• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.173-181
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was to reduce dose while maintaining image quality during digital radiographic examination of paranasal sinus by using the automatic exposure control (AEC) system. The tube voltage was set as six stages that increased by about 10 kVp to 70 kVp, 81 kVp, 90 kVp, 102 kVp, 109 kVp and 117 kVp. And then the AEC system conditions were consisted of 9 setting environments, that change mode of the sensitivity (S200, S400, S800) and the density (+2.5, 0, -2.5). We measured automatically exposed tube current (mAs) under 54 conditions with combined these, and assessed SNR and PSNR through the acquired images. In addition, four radiologists performed a qualitative assessment of the acquired images for each combination on a five-point scale of the Likert. As a result, the lowest dose and the highest values of SNR and PSNR in images with a qualitative assessment more than 4 point were the AEC control factors of 90 kVp, S800, D2.5. We applied this condition to the clinical trial, it showed an effect of 83.1% reduction in exposure radiation dose (mR). Therefore, AEC system could be used as dose reduction technology if it understood and used related regulatory factors and physical characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• 제22권7호
• /
• pp.1034-1043
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the pooled agreements of the coronary artery calcium (CAC) severities assessed by electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated and non-ECG-gated CT and evaluate the impact of the scan parameters. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched. A modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Meta-analytic methods were utilized to determine the pooled weighted bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and the correlation coefficient of the CAC scores or the weighted kappa for the categorization of the CAC severities detected by the two modalities. The heterogeneity among the studies was also assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed based on factors that could affect the measurement of the CAC score and severity: slice thickness, reconstruction kernel, and radiation dose for non-ECG-gated CT. Results: A total of 4000 patients from 16 studies were included. The pooled bias was 62.60, 95% LOA were -36.19 to 161.40, and the pooled correlation coefficient was 0.94 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89-0.97) for the CAC score. The pooled weighted kappa of the CAC severity was 0.85 (95% CI = 0.79-0.91). Heterogeneity was observed in the studies (I² > 50%, p < 0.1). In the subgroup analysis, the agreement between the CAC categorizations was better when the two CT examinations had reconstructions based on the same slice thickness and kernel. Conclusion: The pooled agreement of the CAC severities assessed by the ECG-gated and non-ECG-gated CT was excellent; however, it was significantly affected by scan parameters, such as slice thickness and the reconstruction kernel.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.46-53
• /
• 2014

방사선사고 시 내부오염 평가대상의 범위는 성인뿐만 아니라 소아까지 전 연령층으로 확대된다. 본 연구에서는 전신계수기의 측정 정확도를 향상시키기 위해 측정대상의 인체 크기와 측정 위치에 따른 계수효율을 평가하였다. 본 연구에서는 한국원자력의학원에서 사용하는 전신계수기인 FASTSCAN에 대해 방사선수송코드를 이용하여 전산 모사하였다. 측정한 계수효율과 계산한 계수효율의 상대편중은 4세 소아의 경우 2% 이하이였으며, 성인의 경우에도 5% 이하로 일치하였다. 측정 대상의 키가 작을수록 검출기와의 거리가 멀어지는 문제를 보완하고 인체 크기에 따른 계수효율의 일관적인 경향성을 도출하기 위해, 측정대상의 측정 위치를 조절하여 전신계수기의 계수효율을 평가하였다. 조절된 측정 위치에서의 전신계수기 계수효율을 바탕으로 측정 대상의 인체 크기 차이에 의한 내부오염도 평가 시 측정 오차를 줄일 수 있는 인체 크기 보정인자를 도출하였다. 도출된 보정인자는 전신계수기 측정결과에 곱하여 측정대상의 내부오염도를 쉽게 평가할 수 있으며, 궁극적으로 방사선사고 시 전신계수기를 이용한 내부오염도의 측정 정확도를 크게 향상시킬 수 있을 것이다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• 제38권2호
• /
• pp.52-59
• /
• 2013

