• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2014

Purpose: With the aging of the population, the attack rate of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture is in the increasing trend, and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is the most commonly performed standardized treatment. Although there is a research report of the excellence of usefulness of the SPECT/CT examination in terns of the exact diagnosis before and after the procedure, the bone cement material used in the procedure influences the image quality by forming an artifact in the CT image. Therefore, the objective of the research lies on evaluating the effect the bone cement gives to a SPECT/CT image. Materials and Methods: The images were acquired by inserting a model cement to each cylinder, after setting the background (3.6 kBq/mL), hot cylinder (29.6 kBq/mL) and cold cylinder (water) to the NEMA-1994 phantom. It was reconstructed with Astonish (Iterative: 4 Subset: 16), and non attenuation correction (NAC), attenuation correction (AC+SC-) and attenuation and scatter correction (AC+SC+) were used for the CT correction method. The mean count by each correction method and the count change ratio by the existence of the cement material were compared and the contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) was obtained. Additionally, the bone/soft tissue ratio (B/S ratio) was obtained after measuring the mean count of the 4 places including the soft tissue(spine erector muscle) after dividing the vertebral body into fracture region, normal region and cement by selecting the 20 patients those have performed PVP from the 107 patients diagnosed of compression fracture. Results: The mean count by the existence of a cement material showed the rate of increase of 12.4%, 6.5%, 1.5% at the hot cylinder of the phantom by NAC, AC+SC- and AC+SC+ when cement existed, 75.2%, 85.4%, 102.9% at the cold cylinder, 13.6%, 18.2%, 9.1% at the background, 33.1%, 41.4%, 63.5% at the fracture region of the clinical image, 53.1%, 61.6%, 67.7% at the normal region and 10.0%, 4.7%, 3.6% at the soft tissue. Meanwhile, a relative count reduction could be verified at the cement adjacent part at the inside of the cylinder, and the phantom image on the lesion and the count increase ratio of the clinical image showed a contrary phase. CRC implying the contrast ratio and B/S ratio was improved in the order of NAC, AC+SC-, AC+SC+, and was constant without a big change in the cold cylinder of the phantom. AC+SC- for the quantitative count, and AC+SC+ for the contrast ratio was analyzed to be the highest. Conclusion: It is considered to be useful in a clinical diagnosis if the application of AC+SC+ that improves the contrast ratio is combined, as it increases the noise count of the soft tissue and the scatter region as well along with the effect of the bone cement in contrast to the fact that the use of AC+SC- in the spine SPECT/CT examination of a PVP performed patient drastically increases the image count and enables a high density of image of the lesion(fracture).

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2011

This study has its own goal to deliver the accurate dose on the target volume by calculating and modifying the attenuation rate of photon beam transmitting the couch top with geometric model. The experiment was that the transmission rate and attenuation rate of photon beam transmitting the couch top was predicted by the geometric model, then compared and analyzed with what was measured experimentally based on that. The result showed that the predicted value by the geometric model accorded closely with the experimental value. In addition, in order to judge whether the practical clinical application is available, the point dose, measured after modifying the attenuation rate modelinged according to the treatment plan of a patient of spine radiosurgery, was compared with the one done nothing. The result was that the former showed decreased error range with treatment planned one than the latter. This papers calculated the transmission and attenuation rate with the geometric model transmitting the couch top and verified it experimentally. This method is expected to be very useful in not only the radiosurgery using Novalis but also the general radiation therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.471-481
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• 1998

The goals of developments in nuclear medicine instrumentation are to offer a higher-quality image and to aid diagnosis, prognosis assessment or treatment planning and monitoring. It is necessary for physicists and engineers to improve or design new instrumentation and techniques, and to implement, validate, and apply these new approaches in the practice of nuclear medicine. The researches in physical properties of detectors and crystal materials and advances in image analysis technology have improved quantitative and diagnostic accuracy of nuclear medicine images. This review article presents recent developments in nuclear medicine instrumentation, including scatter and attenuation correction, new detector technology, tomographic image reconstruction methods, 511 keV imaging, dual modality imaging device, small gamma camera, PET developments, image display and analysis methods.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.550-559
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• 2017

In order to maintain communication while the vehicle is moving, satellite azimuth angle and elevation angle correction are needed in real time. The elevation angle correction affects the system G/T according to the variation of the external noise temperature flowing into the antenna. G/T is expressed as a ratio of power gain G to noise temperature T and is an important performance function required for antenna gain design. This paper aims to G/T analysis considering elevation angle change and the establishment of an antenna design procedure. For this purpose, the relationship between elevation angle and brightness temperature including rain attenuation was analyzed according to recommendation ITU-R P.372 radio noise. Next, an antenna was designed based on the analysis results and design procedure was verified by G/T measurement. Through this experiment, G/T according to elevation angle was confirmed, and the minimum antenna gain analysis and design procedure required in the system could be established.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.139-148
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• 2002

