• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2008

Purpose: Micro-pinhole SPECT system with conventional multiple-head gamma cameras has the advantage of high magnification factor for imaging of rodents. However, several geometric factors should be calibrated to obtain the SPECT image with good image quality. We developed a simplified geometric calibration method for rotating triple-head pinhole SPECT system and assessed the effects of the calibration using several phantom and rodent imaging studies. Materials and Methods: Trionix Triad XLT9 triple-head SPECT scanner with 1.0 mm pinhole apertures were used for the experiments. Approximately centered point source was scanned to track the angle-dependent positioning errors. The centroid of point source was determined by the center of mass calculation. Axially departed two point sources were scanned to calibrate radius of rotation from pinhole to center of rotation. To verify the improvements by the geometric calibration, we compared the spatial resolution of the reconstructed image of Tc-99m point source with and without the calibration. SPECT image of micro performance phantom with hot rod inserts was acquired and several animal imaging studies were performed. Results: Exact sphere shape of the point source was obtained by applying the calibration and axial resolution was improved. Lesion detectibility and image quality was also much improved by the calibration in the phantom and animal studies. Conclusion: Serious degradation of micro-pinhole SPECT images due to the geometric errors could be corrected using a simplified calibration method using only one or two point sources.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 1999

Purpose: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of 2-[fluorine-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (F-18-FDG) whole body scan (FDG W/B Scan) using dual-head gamma camera equipped with ultra high energy collimator in patients with various cancers, and compare the results with those of coincidence imaging. Materials and Methods: Phantom studies of planar imaging with ultra high energy and coincidence tomography (FDG CoDe PET) were performed. Fourteen patients with known or suspected malignancy were examined. F-18-FDG whole body scan was performed using dual-head gamma camera with high energy (511 keV) collimators and regional FDG CoDe PET immediately followed it Radiological, clinical follow up and histologic results were correlated with F-18-FDG findings. Results: Planar phantom study showed 13.1 mm spatial resolution at 10 cm with a sensitivity of 2638 cpm/MBq/ml. In coincidence PET, spatial resolution was 7.49 mm and sensitivity was 5351 cpm/MBq/ml. Eight out of 14 patients showed hypermetabolic sites in primary or metastatic tumors in FDG CoDe PET. The lesions showing no hypermetabolic uptake of FDG in both methods were all less than 1 cm except one lesion of 2 cm sized metastatic lymph node. The metastatic lymph nodes of positive FDG uptake were more than 1.5 cm in size or conglomerated lesions of lymph nodes less than 1cm in size. FDG W/B scan showed similar results but had additional false positive and false negative cases. FDG W/B scan could not visualize liver metastasis in one case that showed multiple metastatic sites in FDG CoDe PET. Conclusion: FDG W/B scan with specially designed collimators depicted some cancers and their metastatic sites, although it had a limitation in image quality compared to that of FDG CoDe PET. This study suggests that F-18-FDG positron imaging using dual-head gamma camera is feasible in oncology and helpful if it should be more available by regional distribution of FDG.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2015