전베타 방사능 분석법을 이용한 내부오염 스크리닝법을 검증하였고 실제 의료용 동위원소 생산시설 종사자 내부오염을 판단하는데 적용하였다. 종사자의 작업 종료 후 첫 번째로 채취된 뇨시료(spot 시료)와 24시간 동안 취합된 뇨시료(24 h 시료)를 채취하여 측정하였다. 특정 종사자의 경우를 제외하고 대부분의 측정결과는 일반인 체내 기저준위인 100 Bq $kg^{-1}$을 기준으로 22% 이내로 변동폭이 작았다. 측정결과 작업종료 후 수 시간 이내 종사자 뇨시료의 전베타 농도가 전반적으로 35% 이상 상승하는 경향이 있었다. 또한 스크리닝 결과와 작업일지를 바탕으로 작업장내부 구조상 오염을 유발하는 요인을 추정 할 수 있었으며 추가 세부 핵종별 분석법을 바탕으로 내부피폭선량을 평가해야 할 것으로 판단되었다. 한편 사업장에서 신속히 적용 가능한 내부오염평가 절차를 수립하였다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제44권2호
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2021

High-Resolution thoracic CT (HRCT) is a scanning protocol in which thin slice thickness and sharpness algorithm are utilized to enhance image resolution for diagnosis and assessment of interstitial lung disease (ILD). This examination is sometimes performed in both supine and prone position to improve sensitivity to early changes of these conditions. Anatomical structures (the size of lung field and heart and descending aorta) of 150 patients who underwent HRCT were retrospectively compared. HRCT had been conducted in two positions (supine and prone). Data were divided into five groups according to patient body weights (from 40 to more than 80kg, 10kg intervals, 60 patients/each group). Quantitative analysis was utilized in Image J program. In the supine position defined as the control group, the average values of lung fields and heart size and aorta were compared with the prone position defined as the experimental group. The size of the lungs was found to be higher in the supine position, and it was confirmed that there was a statistically significant difference in patients over 70 kg (p<0.05). In addition, both sizes of the heart and descending aorta were larger in prone position, but in the case of the heart, there was no correlation with the presence or absence of ILD disease (p>0.05). Also, the area of prone in the descending aorta was higher than supine position, but there was no statistically significant difference between supine and prone position (p>0.05). In conclusion, when the severity of ILD disease was severe, there was no statistically significant difference in the area difference between supine and prone position, so it is considered that it will be helpful in diagnostic decision.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• 제34권2호
• /
• pp.88-95
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate the clinical utilization of radiation therapy (RT) in Korea between 2009 and 2013. Materials and Methods: We analyzed open claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The subjects were patients who had diagnostic codes C00-C97 or D00-D48 according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, with procedure codes indicating RT treatment. Results: The total number of patients who received RT in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were 45,571, 49,593, 54,671, 59,172, and 61,485, respectively. Among them, the total numbers of male and female patients were 20,780/24,791 in 2009, 22,711/26,882 in 2010, 24,872/29,799 in 2011, 27,101/32,071 in 2012, and 27,941/33,544 in 2013. The five cancers that were most frequently treated with RT between 2009 and 2012 were breast, lung, colorectal, liver, and uterine cervical cancers. However, the fifth most common cancer treated with RT that replaced uterine cervical cancer in 2013 was prostate cancer. The three leading types of cancer among the male patients were lung, colorectal, and liver cancers, whereas in female patients, they were breast, uterine cervical, and lung cancers. The type of cancer most commonly treated by RT was cancer of the central nervous system in patients aged 20 years or less, breast cancer in patients aged 30-50 years, and lung cancer in patients aged 60 years or more. Conclusion: Data from this study provided the clinical utilization of RT in Korea between 2009 and 2013.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
• /
• 제46권1호
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 2023