The measured attenuation correction with transmission (Tx) scans produced quantitatively accurate images. However, it was not clear for optimal emission (Ex) and Tx scan time in PET imaging. This study was to evaluate acceptable Ex and Tx scan time by simulating clinical situations using various phantoms. Cylindrical and NEMA phantom were used for $^{18}$ F-PET scan using 2D protocol in GE Advance PETTM scanner. Cylindrical phantom was filled with 136 MBq 18F, and five regions of interests (ROI) were drawn on 23 slices. NEMA phantom had three inserts containing water, air and polytetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE). Outside of these inserts were filled with 309 MBq of $^{18}$ F, and total 12 ROIs were drawn on 23 slices. Scans were carried out according to five Ex scan times: 2, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min, and nine Tx scan times: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min. Images were reconstructed using measured attenuation correction, and ROI analyses were performed for all images, and mean, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation and percent errors were calculated. For cylindrical phantom study, ROI mean and SD were decreased as Ex and Tx time increased. Coefficients of variation were kept constant, when Tx was greater than 10 min. The amount of error decreased for the increment of Ex time from 10 min to 15 min was almost the same to that from 15 min to 30 min. In NEMA phantom Tx 15 min showed the lowest er개r level when the percent errors for three inserts were summed for all of the Ex times. This study suggested that Ex 15 min and Tx 15 min were acceptable as optimal scan time for the scanning protocol and the dose of radiopharmaceuticals used in these phantom study.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.246-251
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• 2005

Purpose: There has been many reports for the effect of attenuation correction on myocardial perfusion SPECT. We studied the effect of attenuation correction with CT (computed tomography) in patients with normal coronary angiography. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients with normal coronary artery on angiography and low likelihood of coronary artery disease were enrolled in this study (male: 6, female: 9, mean age: $58{\pm}8$ year). Myocardial perfusion SPECT was done with Millennium VG with Hawkeye device (GE, SPECT/CT camera). A visual analysis and polar map quantification (Emory tool box) was performed. In quantitative analysis, percent uptake of each myocardial wall on polar map (percent of maximal uptake) was compared between non-corrected (NC) and corrected (AC) images. Results: Visual analysis showed AC images led to an increase of uptake in the inferior wall, but decrease of uptake in the anterior wall, apex and septum. liver activity is also increased in AC images. In quantitative analysis, the percent uptake is decreased in the anterior wall, apex and septum, but increased in the inferior wall. It is helpful to interpret the images in the inferior wall after AC, but difficult in the apex and anterior wall after AC. Conclusion: AC is helpful in the inferior wall. But in the apex or anterior wall, AC must be carefully applied to normal perfused myocardium.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2017

Purpose Recently PET/CT image's attenuation correction is used CTAC(Computed Tomgraphy Attenuation Correction). it can quantitative evaluation by SUV(Standard Uptake Value). This study's purpose is to evaluate SUV and to find proper CT kernel using CTAC with applied various CT kernel to PET/CT construction. Materials and Methods Biograph mCT 64 was used for the equipment. We were performed on 20 patients who had examed at our hospital from february through March 2017. Using NEMA IEC Body Phantom, The data was reconstructed PET/CT images with CTAC appiled various CT kernel. ANOVA was used to evaluated the significant difference in the result. Results The result of measuring the radioactivity concentration of Phantom was B45F 96% and B80F 6.58% against B08F CT kernel, each respectively. the SUVmax increased to B45F 0.86% and B80F 6.54% against B08F CT kernel, In case of patient's parts data, the Lung SUVmax increased to B45F 1.6% and B80F 6.6%, Liver SUVmax increased to B45F 0.7% and B80F 4.7%, and Bone SUVmax increased to B45F 1.3% and B80F 6.2%, respectively. As for parts of patient's about Standard Deviation(SD), the Lung SD increased to B45F 4.2% and B80F 15.4%, Liver SD increased to B45F 2.1% and B80F 11%, and Bone SD increased to B45F 2.3% and B80F 14.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference discovered in three CT kernel (P >.05). Conclusion When using increased noise CT kernel for PET/CT reconstruction, It tends to change both SUVmax and SD in ROI(region of interest), Due to the increase the CT kernel number, Sharp noise increased in ROI. so SUVmax and SD were highly measured, but there was no statistically significant difference. Therefore Using CT kernel of low variation of SD occur less variation of SUV.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.127-133
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• 2014

