• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.202-209
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• 2004

Flat panel based digital radiography (DR) systems have recently become useful and important in the field of diagnostic radiology. For DRs with amorphous silicon photosensors, CsI(TI) is normally used as the scintillator, which produces visible light corresponding to the absorbed radiation energy. The visible light photons are converted into electric signal in the amorphous silicon photodiodes which constitute a two dimensional array. In order to produce good quality images, detailed behaviors of DR detectors to radiation must be studied. The relationship between air exposure and the DR outputs has been investigated in many studies. But this relationship was investigated under the condition of the fixed tube voltage. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the DR outputs and X-ray in terms of the absorbed energy in the detector rather than the air exposure using SPEC-l8, an X-ray energy spectrum model. Measured exposure was compared with calculated exposure for obtaining the inherent filtration that is a important input variable of SPEC-l8. The absorbed energy in the detector was calculated using algorithm of calculating the absorbed energy in the material and pixel values of real images under various conditions was obtained. The characteristic curve was obtained using the relationship of two parameter and the results were verified using phantoms made of water and aluminum. The pixel values of the phantom image were estimated and compared with the characteristic curve under various conditions. It was found that the relationship between the DR outputs and the absorbed energy in the detector was almost linear. In a experiment using the phantoms, the estimated pixel values agreed with the characteristic curve, although the effect of scattered photons introduced some errors. However, effect of a scattered X-ray must be studied because it was not included in the calculation algorithm. The result of this study can provide useful information about a pre-processing of digital radiography.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.103-109
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• 2016

Polyethylene pipes has useful benefits which are anti-corrosive and flexible material, so it is used to gas pipes but also class 3 water pipes of nuclear power plant, process pipes of petrochemical plant and chemical plant. So the usage of polyethylene pipes is widely increased. But it has been limited for the usage of polyethylene, because it can not be directly detected to fusion joints by using non destructive evaluation. Polyethylene pipes are connected by two methods, one is butt fusion and the other is electrofusion. Butt fusion is widely used to connecting the pipes. It is proposed to method for determining the reliability of joints in this study that is detection of the melt flow zone at fusion joints. In this study, middle density polyethylene is used, outside diameter of the test specimen is 225mm and thickness is 20.5mm. Speed of ultrasonic of this test specimen is 2,200m/s. Test specimens were fabricated by varying the heating time which means from 0% to 130% applying time through heating plate to polyethylene for detecting melt flow zone. Also 4 additional test specimens were made, one was made that not scrapping attached surface of pipes but applying 100% of the proper heating time and the others were made to include of soil, gravel and vinly tape paper at fusion joints, that were also applied 100% of proper heating time. Ultrasonic testing to measure the melt flow zone of 20 test specimens was conducted by using 3.5MHz and 5.0MHz ultrasonic probes and melt flow zone measuring was conducted to three times at different point to one specimen. To differentiate the melt flow zone signal, post image processing was equally conducted to all test results and image levels, contrast, sharpen, threshold were adopted to all teat results and the test results were displayed gray scale. From the results, for the shorter heating times the reflection area of multiple echo have been increased, so the data was obtained from the position where it can be eliminated as much as possible. At 80% of proper heating time(168 sec.), the signal of melt flow zone was obtained clearly, so measuring could be conducted. From 7% of proper heating time(15 sec.) to shorter heating times. we could not obtain the signal because test specimen was not fused. From the result, we can verify that measuring of melt flow zone by using phased array ultrasonic imaging method is possible. And we can verify to complete and incomplete butt fusion by measuring the melt flow zone.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.68-80
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• 2012