This study was purpose to assessment of the resolution characteristics by using ATS 535H Basic quality assurance (QA) phantom for ultrasound. The ultrasound equipment was used Logiq P6 (Ultrasound, GE Healthcare System, Chicago, IL, USA). And the ultrasound transducer were used Convex 4C (4~5.5 MHz), Linear 11L (10~13 MHz), Sector 3SP (3~5.5 MHz) probe. As for the noise power spectrum (NPS) comparison results by using ATS 535H Basic QA ultrasound phantom and Convex 4C, Linear 11L, Sector 3SP probe. The NPS value of the Convex 4C probe image was 0.0049, Linear 11L probe image was 0.0049, Sector 3SP probe image was 0.1422 when the frequency is 1.0 mm^-1. The modulation transfer function (MTF) comparison results by using ATS 535H Basic QA ultrasound phantom and Linear 11L probe the MTF value of the 3 cm focus image was 0.7511 and 4 cm focus image was 0.9001 when the frequency is 1.0 mm^-1. This study was presented characteristics of spatial resolution a quantitative evaluation methods by using ultrasound medical images for QA of ultrasound medical QA phantom. The quality control (QC) for equipment maintenance can be efficiently used in the clinic due to the quantitative evaluation of the NPS and MTF as the standard methods. It is meaningful in that it is applied mutatis mutandis and presented the results of physical resolution characteristics of the ultrasound medical image.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2022

In this study, we have investigated the shielding evaluation methodology for facilities using kV energy generators. We have collected and analysis of safety evaluation criteria and methodology for overseas facilities using radiation generators. And we investigated the current status of shielding evaluation of domestic industrial radiation generators. According to the statistical data from the Radiation Safety Information System, as of 2022, a total of 7,679 organizations are using radiation generating devices. Among them, 6,299 facilities use these devices for industrial purposes, which accounts for a considerable portion of radiation. The organizations that use these devices evaluate whether the exposure dose for workers and frequent visitors is suitable as per the limit regulated by the Nuclear Safety Act. Moreover, during this process, the safety shields are evaluated at the facilities that use the radiation generating devices. However, the facilities that use radiating devices having energy less than or equal to 6 MV for industrial purposes are still mostly evaluated and analyzed according to the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements 49 (NCRP 49) report published in 1976. We have investigated the technical standards of safety management, including the maximum permissible dose and parameters assessment criteria for facilities using radiation generating devices, based on the NCRP 49 and the American National Standards Institute/Health Physics Society N.43.3 reports, which are the representative reports related to radiation shielding management cases overseas.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제56권6호
• /
• pp.2317-2323
• /
• 2024

Medical linear accelerators with an energy of 8 MV or higher are radiated owing to photonuclear reactions and neutron capture reactions. It is necessary to quantitatively evaluate the concentration of radioactive isotopes when replacing or disposing them. HPGe detectors are commonly used to identify isotopes and measure radioactivity. However, because the detection efficiency is generally calibrated using a standard material with a density of 1.0 g/cm³, a self-absorption effect occurs if the density of the measured material is high. In this study, self-absorption correction factors were calculated for tungsten, lead, copper, and SUS-303, which are the main materials of medical linear accelerator head parts, for each gamma-ray energy using MCNP 6.2 code. The self-absorption effect was more pronounced as the energy of the emitted gamma rays decreased and the density of the measured materials increased. These correction factors were applied to the radioactivity measurements of the in-built and portable HPGe detectors. Furthermore, compared to the surface dose rate measured by the survey meter, the accuracy of the measurements of radioactivity improved by an average of 124.31 and 100.53 % for inbuilt and portable HPGe detectors, respectively. The results showed a good agreement, with an average difference of 3.70 and 5.24 %.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.232-241
• /
• 2002

A safety assessment is carried out for the near-surface radioactive waste disposal in the reference engineered vault facility. The analysis is mainly divided into two parts. One deals with the release and transport of radionuclide in the vault and unsaturated zone. The other deals with the transport of radionuclide in the saturated zone and radiological impacts to a human group under well drinking water scenario. The parameters for source-term, geosphere and biosphere models are mainly obtained from the site specific data. The results show that the annual effective doses are dominated by long lived, mobile radionuclides and their associated daughters. And it is found that the total effective dose for drinking water is far below the general criteria of regulatory limit for radioactive waste disposal facility.