Purpose: Time of operation has been reduced and accuracy of operation has been improved since C-arm, which offer real-time image of patient, was introduced in operation room. However, because of the contamination of patient, C-arm could not be used more appropriately. Therefore, this study is to know factors of controlling exposure dose, image quality and the exposed dose of health professional in operation room. Materials and methods: Height of Wilson frame (bed for operation) was fixed at 130 cm. Then, Model 76-2 Phantom, which was set by assembling manual of Fluke Company, was set on the bed. Head/Spine Fluoroscopy AEC mode was set for exposure condition. According to detector size of C-arm, the absorbed dose per min was measured in the 7 steps OFD (cm) from 10 cm to 40 cm (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 cm). In each step of OFD, the absorbed dose per min of same diameter of collimation was measured. Moreover, using Nero MAX Model 8000, exposure dose per min was measured according to 3 step of distance from detector (20 cm, 60 cm, 100 cm). Finally, resolution was measured by CDRH Disc Phantom and magnification of each OFD was measured by aluminum stick bar. Result: According to detector size of C-arm, difference of absorbed dose shows that the dose of 20 cm OFD is 1.750 times higher than the dose of 40 cm OFD. It means that the C-arm, which has smaller size of detector, shows the bigger difference of absorbed dose per min (p<0.05). In the difference of absorbed dose in the same step of OFD (from 20 cm to 40 cm), the absorbed dose of 9 inch detect or C-arm was 1.370 times higher than 12 inch' s (p<0.05). When OFD was set to 20 cm OFD, the absorbed dose of non-collimation case was approximately 0.816 times lower than the absorbed dose of collimation cases (p<0.05). When the distance was 20 cm from detector, exposed does includes first-ray and scatter-ray. When the distance was 60 cm and 100 cm from detector, exposed does includes just scatter-ray. So, there was the 2.200 times difference of absorbed does. Finally, when OFD was increased, spatial resolution was 4 to 5 step was increased. However, low contrast resolution was not relative. Moreover, there was 1.363 times difference of magnification (p<0.05). Conclusion: When C-Arm is used, avoiding contamination of patient is more important factor than reducing exposed dose of health professional in operation room. Just controlling exposure time is just way to reduce the exposed does of workers. However, in the case, non-probability influence could be occurred. Therefore, this study proved that the exposed dose will be reduced if the factors such as using small detector size of C-arm, setting OFD from 20 cm to 25 cm and non-collimating. Moreover, dose management of C-arm in the non-interesting area will be considered additionally.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to comprehensively compare and evaluate the characteristics of image quality for digital mammography systems which use a direct and indirect conversion detector. Three key metrics of image quality were evaluated for the direct and indirect conversion detector, the modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectrum (NNPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE), which describe the resolution, noise, and signal to noise performance, respectively. DQE was calculated by using a edge phantom for MTF determination according to IEC 62220-1-2 regulation. The contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was evaluated according to guidelines offered by the Korean Institute for Accreditation of Medical Image (KIAMI). As a result, the higher MTF and DQE was measured with direct conversion detector compared to indirect conversion detector all over spatial frequency. When the average glandular dose (AGD) was the same, direct conversion detector showed higher CNR value. The direct conversion detector which has higher DQE value all over spatial frequency would provide the potential benefits for both improved image quality and lower patient dose in digital mammography system.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.55-64
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• 2007

Our objective was to evaluate the clinical feasibility of spatial domain filtering as an alternative to additional image reconstruction using different kernels in CT. Kernels were grouped as H30 (head medium smooth), B30 (body medium smooth), S80 (special) and U95 (ultra sharp). Derived from thin coilimated source images, four sets of images were generated using phantom kernels. MTF (50%, 10%, 2%) measured with H30 (3.25, 5.68, 7.45 Ip/cm) B30 (3.84, 6.25, 7.72 Ip/cm), S80 (4.69, 9.49, 12.34 Ip/cm), and U95 (14.19, 20.31, 24.67 Ip/cm). Spatial resolution for the U95 kernel (0.6 mm) was 33.3% greater than that of the H30 and B30 (0.8 mm) kernels. Initially scanned kernels images were rated for subjective image qualify, using a five-point scale. Image scanned with a convolution kernel led to an increase in noise (U95), whereas the results for CT attenuation coefficient were comparable. CT images increase the diagnostic accuracy in head (H30), abdomen (B30), temporal bone and lung (U95) kernels may be controlled by adjusting CT various algorithms, which should be adjusted to take into account the kernels of the CT undergoing the examination.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to develop a miniature imaging gamma probe with high performance that can detect small or residual tumors after surgery. Gamma probe detector system consists of NaI(Tl) scintillator, position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT), and collimator. PSPMT was optically coupled with 6.5 mm thick, 7.62 cm diameter of NaI(Tl) crystal and supplied with -1000V for high voltage. Parallel hexagonal hole collimator was manufactured for characteristics of 40-mm hole length, 1.3-mm hole diameter, and 0.22 mm septal thickness. Electronics consist of position and trigger signal readout systems. Position signals were obtained with summing, subtracting, and dividing circuit using preamplifer and amplifier. Trigger signals were obtained using summing amplifier, constant fraction discriminator, and gate and delay generator module with preamplifer. Data acquisition and processing were performed by Gamma-PF interface board inserted into pentium PC and PIP software. For imaging studies, flood and slit mask images were acquired using a point source. Two hole phantom images were also acquired with collimator. Intrinsic and system spatial resolutions were measured as 3.97 mm and 5.97 mm, respectively. In conclusion, Miniature gamma probe images based on the PSPMT showed good image quality, we conclude that the miniature imaging gamma probe was successfully developed and good image data were obtained. However, further studies will be required to optimize imaging characteristics.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2008

