.5\;mGy$ 9.8%, $2.51{\sim}3.0\;mGy$ 33.3%, and 7.4% more than 3.01 mGy. It was found that medical facilities of 92.6% used less than 3 mGy, showing that this figure is similar to the limit value of 3 mGy recommended by Korea Food & Drug Administration(KFDA). Recently, international organizations such as ICRP associated with radiation protection suggests that less than 3 mGy of average mammary gland dose be used during mammography in case of using Mo target+Mo filter, film/screen system and craniocaudal projection with the breast pressed to 4.2 cm. The standard dose is being strictly observed and that of the limits is going down to 2 mGy or 1.5 mGy. The major results of this study indicate that interests and a counterplan to reduce patient dose during mammography should be considered. Based on this study, the authors of this study will continue to measure exposure dose to set a new standard for patient exposure dose during mammography.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

In this paper we evaluated small field dose characteristics of exclusive cone fields versus square fields for stereotactic radiosugery (SRS) which is based on linear accelerators (LINAC). For this test, we used a small beam detector (stereotactic fields detector : SFD) with a 6 MV photon beam and a water phantom system (IBA, Germany). Percentage depth dose (PDD) was measured for different field sets (cones : ${\Phi}1\;cm$, ${\Phi}2\;cm$, ${\Phi}3\;cm$ ; square fields : $1{\times}1\;cm^2$, $2{\times}2\;cm^2$, $3{\times}3\;cm^2$) at a source skin distance (SSD) of 100 cm. We measured the point depths at 1.5 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm. The output factors were measured under the same geometrical conditions of the PDD and normalized at the maximum dose depth. To analyze the penumbra, we measured the dose profile with 95 cm of SSD, 5 cm of depth for each field sizes (${\Phi}1\;cm$, ${\Phi}3\;cm$, $1{\times}1\;cm^2$, and $3{\times}3\;cm^2$) using SFD. We obtained the values for every 1 mm interval in the physical field (90%) and 0.5 mm interval in the penumbra region (20 to 80%). The PDD variation of exclusive cones and square fields were 4.3 to 7.9% lesser than the standard field size ($10{\times}10\;cm^2$. The variation of PDD was reduced while the field size was increased. To compare the beam quality, we analyzed the $PDD_{20,10}$ and the results showed under the 1% of variations for all experiments except for ${\Phi}1\;cm$ cone and $1{\times}1\;cm^2$ fields. Output factors of exclusive cone were increased 3.1~4.6% than the square fields, and the penumbra region of exclusive cone was reduced 20% as compared to the square fields. As the previous researches report, it is very important for SRS and SFD that precise dosimetry in small beam fields. In this paper, we showed the effectiveness of exclusive cone, compared to square field. And we will study on the various detector characteristics for small beam fields.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.261-266
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• 2015

Intravenous urography (IVU) for urolithiasis is a radiologic examination to diagnosis stone in the ureter path using iodine contrast media, which is radioopacity material. The method includes compression on the upper iliac crest. The compression band prevents outlet of the contrast media through the bladder and enables easier movement to upper urinary tract. This usage depends on the policy of a hospital. Therefore, this study aimed to review and compare the characteristic of progress of contrast media either in compression and non-compression. The retrospective image measurement on 60 cases of intravenous pyelography was conducted at a hospital with the identical type and amount of contrast media as well as criteria for testing. Image measurement was limited to 5 minutes clip, which is optimal for progress of contrast media depending on usage of the compression band. Also, anatomical regions were set as following: "RP" is from renal pyramid to renal pelvis, "PL" is from renal pelvis to lumbar three endplate, and "IU" and "IL" for upper and lower parts from both iliac crests. Analysis has been conducted through the statistical method based on Fisher's Exact Test to find if there are differences of distribution with the anatomical regions with compression or no compression. It has been confirmed that there is no statistical significant difference as the video measurement on 30 cases of compression and non-compression group respectively resulted in P value of 0.580 from left and 0.711 from right (both 0.960). Therefore, it has been concluded that application of a compression band on an intravenous pyelography for urolithiasis patient does not meaningfully affect the progress of contrast media.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

This study is to decrease compound noise in x-ray films. This study compared Signal to noise ratio(SNR), Peak signal to noise ratio(PSNR), Mean square error(MSE) to surface of the earth. In addition, we evaluated noise elimination effect according to the kernel size of Median filter. This experiments show that some filters are useful by finding image that is near in circle image comparing circle picture with each processed picture. In noise power value, when cutoff frequency was compared with other filters of cutoff frequency. Cutoff frequency of $2/3\pi{\sim}3/4\pi$ is good and it shows good SNR and PSNR. Therefore, it can display high filter effect. As Median Filter's Kernel size grows SNR value gets bigger, which shows better filter effect. Most pictures are distorted after filter application in medical treatment image. It is important to keep spatial resolution in most medical images. Visual estimation as well as quantitative indicators should be necessary for a better image.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.296-303
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• 2016

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of hemoglobin (Hb) on bone mineral density (BMD) in university students by performing a quantitative analysis. The subjects included healthy university students aged 20 to 30 years. Although osteoporosis has traditionally been considered as a disease of aging women, it is becoming an increasingly concerning male health problem. Diagnosis of osteoporosis is calculated with a quantitative assessment of BMD. Laboratory blood and urine tests are mainly used with low BMD or fragility fractures to identify any possible causes of bone metabolism disorders. In this study, there was no difference in BMD according to gender. The average red blood cell (RBC), Hb, and Hematocrit (HCT) were significantly higher in males (p<0.01). The correlation between lumbar spine, skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) was statistically significant (p<0.01). Hb showed a 51.7% statistical influence on BMD by multiple regression analysis. These findings are useful to understand the relationship between BMD and Hb; lower Hb level is associated with lower BMD. The Hb level was the strongest predictor of abnormal BMD. In conclusion, this study showed that a low Hb value was significantly correlated with low bone mass, suggesting that a low Hb value is a risk factor for changes in bone turnover that leads to a decrease bone density.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2011