Purpose : More recently, combined PET/MR scanners have been developed in which the MR data can be used for both anatometabolic image formation and attenuation correction of the PET data. For quantitative PET information, correction of tissue photon attenuation is mandatory. The attenuation map is obtained from the CT scan in the PET/CT. In the case of PET/MR, the attenuation map can be calculated from the MR image. The purpose of this study was to assess the quantitative differences between MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images. Materials and Methods : Using the uniform cylinder phantom of distilled water which has 199.8 MBq of $^{18}F$-FDG put into the phantom, we studied the effect of MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images, of the PET-CT using time of flight (TOF) and non-TOF iterative reconstruction. The images were acquired from 60 minutes at 15-minute intervals. Region of interests were drawn over 70% from the center of the image, and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. These data were analyzed by one way-anova test and Bland-Altman analysis. MR images are segmented into three classes(not including bone), and each class is assigned to each region based on the expected average attenuation of each region. For clinical diagnostic purpose, PET/MR and PET/CT images were acquired in 23 patients (Ingenuity TF PET/MR, Gemini TF64). PET/CT scans were performed approximately 33.8 minutes after the beginnig of the PET/MR scans. Region of interests were drawn over 9 regions of interest(lung, liver, spleen, bone), and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. The SUVs from 9 regions of interest in MR-based PET images and in CT-based PET images were compared. These data were analyzed by paired t test and Bland-Altman analysis. Results : In phantom study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower -0.36~-0.15 SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (p<0.05). In clinical study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (excepting left middle lung and transverse Lumbar) (p<0.05). And percent differences were -8.01.79% lower for the PET/MR images than for the PET/CT images. (excepting lung) Based on the Bland-Altman method, the agreement between the two methods was considered good. Conclusion : PET/MR confirms generally lower SUVs than PET/CT. But, there were no difference in the clinical interpretations made by the quantitative comparisons with both type of attenuation map.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2014

Purpose : In this study, the medication effects of Milnacipran and Pregabalin, as well known as fibromyalgia treatment medicine, in fibromyalgia syndrome patients were compared through the change of BOLD signal in pain related functional MRI. Materials and Methods: Twenty fibromyalgia syndrome patients were enrolled in this study and they were separated into two groups according to the treatment medicine: 10 Milnacipran (MLN) treatment group and 7 Pregabalin (PGB) treatment group. For accurate diagnosis, all patients underwent several clinical tests. Pre-treated and post-treated fMRI image with block-designed pressure-pain stimulation for each group were obtained to conduct the statistical analysis of paired t-test and two sample t-test. All statistical significant level was less than 0.05. Results: In clinical tests, the clinical scores of the two groups were not significantly different at pre-treatment stage. But, PGB treatment group had lower Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) score than those of MLN treatment group at post-treatment stage. In functional image analysis, BOLD signal of PGB treatment group was higher BOLD signal at several regions including anterior cingulate and insula than MLN treatment group at post-treatment stage. Also, paired t-test values of the BOLD signal in MLN group decreased in several regions including insula and thalamus as known as 'pain network'. In contrast, size and number of regions in which the BOLD signal decreased in PGB treatment group were smaller than those of MLN treatment group. Conclusion: This study showed that MLN group and PGB group have different medication effects. It is not surprising that MLN and PGB have not the same therapeutic effects since these two drugs have different medicinal mechanisms such as antidepressants and anti-seizure medication, respectively, and different detailed target of fibromyalgia syndrome treatment. Therefore, it is difficult to say which medicine will work better in this study.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.264-270
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• 2014

This study developed a portable respiratory training device to improve breathing stability, which is an important element in using the CyberKnife Synchrony respiratory tracking device, one of the typical Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) devices. It produced an interface for users to be able to select one of two displays, a graph type and a bar type, supported an auditory system that helps them expect next respiration by improving a sense of rhythm of their respiratory period, and provided comfortable respiratory inducement. By targeting 5 applicants and applying individual respiratory period detected through a self-developed program, it acquired signal data of 'guide respiration' that induces breathing through signal data gained from 'free respiration' and an auditory system, and evaluated the usability by comparing deviation average values of respiratory period and respiratory amplitude. It could be identified that respiratory period decreased $55.74{\pm}0.14%$ compared to free respiration, and respiratory amplitude decreased $28.12{\pm}0.10%$ compared to free respiration, which confirmed the consistency and stability of respiratory. SBRT, developed based on these results, using the portable respiratory training device, for liver cancer or lung cancer, is evaluated to be able to help reduce delayed treatment time due to respiratory instability and improve treatment accuracy, and if it could be applied to developing respiratory training applications targeting an android-based portable device in the future, even use convenience and economic efficiency are expected.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2003

