• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.86-96
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• 2021

CT is a diagnostic tool with many clinical applications. The CT voxel intensity is related to the magnitude of X-ray attenuation, which is not unique to a given material. Substances with different chemical compositions can be represented by similar voxel intensities, making the classification of different tissue types challenging. Compared to the conventional single-energy CT, spectral CT is an emerging technology offering superior material differentiation, which is achieved using the energy dependence of X-ray attenuation in any material. A specific form of spectral CT is dual-energy imaging, in which an additional X-ray attenuation measurement is obtained at a second X-ray energy. Dual-energy CT has been implemented in clinical settings with great success. This paper reviews the theoretical basis and practical implementation of spectral/dual-energy CT.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2521-2526
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• 2015

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate computed tomography (CT) virtual non-contrast (VNC) spectral imaging for gastric carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with histologically proven gastric carcinomas underwent gemstone spectral imaging (GSI) including non-contrast and contrast-enhanced hepatic arterial, portal venous, and equilibrium phase acquisitions prior to surgery. VNC arterial phase (VNCa), VNC venous phase (VNCv), and VNC equilibrium phase (VNCe) images were obtained by subtracting iodine from iodine/water images. Images were analyzed with respect to image quality, gastric carcinoma-intragastric water contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), gastric carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR, serosal invasion, and enlarged lymph nodes around the lesions. Results: Carcinoma-water CNR values were significantly higher in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (2.72, 2.60, 2.61, respectively, vs 2.35, $p{\leq}0.008$). Carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR values were significantly lower in VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images than in normal CT images (7.63, 7.49, 7.32, respectively, vs 8.48, p< 0.001). There were no significant differences of carcinoma-water CNR and carcinoma-perigastric fat CNR among VNCa, VNCv, and VNCe images. There was no difference in the determination of invasion or enlarged lymph nodes between normal CT and VNCa images. Conclusions: VNC arterial phase images may be a surrogate for conventional non-contrast CT images in gastric carcinoma evaluation.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.669-676
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• 2020

본 연구의 목적은 Spectral CT에서 단색에너지(keV)와 조영제 희석비율의 변화에 따른 HU 값의 변화를 분석하고자 하였다. 검사장비로는 Spectral CT를 사용하였고, 20 cc syringe의 팬텀을 이용하여 조영제의 희석비율을 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 3:7 총 6단계로 설정하였다. 이때 조영제는 비이온성 요오드 조영제(350 mg/ml)를 이용하였다. 획득한 데이터를 IQon-Spectral CT V4.7.5 프로그램을 사용하여 Monoenergy(MonoE) 40 keV, 45 keV, 50 keV, 55 keV, 60 keV, 65 keV, 70 keV, 75 keV, 80 keV 총 9단계로 변화시켜 syringe axial 영상을 재구성하였다. 재구성한 syringe axial 단면 영상의 세 위치에서 HU 값을 측정하였으며, 총 1,620회 측정하였다. keV와 조영제 희석비율의 변화에 따른 HU 값을 분석한 결과, MonoE별 희석비율에 따른 HU 비교에서 모든 MonoE에서의 HU 값이 희석비율 8:2에서 가장 높았으며 3:7에서 가장 낮았다(p<0.05). 희석비율별 MonoE에 따른 HU 비교에서 모든 희석비율에서의 HU 값이 40 keV에서 가장 높았으며 80 keV에서 가장 낮았다(p<0.05). 인자별 상관성은 keV에 따른 HU 값은 -15.014 ± 0.298의 음의 상관성(R²=0.519)이 있었고 희석비율에 따른 HU값 은 -61.372 ± 3.608의 음의 상관성(R²=0.152)이 있었다(p<0.05). 결론적으로 keV 값과 조영제 희석비율이 증가할수록 HU 값은 감소하는 것을 확인하였으며 본 연구가 Spectral CT의 HU 값 관련 인자 연구에 있어 기초자료를 제공할 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.523-530
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• 2019

본 연구의 목적은 광자계수검출기 기반 스펙트럼 전산화단층촬영을 이용하여 K-각 영상을 획득하고, 이를 통해 3차원 융합진단영상을 구현하여 임상적 이용 가능성을 평가하고자 하였다. 실험을 통한 K-각 영상획득을 위해 스펙트럼 전산화단층촬영 시스템을 이용하였다. 희석된 iodine과 gadolinium 조영제가 주입된 6개의 튜브를 돼지고기에 삽입하여 팬텀을 제작하였다. 100 kVp 관전압과 $500{\mu}A$ 관전류 조건에서 발생된 X-선을 이용하였으며, iodine과 gadolinium의 K-각 흡수에너지를 고려한 35 및 52 keV에 저 에너지 문턱값을 설정하여 K-각 영상을 획득하였다. 융합진단영상은 일반적인 전산화단층촬영 영상과 스펙트럼 전산화단층촬영을 통해 획득한 iodine 및 gadolinium 영상을 정합하여 획득하였다. 두 가지 조영제 기반 융합진단영상의 CNR은 일반적인 CT보다 평균적으로 6.76-14.9배 높았으며, 3차원 융합진단영상은 각 조영제의 물질 지도 정보를 제공할 수 있었다. 따라서 본 연구에서 제안하는 방법을 통해 전산화단층영상의 화질을 향상시킬 수 있으며 특정 물질의 추가적인 정보를 제공을 통해 진단의 효율성을 증가시킬 수 있다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권7호
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• pp.838-850
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• 2020

