• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

In this study, a simple post-reconstruction dual-energy computed tomography (CT) method is proposed. A dual-energy CT algorithm for monochromatic x-rays was adopted and applied to the dual-energy CT of polychromatic x-rays by assigning a representative mono-energy. The accuracy of algorithm implementation was tested with mathematical phantoms. To test the sensitivity of this algorithm to the inaccuracy of representative energy value in energy values, a simulation study was performed with mathematical phantom. To represent a polychromatic x-ray energy spectrum with a single-energy, mean energy and equivalent energy were used, and the results were compared. The feasibility of the proposed method was experimentally tested with two different micro-CTs and a test phantom made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), water, and graphite. The dual-energy calculations were carried out with CT images of all possible energy pairs among 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 kVp. The effective atomic number and the electron density values obtained from the proposed method were compared with theoretical values. The results showed that, except the errors in the effective atomic number of graphite, most of the errors were less than 10 % for both CT scanners, and for the combination of 60 kVp and 70 kVp, errors less than 6.0 % could be achieved with a Polaris 90 CT. The proposed method shows simplicity of calibration, demonstrating its practicality and feasibility for use with a general polychromatic CT.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.55-62
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• 2002

Aneurysm-mimicking findings were frequently visualized due to hemodynamical causes of dephasing effects around area of A-com artery during magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) and these kind of phenomena have not been clearly known yet. We investigated the hemodynamical patterns of dephasing effect around area of the A-com artery that might be a cause of false intracranial aneurysms on MRA. For experimental study, We used hand-made silicon phantoms of the asymmetric A-com artery as like a bifurcation configuration. In a closed circulatory system with UHDC computer driven cardiac pump system. MRA and fast digital subfraction angiography(DSA) involved the use of these phantoms. Flow patterns were evaluated with axial and coronal imaging of MRA(2D-TOF, 3D-TOF) and DSA of Phantoms constructed from an automated closed-type circulatory system filled with glycerol solution [circulation fluid(glycerol:water = 1:1.4)]. These findings were then compared with those obtained from computational fluid dynamic(CFD) for inter-experimental correlation study. Imaging findings of MRA, DSA and CFD on inflow zone according to the following: a) MRA demonstrated high signal intensity zone as inflow zone on silicon phantom; b) Patterns of DSA were well matched with MRA on trajectory of inflow zone; and c) CFD were well matched with MRA on the pattern of main flow. Imaging findings of MRA. DSA and CFD on turbulent flow zone according to the following: a) MRA demonstrated hyposignal intensity zone at shoulder and axillar zone of main inflow; b) DSA delineated prominent vortex flow at the same area. The hemodynamical causes of signal defect, which could Induce the false aneurysm on MRA, turned out to be dephasing effects at axilla area of bifurcation from turbulent flow as the results of MRA, DSA and CFD.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.162-168
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• 2016

Proton therapy is increasingly being actively used in the treatment of cancer. In contrast to photons, protons have the potential advantage of delivering higher doses to the cancerous tissue and lower doses to the surrounding normal tissue. However, a range shifter is needed to degrade the beam energy in order to apply the pencil beam scanning technique to tumors located close to the minimum range. The secondary neutrons are produced in the beam path including within the patient's body as a result of nuclear interactions. Therefore, unintended side effects may possibly occur. The research related to the secondary neutrons generated during proton therapy has been presented in a variety of studies worldwide, since 2007. In this study, we measured the magnitude of the secondary neutron dose depending on the location of the detector and the use of a range shifter at the beam nozzle of the proton scanning mode, which was recently installed. In addition, the production of secondary neutrons was measured and estimated as a function of the distance between the isocenter and detector. The neutron dose was measured using WENDI-II (Wide Energy Neutron Detection Instruments) and a Plastic Water phantom; a Zebra dosimeter and 4-cm-thick range shifter were also employed as a phantom. In conclusion, we need to consider the secondary neutron dose at proton scanning facilities to employ the range shifter reasonably and effectively.