Purpose : The present study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of cerebral diffusion (DWI) and perfusion MR imaging (PWI) in rabbit models with hyperacute cerebral ischemic infarction. Materials and Methods : Experimental cerebral infarction were induced by direct injection of mixture of Histoacryl glue, lipiodol, and tungsten powder into the internal cerebral artery of 6 New-Zealand white rabbits, and they underwent conventional T1 and T2 weighted MR imaging, DWI, and PWI within 1 hour after the occlusion of internal cerebral artery. The PWI scan for each rabbit was obtained at the level of lateral ventricle and 1cm cranial to the basal ganglia. By postprocessing using special imaging software, perfusion images including cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) maps were obtained. The detection of infarcted lesion were evaluated on both perfusion maps and DWI. MTT difference time were measured in the perfusion defect lesion and symmetric contralateral normal cerebral hemisphere. Results : In all rabbits, there was no abnormal signal intensity on T2WI. But on DWI, abnormal high signal intensity, suggesting cerebral infarction, were detected in all rabbits. PWI (rCBV, CBF and MTT map) also showed perfusion defect in all rabbits. In four rabbits, the calculated square of perfusion defect in MTT map is larger than that of CBF map and in two rabbits, the calculated size of perfusion defect in MTT map and CBF map is same. Any rabbits do not show larger perfusion defect on CBF map than MTT map. In comparison between CBF map and DWI, 3 rabbits show larger square of lesion on CBF map than on DWI. The others shows same square of lesion on both technique. The size of lesion shown in 6 MTT map were larger than DWI. In three cases, the size of lesion shown in CBF map is equal to DWI. But these were smaller than MTT map. The calculated square of lesion in CBF map, equal to that of DWI and smaller than MTT map was three. And in one case, the calculated square of perfusion defect in MTT map was largest, and that of DWI was smallest. Conclusion : DWI and PWI may be useful in diagnosing hyperacute cerebral ischemic infarction and in e-valuating the cerebral hemodynamics in the rabbits.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.6
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• pp.1309-1323
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• 2023

Purpose To assess the quality of four images obtained using single-breath-hold (SBH), single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) and multiple-breath-hold (MBH) SSFSE with and without deep-learning based reconstruction (DLR) in patients with Crohn's disease. Materials and Methods This study included 61 patients who underwent MR enterography (MRE) for Crohn's disease. The following images were compared: SBH-SSFSE with (SBH-DLR) and without (SBH-conventional reconstruction [CR]) DLR and MBH-SSFSE with (MBH-DLR) and without (MBH-CR) DLR. Two radiologists independently reviewed the overall image quality, artifacts, sharpness, and motion-related signal loss using a 5-point scale. Three inflammatory parameters were evaluated in the ileum, the terminal ileum, and the colon. Moreover, the presence of a spatial misalignment was evaluated. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated at two locations for each sequence. Results DLR significantly improved the image quality, artifacts, and sharpness of the SBH images. No significant differences in scores between MBH-CR and SBH-DLR were detected. SBH-DLR had the highest SNR (p < 0.001). The inter-reader agreement for inflammatory parameters was good to excellent (κ = 0.76-0.95) and the inter-sequence agreement was nearly perfect (κ = 0.92-0.94). Misalignment artifacts were observed more frequently in the MBH images than in the SBH images (p < 0.001). Conclusion SBH-DLR demonstrated equivalent quality and performance compared to MBH-CR. Furthermore, it can be acquired in less than half the time, without multiple BHs and reduce slice misalignments.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2010

Purpose: Partial volume effect (PVE) is the phenomenon to lower the accuracy of image due to low estimate, which is to occur from PET/CT 3D image acquisition. The more resolution is declined and the lesion is small, the more it causes a big error. So that it can influence the test result. Studied the optimum image reconstruction method by using variation of parameter, which can influence the PVE. Materials and Methods: It acquires the image in each size spheres which is injected $^{18}F$-FDG to hot site and background in the ratio 4:1 for 10 minutes by using NEMA 2001 IEC phantom in GE Discovey STE 16. The iterative reconstruction is used and gives variety to iteration 2-50 times, subset number 1-56. The analysis's fixed region of interest in detail part of image and compute % difference and signal to noise ratio (SNR) using $SUV_{max}$. Results: It's measured that $SUV_{max}$ of 10 mm spheres, which is changed subset number to 2, 5, 8, 20, 56 in fixed iteration to times, SNR is indicated 0.19, 0.30, 0.40, 0.48, 0.45. As well as each sphere's of total SNR is measured 2.73, 3.38, 3.64, 3.63, 3.38. Conclusion: In iteration 6th to 20th, it indicates similar value in % difference and SNR ($3.47{\pm}0.09$). Over 20th, it increases the phenomenon, which is placed low value on $SUV_{max}$ through the influence of noise. In addition, the identical iteration, it indicates that SNR is high value in 8th to 20th in variation of subset number. Therefore, to reduce partial volume effect of small lesion, it can be declined the partial volume effect in iteration 6 times, subset number 8~20 times, considering reconstruction time.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2011