Computed tomography (CT) is an important imaging modality in evaluating thoracic malignancies. The clinical utility of dual-energy spectral computed tomography (DESCT) has recently been realized. DESCT allows for virtual monoenergetic or monochromatic imaging, virtual non-contrast or unenhanced imaging, iodine concentration measurement, and effective atomic number (Z_eff map). The application of information gained using this technique in the field of thoracic oncology is important, and therefore many studies have been conducted to explore the use of DESCT in the evaluation and management of thoracic malignancies. Here we summarize and review recent DESCT studies on clinical applications related to thoracic oncology.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.1342-1349
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• 2023

The planning accuracy of charged particle therapy (CPT) is subject to the accuracy of stopping power (SP) estimation. In this study, we propose a method of deriving a pseudo-triple-energy CT (pTECT) that can be achievable in the existing dual-energy CT (DECT) systems for better SP estimation. In order to remove the direct effect of errors in CT values, relative CT values according to three scanning voltage settings were used. CT values of each tissue substitute phantom were measured to show the non-linearity of the values thereby suggesting the absolute difference and ratio of CT values as parameters for SP estimation. Electron density, effective atomic number (EAN), mean excitation energy and SP were calculated based on these parameters. Two of conventional methods were implemented and compared to the proposed pTECT method in terms of residuals, absolute error and root-mean-square-error (RMSE). The proposed method outperformed the comparison methods in every evaluation metrics. Especially, the estimation error for EAN and mean excitation using pTECT were converging to zero. In this proof-of-concept study, we showed the feasibility of using three CT values for accurate SP estimation. Our suggested pTECT method indicates potential clinical utility of spectral CT imaging for CPT planning.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권9호
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• pp.854-865
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• 2022

Photon-counting detector (PCD) CT is a new CT technology utilizing a direct conversion X-ray detector, where incident X-ray photon energies are directly recorded as electronical signals. The design of the photon-counting detector itself facilitates improvements in spatial resolution (via smaller detector pixel design) and iodine signal (via count weighting) while still permitting multi-energy imaging. PCD-CT can eliminate electronic noise and reduce artifacts due to the use of energy thresholds. Improved dose efficiency is important for low dose CT and pediatric imaging. The ultra-high spatial resolution of PCD-CT design permits lower dose scanning for all body regions and is particularly helpful in identifying important imaging findings in thoracic and musculoskeletal CT. Improved iodine signal may be helpful for low contrast tasks in abdominal imaging. Virtual monoenergetic images and material classification will assist with numerous diagnostic tasks in abdominal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular imaging. Dual-source PCD-CT permits multi-energy CT images of the heart and coronary arteries at high temporal resolution. In this special review article, we review the clinical benefits of this technology across a wide variety of radiological subspecialties.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.367-373
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• 2013

The ruthenium(II) ferrocenyl heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone complexes of the type $[RuCl(CO)(EPh_3)]_2L$ (where E = P/As; L = binucleating monobasic tridendate thiosemicarbazone ligand) have been investigated. Strutural features were determined by analytical and spectral techniques. Binding of these complexes with CT-DNA by absorption spectral study indicates that the ruthenium(II) complexes form adducts with DNA and has intrinsic binding constant in the range of $3.3{\times}10^4-1.2{\times}10^5M^{-1}$. The complexes exhibit a remarkable DNA cleavage activity with CT-DNA in the presence of hydrogen oxide and the cleavage activity depends on dosage.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.286-292
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• 2016

This study evaluates the change of computer tomography (CT) number in the case of the metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm, using the phantom. The images were obtained from dual CT using a gammex 467 tissue characterization phantom, which is similar to human tissues. The test method was performed by dividing pre and post MAR algorithm and measured CT values of nonmagnetic materials within the phantom. In addition, the changes of CT values for each material were compared and analyzed after measuring CT values up to 140 keV, using the spectral HU curve followed by CT scan. As a result, in the cases of N rod (trabecular bone) and E rod (trabecular bone), the CT numbers decreased as keV increasing but were constant above 90 keV. In the cases of I rod (dense bone) and K rod (dense bone), the CT numbers also decreased as keV increased but were uniform above 90 keV. The CT numbers from 40 keV to 140 keV were consistent in the cases of J rod (liver), D rod (liver), L rod (muscle), and F rod (muscle). For A rod (adipose), G rod (adipose), B rod (breast) and O rod (breast), the CT numbers increased as keV increased but were constant after 90 keV. The CT numbers from 40 keV to 140 keV were consistent in the cases of C rod (lung (exhale)), P rod (lung (exhale)), M rod (lung (inhale)) and H rod (lung (exhale)). Conclusively, because dual CT exhibits no changes in image quality and is able to analyze nonmagnetic materials by measuring the CT values of various materials, it will be used in the future as a useful tool for the diagnosis of lesions.

• 대한전자공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한전자공학회 2002년도 ITC-CSCC -2
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• pp.999-1002
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• 2002

In this paper, we proposes an adaptive method for reducing the computational overhead of fine-to-coarse MRME at the finest resolution level by considering for the spatial and spectral characteristics between wavelet decomposition levels simultaneously. As we know, there is high correlation between the adjacent blocks and it can give the very important clue to estimate motion at finest level. So, in this paper, using the initial motion vector and the adjacent motion vector in the coarsest level, we determine the optimal direction that will be minimized the estimation error in the finest level. In that direction, we define the potential searching region within the full searching region that is caused to increase much computational overhead in the FtC method. Last, in that region, we process the efficient 2-step motion estimation. and estimate the motion vector at finest resolution level. And then, this determined motion vector is scaled to coarser resolutions. As simulation result, this method is similar to computational complexity of the CtF MRME method and very significantly reduces that of the FtC MRME method. In addition, they provide higher quality than CtF MRME, both visually and quantitatively