Purpose: Subtalar distraction arthrodesis is useful treatment option for restore hindfoot alignment. but, using structural autograft have high risk of donor site morbidity. Recently, by replacing the structural allograft has been reported satisfactory clinical results. Therefore, the authors reviewed the results of subtalar distraction arthrodesis using a structural allograft, retrospectively. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to May 2010, 12 patients (12 feets; 9 male, 3 female) underwent subtalar distraction arthrodesis using frozen structural allograft. 9 cases were calcaneal malunion, 2 were nonunion or malunion after subtalar arthrodesis, 1 was other cause. Mean age was 38.9 (12~66) years old and follow up period was 16.5 (12~36) months. Surgical was performed with posterolateral approach and tricortical allobone block of frozen femoral neck was used. Analysis was done with retorspective manner to evaluate preoperative, postoperative, and final follow up radiologic measurement and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale. Results: There was statistically significant increase (p<0.05) of ankle-hindfoot scale from preoperative 27.5 points to postoperative 72.5 points, talocalcaneal height by 6.62 mm, calcaneal pitch angle by 5.73 degrees, lateral talocalcaneal angle by 6.38 degrees and significant decrease (p<0.05) of tali-1st metatarsal angle by 5.23 degrees. 11 feet (91.7%) acquired bony union and it takes average 5.1 months. Final post-operative result revealed talocalcaneal height changed by 2.57 mm, calcaneal pitch anble, lateral talocalcaneal angle, talar-1st metatarsal angle were changed by 2.63 degrees, 1.62 degrees, 1.18 degrees, respectively (p<0.05). 3 cases of partial osteonecrosis of posterior facet of calcaneus were observed in operation field, 4 cases of complication were developed (1 case of nonunion, 1 collapse of allobone graft, 1 screw loosening, 1 superficial skin necrosis). Conclusion: Subtalar distraction arthrodesis using frozen structural allobone graft is useful alternative treatment method of arthrodesis with structural autobone graft.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.355-361
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• 2017

Pediatrics are more sensibility to radiation than adults and because they are organs that are not completely grown, they have a life expectancy that can be adversely affected by exposure. Therefore, the management of exposure dose is more important than the case of adult. The purpose of this study was to determine the suitability of the 10 year old phantom for the 5 year old pediatric's recommendation and the incident surface dose, and to measure the organ absorbed dose. This study is compared the organ absorbed dose and the entrance surface dose in the clinical conditions at 5 and 10 years old pediatric. Clinical 5 year old condition was slightly higher than recommendation condition and 10 year old condition was very high. In addition, recommendation condition ESD was found to be 43% higher than the ESD of the 5 year old group and the ESD of the 10 year old group was 126% higher than that of the 5 year old group. The recommended ESD at 5 years old and the ESD according to clinical imaging conditions were 31.6%. There was no significant difference between the 5 year old recommended exposure conditions and the organ absorbed dose due to clinical exposure conditions, but there was a large difference between the Chest and Pelvic. However, it was found that there was a remarkable difference when comparing the organ absorbed dose by 10 year clinical exposure conditions. Therefore, more detailed standard exposure dose for the recommended dose of pediatric should be studied.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2009

To evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical markers. We evaluated the BMD of femoral neck and lumbar spines of 998(male 568, female 430) persons who took a regular health screening in Woosuk University Hospital from September 2007 to March 2008 by dual energy bone mineral densitometry. Results of BMD are different in terms of biochemical markers. Especially aged people showed osteoporotic change progressively. Degree of osteoporosis increases with age. A steep decrease of BMD can be found in postmenopausal women who have low level of female hormone. More persistent effort is needed to find out the factors that can reduce BMD values for prevention of problems by osteoporosis. In essence, research on factors related to other biochemical markers must be studied continuously.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.369-378
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate image differences between KVCT vs MVCT depending on a high densities metal included in the phantom and to analyze the r values for the purpose of the dose differences between each methods. We verified the possibilities for clinical indications that using MVCT is available for the radiation therapy treatment planning. Cheese phantom was used to get a density table for each CT and CT sinogram data was transferred to radiation planning computer through DICOM_RT. Using this data, the treatment dose plan has been calculated in RTP system. We compared the differences of r values between calculated and measured values, and then applied this data to the real patient's treatment planning. The contrast of MVCT image was superior to KVCT. In KVCT, each pixel which has more than 3.0 of density was difficult to be differentiated, but in MVCT, more than 5.0 density of pixels were distinguished clearly. With the normal phantom, the percentage of the case which has less than 1($r\leq1$, acceptable criteria) of gamma value, was 94.92% for KVCT and 93.87% for MVCT. But with the cheese phantom, which has high density plug, the percentage was 88.25% for KVCT and 93.77% for MVCT respectively. MVCT has many advantages than KVCT. Especially, when the patient has high density metal, such as total hip arthroplasty, MVCT is more efficient to define the anatomical structure around the high density implants without any artifacts. MVCT helps to calculate the treatment dose more accurately.