We developed a high-resolution micro-CT system based on rotational gantry and flat-panel detector for live mouse imaging. This system is composed primarily of an x-ray source with micro-focal spot size, a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) flat panel detector coupled with Csl (TI) (thallium-doped cesium iodide) scintillator, a linearly moving couch, a rotational gantry coupled with positioning encoder, and a parallel processing system for image data. This system was designed to be of the gantry-rotation type which has several advantages in obtaining CT images of live mice, namely, the relative ease of minimizing the motion artifact of the mice and the capability of administering respiratory anesthesia during scanning. We evaluated the spatial resolution, image contrast, and uniformity of the CT system using CT phantoms. As the results, the spatial resolution of the system was approximately the 11.3 cycles/mm at 10% of the MTF curve, and the radiation dose to the mice was 81.5 mGy. The minimal resolving contrast was found to be less than 46 CT numbers on low-contrast phantom imaging test. We found that the image non-uniformity was approximately 70 CT numbers at a voxel size of ${\sim}55{\times}55{\times}X100\;{\mu}^3$. We present the image test results of the skull and lung, and body of the live mice.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.216-223
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• 2011

Recently PTW developed a MicroLion liquid ionization chamber which is water_equivalent and has a small sensitive volume of $0.002cm^3$. The aim of this work is to investigate such dosimetric characteristics as dose linearity, dose rate dependency, spatial resolution, and output factors of the chamber for the external radiotherapy photon beam. The results were compared to those of Semiflex chamber, Pinpoint chamber and Diode chamber with the sensitive volumes of $0.125cm^3$, $0.03cm^3$ and $0.0025cm^3$, respectively and evaluated to be suitable for small fields. This study was performed in the 6MV photon energy from a Varian 2300 C/D linac accelerator and the MP3 water phantom (PTW, Freiburg) was used. Penumbras in the varios field sizes ranged from $0.5{\times}0.5cm^2$ to $10{\times}10cm^2$ were used to evaluate the spatial resolution. Output factors were measured in the field sizes of $0.5{\times}0.5$ to $40{\times}40cm^2$. Readings of the chamber was linearly proportional to dose. Dose rate dependency was measured from 100 MU/min to 600 MU/min, showed a maximum difference of 5.0%, and outputs decreased with dose rates. The spatial resolutions determined with comparing profiles for the field sizes of $0.5{\times}0.5cm^2$ to $10{\times}10cm^2$ agreed between every detector except the Semiflex chamber to within 2%. Outputs of detectors were compared to that of Semiflex chamber and showed good agreements within 2% for every chamber. This study shows that MicroLion chamber characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio and water equivalence could be suitable for the small field dosimetry.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2012