• 대한디지털의료영상학회논문지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.111-115
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• 2011

PET/CT(Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography) is an examination combining morphological and functional information in one examination. The purpose of this study is to see the lowest CT dose for attenuation correction in the PET/CT maintaining good image quality when considering CT scan dose to the patients. We injected $^{18}F$-FDG and water into the cylinder shaped phantom, and obtained emission images for 3 mins and transmission images(140 kVp, 8 sec, 10~200 mA for transmission images), and reconstructed the images to PET/CT images with Iterative method. Data(Maximum, Minimum, Average, Standard Deviation) were obtained by drawing a circular ROI(Region Of Interest) on each sphere in each image set with Image J program. And then described SD according to the CT and PEC/CT images as graphes. Through the graphes, we got the relationships of mA and quality of images. SDs according to CT graph were 16.25 at 10 mA, 7.26 at 50 mA, 5.5 at 100 mA, 4.29 at 150 mA, and 3.83 at 200 mA, i.e. the higer mA, the better image quality was presented. SDs according to PET/CT graph were 1823.2 at 10 mA, 1825.1 at 50 mA, 1828.4 at 100 mA, 1813.8 at 150 mA, and 1811.3 at 200 mA. Calculated SDs at PET/CT images were maintained. This means images quality is maintained having nothing to do with mA of high and low.

• 대한디지털의료영상학회논문지
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

This study is to increase the accuracy of the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia by presenting a method that can accurately measure the residual urine amount of the bladder by using an ultrasound image. Agar powder, Propanol and distilled water were used as materials for making a phantom. In order to measure the volume, a $10m{\ell}$ cylinder, syringe and beaker were used. The image was obtained by scanning phantoms produced into six shapes. Each constant value was obtained by using the expression designed to measure the residual urine amount of the bladder and was compared and analyzed. The measuring method of Bladder volume was presented and a constant value for each shape was obtained and five observers measured it five times. According to the results of clinical application, the errors of Ellipse-beanbag, Shield-shield were 11.0%, 18.2%, respectively. Constant values depending on the shape of each phantom were presented in order to accurately measure the volume of the bladder in measuring the amount of residual urine for the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia. The accuracy of the volume using this was verified statistically(p > 0.05). Therefore, it is considered to be useful in diagnosing benign prostatic hyperplasia by using the ultrasound imaging measuring method presented.

• 폴리머
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.90-93
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• 2008

암 치료의 보조요법의 하나로 제시될 수 있는 전자파를 이용한 온열치료법의 기초연구를 수행하였다. 폴리에틸렌, 탈이온수, 그리고 염화나트륨 등으로 구성되는 젤리형의 인체 뇌 팬텀을 제작하고 이들 팬텀 재료의 다양한 구성비에 따른 팬텀의 전기적 특성을 유전율상수와 전도도를 측정하여 평가하였다. 그 결과, 염화나트륨의 양이 증가함에 따라 팬텀의 도전율이 증가하는 것을 제외하고는 팬텀 재조에 사용한 재료의 함량이 증가할수록 팬텀의 전기적 특성 값들은 대체로 감소함을 확인하였다. 또한 시간 경과에 따른 무게비로 측정한 팬텀의 장기안정성은 6개월이 경과한 시점까지도 양호하게 유지됨을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 연구 결과는 향후 각종 인체장기에 대응하는 자성유체가 혼입된 젤리팬텀의 전자기적 특성과 온도 상승을 관찰함으로써 암 치료에 있어서의 새로운 방법론을 제시할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.222-228
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• 2016