Nuclear medicine images (SPECT, PET) were widely used tool for assessment of myocardial viability and perfusion. However it had difficult to define accurate myocardial infarct region. The purpose of this study was to investigate methodological approach for automatic measurement of rat myocardial infarct size using polar map with adaptive threshold. Rat myocardial infarction model was induced by ligation of the left circumflex artery. PET images were obtained after intravenous injection of 37 MBq $^{18}F$-FDG. After 60 min uptake, each animal was scanned for 20 min with ECG gating. PET data were reconstructed using ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) 2D. To automatically make the myocardial contour and generate polar map, we used QGS software (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center). The reference infarct size was defined by infarction area percentage of the total left myocardium using TTC staining. We used three threshold methods (predefined threshold, Otsu and Multi Gaussian mixture model; MGMM). Predefined threshold method was commonly used in other studies. We applied threshold value form 10% to 90% in step of 10%. Otsu algorithm calculated threshold with the maximum between class variance. MGMM method estimated the distribution of image intensity using multiple Gaussian mixture models (MGMM2, ${\cdots}$ MGMM5) and calculated adaptive threshold. The infarct size in polar map was calculated as the percentage of lower threshold area in polar map from the total polar map area. The measured infarct size using different threshold methods was evaluated by comparison with reference infarct size. The mean difference between with polar map defect size by predefined thresholds (20%, 30%, and 40%) and reference infarct size were $7.04{\pm}3.44%$, $3.87{\pm}2.09%$ and $2.15{\pm}2.07%$, respectively. Otsu verse reference infarct size was $3.56{\pm}4.16%$. MGMM methods verse reference infarct size was $2.29{\pm}1.94%$. The predefined threshold (30%) showed the smallest mean difference with reference infarct size. However, MGMM was more accurate than predefined threshold in under 10% reference infarct size case (MGMM: 0.006%, predefined threshold: 0.59%). In this study, we was to evaluate myocardial infarct size in polar map using multiple Gaussian mixture model. MGMM method was provide adaptive threshold in each subject and will be a useful for automatic measurement of infarct size.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.371-379
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the change in the X-ray condition on the entrance surface dose (ESD) and dose area product (DAP) in the cine imaging of coronary angiography (CAG), and to analyze the usefulness of the condition change on the dose relation and image quality by measuring and analyzing the Signal to Noise Radio (SNR) and Contrast to Nois Ratio (CNR) of the angiographic images taken by the Image J program. Data were collected from 33 patients (24 males and 9 females) who underwent CAG at this hospital from November 2017 to March 2018. In terms of imaging condition and data acquisition, the ESD and DAP of group A with a high tube current of 397.2 mA and group B with a low tube current of 370.7 mA were retrospectively obtained for comparison and analysis. For the SNR and CNR measurement and analysis via Image J, the result values were derived by substituting the obtained data into the formula. The correlations among ESD and DAP according to the change in the imaging condition, SNR, and CNR were analyzed by using the SPSS statistical analysis software. The relationships of groups A and B, having a difference in the imaging condition, mA, with ESD ($A:483.5{\pm}60.1$; $B: 464.4{\pm}39.9$) and DAP ($A:84.3{\pm}10.7$; $B:81.5{\pm}7$) were not statistically significant (p>0.05). In the relationships with SNR and CNR based on Image J, the SNR ($5.451{\pm}0.529$) and CNR ($0.411{\pm}0.0432$) of the images obtained via the left coronary artery (LCA) imaging of group B showed differences of $0.475{\pm}0.096$ and $-0.048{\pm}0.0$, respectively, from the SNR ($4.976{\pm}0.433$) and CNR ($0.459{\pm}0.0431$) of the LCA of group A. However, the differences were not statistically significant (p<0.05). In the SNR and CNR obtained via the right coronary artery (RCA) imaging, the SNR ($4.731{\pm}0.773$) and CNR ($0.354{\pm}0.083$) of group A showed increased values of $1.491{\pm}0.405$ and $0.188{\pm}0.005$, respectively, from the SNR ($3.24{\pm}0.368$) and CNR ($0.166{\pm}0.033$) of group B. Among these, CNR was statistically significant (p<0.05). In the correlation analysis, statistically significant results were shown in SNR (LCA) and CNR (LCA); SNR (RCA) and CNR (RCA); ESD and DAP; ESD and sec; DAP and CNR (RCA); and DAP and sec (p<0.05). As a result of the analyses on the image quality evaluation and usefulness of the dose change, the SNR and CNR were increased in the RCA images of the CAG obtained by increasing the mA. Based on the result that CNR showed a statistically significant difference, it is believed that the contrast in the image quality can be further improved by increasing the mA in RCA imaging.