The magnification technique has recently become popular in bone radiography, mammography and other diagnostic examination. However, because of the finite size of X-ray focal spot, the magnification influences various imaging properties with resolution, noise and contrast. The purpose of study is to investigate the influence of magnification and focal spot size on digital imaging system using eDQE (effective detective quantum efficiency). Effective DQE is a metric reflecting overall system response including focal spot blur, magnification, scatter and grid response. The adult chest phantom employed in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was used to derive eDQE from eMTF (effective modulation transfer function), eNPS (effective noise power spectrum), scatter fraction and transmission fraction. According to results, spatial frequencies that eMTF is 10% with the magnification factor of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 are 2.76, 2.21, 1.78, 1.49 and 1.26 lp/mm respectively using small focal spot. The spatial frequencies that eMTF is 10% with the magnification factor of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 are 2.21, 1.66, 1.25, 0.93 and 0.73 lp/mm respectively using large focal spot. The eMTFs and eDQEs decreases with increasing magnification factor. Although there are no significant differences with focal spot size on eDQE (0), the eDQEs drops more sharply with large focal spot than small focal spot. The magnification imaging can enlarge the small size lesion and improve the contrast due to decrease of effective noise and scatter with air-gap effect. The enlargement of the image size can be helpful for visual detection of small image. However, focal spot blurring caused by finite size of focal spot shows more significant impact on spatial resolution than the improvement of other metrics resulted by magnification effect. Based on these results, appropriate magnification factor and focal spot size should be established to perform magnification imaging with digital radiography system.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2004

Purpose: NEMA NU2-2001 was proposed as a new standard for performance evaluation of whole body PET scanners. in this study, system performance of Siemens CTI ECAT EXACT 47 PET scanner including spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction, and count rate performance in 2D and 3D mode was evaluated using this new standard method. Methods: ECAT EXACT 47 is a BGO crystal based PET scanner and covers an axial field of view (FOV) of 16.2 cm. Retractable septa allow 2D and 3D data acquisition. All the PET data were acquired according to the NEMA NU2-2001 protocols (coincidence window: 12 ns, energy window: $250{\sim}650$ keV). For the spatial resolution measurement, F-18 point source was placed at the center of the axial FOV((a) x=0, and y=1, (b)x=0, and y=10, (c)x=70, and y=0cm) and a position one fourth of the axial FOV from the center ((a) x=0, and y=1, (b)x=0, and y=10, (c)x=10, and y=0cm). In this case, x and y are transaxial horizontal and vertical, and z is the scanner's axial direction. Images were reconstructed using FBP with ramp filter without any post processing. To measure the system sensitivity, NEMA sensitivity phantom filled with F-18 solution and surrounded by $1{\sim}5$ aluminum sleeves were scanned at the center of transaxial FOV and 10 cm offset from the center. Attenuation free values of sensitivity wire estimated by extrapolating data to the zero wall thickness. NEMA scatter phantom with length of 70 cm was filled with F-18 or C-11solution (2D: 2,900 MBq, 3D: 407 MBq), and coincidence count rates wire measured for 7 half-lives to obtain noise equivalent count rate (MECR) and scatter fraction. We confirmed that dead time loss of the last flame were below 1%. Scatter fraction was estimated by averaging the true to background (staffer+random) ratios of last 3 frames in which the fractions of random rate art negligibly small. Results: Axial and transverse resolutions at 1cm offset from the center were 0.62 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), and 0.67 and 0.69 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D). Axial, transverse radial, and transverse tangential resolutions at 10cm offset from the center were 0.72 and 0.68 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), 0.63 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D), and 0.72 and 0.66 cm (FBP in 2D and 3D). Sensitivity values were 708.6 (2D), 2931.3 (3D) counts/sec/MBq at the center and 728.7 (2D, 3398.2 (3D) counts/sec/MBq at 10 cm offset from the center. Scatter fractions were 0.19 (2D) and 0.49 (3D). Peak true count rate and NECR were 64.0 kcps at 40.1 kBq/mL and 49.6 kcps at 40.1 kBq/mL in 2D and 53.7 kcps at 4.76 kBq/mL and 26.4 kcps at 4.47 kBq/mL in 3D. Conclusion: Information about the performance of CTI ECAT EXACT 47 PET scanner reported in this study will be useful for the quantitative analysis of data and determination of optimal image acquisition protocols using this widely used scanner for clinical and research purposes.