• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2011

Objective: The 3-dimensional reconstruction method with resolution recovery modeling has advantages of high spatial resolution and contrast because of its precise modeling of spatial blurring according to the distance from detector plane. The aim of this study was to evaluate one of the resolution recovery reconstruction methods (Astonish, Philips Medical), compare it to other iterative reconstructions, and verify its clinical usefulness. Materials and Methods: NEMA IEC PET body phantom and Flanges Jaszczak ECT phantom (Data Spectrum Corp., USA) studies were performed using Skylight SPECT (Philips) system under four different conditions; short or long (2 times of short) radius, and half or full (40 kcts/frame) acquisition counts. Astonish reconstruction method was compared with two other iterative reconstructions; MLEM and 3D-OSEM which vendor supplied. For quantitative analysis, the contrast ratios obtained from IEC phantom test were compared. Reconstruction parameters were determined by optimization study using graph of contrast ratio versus background variability. The qualitative comparison was performed with Jaszczak ECT phantom and human myocardial data. Results: The overall contrast ratio was higher with Astonish than the others. For the largest hot sphere of 37 mm diameter, Astonish showed about 27.1% and 17.4% higher contrast ratio than MLEM and 3D-OSEM, in short radius study. For long radius, Astonish showed about 40.5% and 32.6% higher contrast ratio than MLEM and 3D-OSEM. The effect of acquired counts was insignificant. In the qualitative studies with Jaszczak phantom and human myocardial data, Astonish showed the best image quality. Conclusion: In this study, we have found out that Astonish can provide more reliable clinical results by better image quality compared to other iterative reconstruction methods. Although further clinical studies are required, Astonish would be used in clinics with confidence for enhancement of images.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.138-148
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• 2001

Purpose : Within a clinically acceptable time frame, we obtained the high resolution MR images of the human brain, knee, foot and wrist from 3T whole-body MRI system which was equipped with the world first 37 active shield magnet. Materials and Methods : Spin echo (SE) and Fast Spin Echo (FSE) images were obtained from the human brain, knee, foot and wrist of normal subjects using a homemade birdcage and transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonators operating in quadrature and tuned to 128 MHz. For acquisition of MR images of knee, foot and wrist, we employed a homemade saddle shaped RF coil. Topical common acquisition parameters were as follows: matrix=$512{\times}512$, field of view (FOV) =20 cm, slice thickness = 3 mm, number of excitations (NEX)=1. For T1-weighted MR images, we used TR = 500 ms, TE = 10 or 17.4 ms. For T2-weighted MR images, we used TR=4000 ms, TE = 108 ms. Results : Signal to noise ratio (SNR) of 3T system was measured 2.7 times greater than that of prevalent 1.5T system. MR images obtained from 3T system revealed numerous small venous structures throughout the image plane and provided reasonable delineation between gray and white matter. Conclusion The present results demonstrate that the MR images from 3T system could provide better diagnostic quali\ulcorner of resolution and sensitivity than those of 1.5T system. The elevated SNR observed in the 3T high field magnetic resonance imaging can be utilized to acquire images with a level of resolution approaching the microscopic structural level under in vivo conditions. These images represent a significant advance in our ability to examine small anatomical features with noninvasive imaging methods.