Background: We are developing a small size dosimeter for dose estimation in particle therapies. The developed dosimeter is an optical fiber based dosimeter mounting an radiation induced luminescence material, such as an OSL or a scintillator, at a tip. These materials generally suffer from the quenching effect under high LET particle irradiation. Materials and Methods: We fabricated two types of the small size dosimeters. They used an OSL material Eu:BaFBr and a BGO scintillator. Carbon ions were irradiated into the fabricated dosimeters at Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC). The small size dosimeters were set behind the water equivalent acrylic phantom. Bragg peak was observed by changing the phantom thickness. An ion chamber was also placed near the small size dosimeters as a reference. Results and Discussion: Eu:BaFBr and BGO dosimeters showed a Bragg peak at the same thickness as the ion chamber. Under high LET particle irradiation, the response of the luminescence-based small size dosimeters deteriorated compared with that of the ion chamber due to the quenching effect. We confirmed the luminescence efficiency of Eu:BaFBr and BGO decrease with the LET. The reduction coefficient of luminescence efficiency was different between the BGO and the Eu:BaFBr. The LET can be determined from the luminescence ratio between Eu:BaFBr and BGO, and the dosimeter response can be corrected. Conclusion: We evaluated the LET dependence of the luminescence efficiency of the BGO and Eu:BaFBr as the quenching effect. We propose and discuss the correction of the quenching effect using the signal intensity ratio of the both materials. Although the correction precision is not sufficient, feasibility of the proposed correction method is proved through basic experiments.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 1996

방사선 측정기로 사용되는 원통형 전리함의 위치별 반응 함수를 좁은 방사선장에서 측정하였다. 광자선 에너지 4MV, 6MV, 15MV, 전리함 내경 0.5cm～3.05cm 인 전리함들에 대하여 방사선면의 크기를 0.2$\times$20$\textrm{cm}^2$로 하여 물속 10cm 깊이에서 전리함 반응함수를 측정하였다. 좁은 방사선면의 선량분포 profile 을 EGS4(Electron Gamma Shower 4) 몬테카를로 시뮬레이션 코드를 이용하여 계산하였고, 이 결과를 측정된 전리함의 반응 함수 값에서 되겹말림 (deconvolution) 기법으로 제거하여 순수하게 $\delta$함수 모양의 방사선장으로부터 측정된 반응함수로 보정하였다. 전리함 반응함수는 보정전에는 에너지에 따라 다르게 나타났으나 EGS4 계산으로 얻어진 선량분포 프로파일 (profile)을 보정한 결과 전리함 반응 함수는 에너지와 무관한 것으로 나타났다.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제48권1호
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• pp.31-39
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of field-of-view (FOV) size on the gray values derived from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) compared with the Hounsfield unit values from multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans as the gold standard. Materials and Methods: A radiographic phantom was designed with 4 acrylic cylinders. One cylinder was filled with distilled water, and the other 3 were filled with 3 types of bone substitute: namely, Nanobone, Cenobone, and Cerabone. The phantom was scanned with 2 CBCT systems using 2 different FOV sizes, and 1 MDCT system was used as the gold standard. The mean gray values(MGVs) of each cylinder were calculated in each imaging protocol. Results: In both CBCT systems, significant differences were noted in the MGVs of all materials between the 2 FOV sizes(P<.05) except for Cerabone in the Cranex3D system. Significant differences were found in the MGVs of each material compared with the others in both FOV sizes for each CBCT system. No significant difference was seen between the Cranex3D CBCT system and the MDCT system in the MGVs of bone substitutes on images obtained with a small FOV. Conclusion: The size of the FOV significantly changed the MGVs of all bone substitutes, except for Cerabone in the Cranex3D system. Both CBCT systems had the ability to distinguish the 3 types of bone substitutes based on a comparison of their MGVs. The Cranex3D CBCT system used with a small FOV had a significant correlation with MDCT results.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.19-24
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• 2010

콘빔형 소동물용 CT 장치는 바이오-의료분야의 기초 실험에 활발히 응용되고 있다. $10{\mu}m$의 직경을 가진 텅스텐 와이어(wire)와 물 팬텀을 이용하여 비교적 간단한 방법으로 소동물용 CT 장치를 평가할 수 있는 방법을 제시하였다. X선 튜브가 안정적으로 장시간 운전 가능한 조건에서 $1^{\circ}$ 간격으로 360개의 투영영상을 획득하고, 영상재구성을 통하여 슬라이스 영상 및 3차원 영상을 얻었다. 콘빔형 소동물용 CT 장치는 배율 1.07배 위치에서 13.78lp/mm(공간해상도 $36.2{\mu}m$)를 나타내었고, 80kV의 관전압에서 CNR 10.33 및 S/N 5.87을 보였다.