Purpose: Low dose of PET/CT is important because of Patient's X-ray exposure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose PET/ CT image through the CTAC and QAC of patient study and phantom study. Materials and Methods: We used the discovery 710 PET/CT (GE). We used the NEMA IEC body phantom for evaluating the PET data corrected by ultra-low dose CT attenuation correction method and NU2-94 phantom for uniformity. After injection of 70.78 MBq and 22.2 MBq of 18 F-FDG were done to each of phantom, PET/CT scans were obtained. PET data were reconstructed by using of CTAC of which dose was for the diagnosis CT and Q. AC of which was only for attenuation correction. Quantitative analysis was performed by use of horizontal profile and vertical profile. Reference data which were corrected by CTAC were compared to PET data which was corrected by the ultra-low dose. The relative error was assessed. Patients with over weighted and normal weight also underwent a PET/CT scans according to low dose protocol and standard dose protocol. Relative error and signal to noise ratio of SUV were analyzed. Results: In the results of phantom test, phantom PET data were corrected by CTAC and Q.AC and they were compared each other. The relative error of Q.AC profile was been calculated, and it was shown in graph. In patient studies, PET data for overweight patient and normal weight patient were reconstructed by CTAC and Q.AC under routine dose and ultra-low dose. When routine dose was used, the relative error was small. When high dose was used, the result of overweight patient was effectively corrected by Q.AC. Conclusion: In phantom study, CTAC method with 80 kVp and 10 mA was resulted in bead hardening artifact. PET data corrected by ultra- low dose CTAC was not quantified, but those by the same dose were quantified properly. In patients' cases, PET data of over weighted patient could be quantified by Q.AC method. Its relative difference was not significant. Q.AC method was proper attenuation correction method when ultra-low dose was used. As a result, it is expected that Q.AC is a good method in order to reduce patient's exposure dose.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.134-138
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• 2007

The current PET/CT system with high quality CT images not only increases diagnostic value by providing anatomic localization, but also shortens the acquisition time for attenuation correction than primary PET system. All commercially available PET/CT system uses the CT scan for attenuation correction instead of the transmission scan using radioactive source such as $^{137}Cs,\;^{68}Ge$. However the CT scan may substantially increase the patient dose. The purpose of this study was to evaluate quality of PET images reconstructed by CT attenuation map using various tube currents. in this study, images were acquired for 3D Hoffman brain phantom and cylindrical phantom using GE DSTe PET/CT system. The emission data were acquired for 10 min using phantoms after injecting 44.03 MBq of $^{18}F-FDG$. The CT images for attenuation map were acquired by changing tube current from 10 mA to 95 mA with fixed exposure time of 8 sec and fixed tube voltage of 140 kVp. The PET images were reconstructed using these CT attenuation maps. Image quality of CT images was evaluated by measuring SD (standard deviation) of cylindrical phantom which was filled with water and $^{18}F-FDG$ solution. The PET images were evaluated by measuring the activity ratio between gray matter and white matter in Hoffman phantom images. SDs of CT images decrease by increasing tube current. When PET images were reconstructed using CT attenuation maps with various tube currents, the activity ratios between gray matter and white matter of PET images were almost same. These results indicated that the quality of the PET images using low dose CT data were comparable to the PET images using general dose CT data. Therefore, the use of low dose CT is recommended than the use of general dose CT, when the diagnostic high quality CT is not required. Further studies may need to be performed for other system, since this study is limited to the GE DSTe system used in this study.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2013

The erosion, suspension, and transport of sediment frequently occur in the coastal waters and estuarine. These processes often generate the so-called fluid mud layer, which is defined as a high-concentration aqueous suspension of fine grained sediment (> 10 g/l), consisting mainly of silt and clay-size particles. Therefore the high-resolution ultrasound is mostly used to detect or monitor the fluid mud layer. Because the sound attenuation tends to increase rapidly with the suspended sediment concentration, it is necessary to consider the accurate attenuation correction to estimate the backscattering strengths from the suspended sediment layers. In this paper, the volume backscattering strengths with various suspended sediment concentrations were measured using 5-MHz ultrasound signal in a small-scale water tank. The sound attenuation due to the viscosity and scattering from suspended sediment particles was predicted by the Richard's model and applied to the sonar equation to estimate the volume backscattering strengths from the suspended sediment concentrations. For the case that the additional attenuation was not considered, the volume backscattering strengths increased to the concentration of 20 g/l, and over this point, the backscattering strengths were roughly constant. However, for the case that the attenuation due to the suspended sediment concentration was considered, the backscattering strengths increased with the concentration.