• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-127
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• 2023

Purpose: Gallium-68 (⁶⁸Ga) is increasingly used in nuclear medicine imaging for various conditions such as lymphoma and neuroendocrine tumors by labeling tracers like Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) and DOTA-TOC. However, compared to Fluorine-18 (¹⁸F) used in conventional nuclear medicine imaging, ⁶⁸Ga has lower spatial resolution and relatively higher Signal to Background Ratio (SBR). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the optimized parameters and reconstruction methods for PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer through model-based image evaluation. Materials and Methods: Based on clinical images of ⁶⁸Ga-PSMA PET/CT, a NEMA/IEC 2008 PET phantom model was prepared with a Hot vs Background (H/B) ratio of 10:1. Images were acquired for 9 minutes in list mode using DMIDR (GE, Milwaukee WI, USA). Subsequently, reconstructions were performed for 1 to 8 minutes using OS-EM (Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization) + TOF (Time of Flight) + Sharp IR (VPFX-S), and BSREM (Block Sequential Regularized Expectation Maximization) + TOF + Sharp IR (QCFX-S-400), followed by comparative evaluation. Based on the previous experimental results, images were reconstructed for BSREM + TOF + Sharp IR / 2 minutes (QCFX-S-2min) with varying β-strength values from 100 to 700. The image quality was evaluated using AMIDE (freeware, Ver.1.0.1) and Advanced Workstation (GE, USA). Results: Images reconstructed with QCFX-S-400 showed relatively higher values for SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio), CNR (Contrast to Noise Ratio), count, RC (Recovery Coefficient), and SUV (Standardized Uptake Value) compared to VPFX-S. SNR, CNR, and SUV exhibited the highest values at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. RC showed the highest values for a 10 mm sphere at 2 minutes/bed acquisition time. For small spheres of 10 mm and 13 mm, an inverse relationship between β-strength increase and count was observed. SNR and CNR peaked at β-strength 400 and then decreased, while SUV and RC exhibited a normal distribution based on sphere size for β-strength values of 400 and above. Conclusion: Based on the experiments, PET/CT imaging using the ⁶⁸Ga radiotracer yielded the most favorable quantitative and qualitative results with a 2 minutes/bed acquisition time and BSREM reconstruction, particularly when applying β-strength 400. The application of BSREM can enhance accurate quantification and image quality in ⁶⁸Ga PET/CT imaging, and an optimization process tailored to each institution's imaging objectives appears necessary.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.36 no.1 s.114
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• pp.1-13
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• 2006

Three-dimensional (3-D) laser scans can provide a 3-D image of the face and it is efficient in examining specific structures of the craniofacial soft tissues. Due to the increasing concerns with the soft tissues and expansion of the treatment range, a need for 3-D soft tissue analysis has become urgent. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the scanning error of the Vivid 900 (Minolta, Tokyo, Japan) 3-D laser scanner and Rapidform program (Inus Technology Inc., Seoul, Korea) and to evaluate the mean error and the magnification percentage of the image obtained from 3-D laser scans. In addition, soft tissue landmarks that are easy to designate and reproduce in 3-D images of normal, Class II and Class III malocclusion patients were obtained. The conclusions are as follows; scanning errors of the Vivid 900 3-D laser scanner using a manikin were 0.16 mm in the X axis, 0.15 mm in the Y axis, and 0.15 mm in the Z axis. In the comparison of actual measurements from the manikin and the 3-D image obtained from the Rapidform program, the mean error was 0.37 mm and the magnification was 0.66%. Except for the right soft tissue gonion from the 3-D image, errors of all soft tissue landmarks were within 2.0 mm. Glabella, soft tissue nasion, endocanthion, exocanthion, pronasale, subnasale, nasal alare, upper lip point, cheilion, lower lip point, soft tissue B point, soft tissue pogonion, soft tissue menton and preaurale had especially small errors. Therefore, the Rapidform program can be considered a clinically efficient tool to produce and measure 3-D images. The soft tissue landmarks proposed above are mostly anatomically important points which are also easily reproducible. These landmarks can be beneficial in 3-D diagnosis and analysis.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.43 no.6 s.312
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• pp.28-35
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• 2006

Statistical models of shape variability based on active shape models (ASMs) have been successfully utilized to perform segmentation and recognition tasks in two-dimensional (2D) images. Three-dimensional (3D) model-based approaches are more promising than 2D approaches since they can bring in more realistic shape constraints for recognizing and delineating the object boundary. For 3D model-based approaches, however, building the 3D shape model from a training set of segmented instances of an object is a major challenge and currently it remains an open problem in building the 3D shape model, one essential step is to generate a point distribution model (PDM). Corresponding landmarks must be selected in all1 training shapes for generating PDM, and manual determination of landmark correspondences is very time-consuming, tedious, and error-prone. In this paper, we propose a novel automatic method for generating 3D statistical shape models. Given a set of training 3D shapes, we generate a 3D model by 1) building the mean shape fro]n the distance transform of the training shapes, 2) utilizing a tetrahedron method for automatically selecting landmarks on the mean shape, and 3) subsequently propagating these landmarks to each training shape via a distance labeling method. In this paper, we investigate the accuracy and compactness of the 3D model for the human liver built from 50 segmented individual CT data sets. The proposed method is very general without such assumptions and can be applied to other data sets.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2015

To obtain the best SNR (signal to noise ratio) due to changes in CTDI (computed tomography dose index) made for the purpose of setting the optimum image obtained by reducing the dose in abdominal CT. Abdominal CT scans of 59 patients a $400-499cm^2$ (n = 12), $500-599cm^2$ (n = 21), $600-699cm^2$ (n = 17), $700-799cm^2$ (n = 9) were separated by four groups and the effective dose was used in the Excel to get the area of the patient using the ImageJ program. Patients of CTDI, DLP, SNR, the effective dose were analyzed. Abdominal CT area was increased to 13 mGy in CTDI is 7.3 mGy, DLP to 732 in $394.4mGy{\cdot}cm$, also effective dose was 5.9 mSv increase in 11mSv. SNR is 15 dB was maintained at 12.7. CTDI according to the average of the abdominal area of 8.9 mGy, the average of the DLP was $481.54mGy{\cdot}cm$, the effective dose is calculated to be 7.2 mSV. Effective dose was calculated by multiplying the load factor of DLP in the abdomen showed no statistically significant difference of (p < .05), there was a significant difference in SNR (p > . 05). To improve image quality of abdominal CT scan image in consideration of the CTDI according to the volume of the patient it should be able to reduce the radiation exposure of the patients.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.474-480
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• 2004

The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the remineralizing effects of three glass ionomer cements (high filled glass ionomer cement, compomer, resin modified glass ionomer cement) with resin composite (control group) on incipient interproximal caries, and to assess long-term change of remineralization effect, in each material, evaluated by microtomography. Proximal restoration was simulated with tooth specimen and Glass Ionomer Cements. And each of these groups was placed into a closed container with artificial saliva at $37^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0 for a time period of thirty days with constant circulation. At the end of thirty and sixty days, tomographic images were taken from these specimens with micro CT scanner. Materials used in this study were as follows. Group 1: Fuji IX GP (GC Corp., Tokyo, Japan) Group 2: Vitremer (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA) Group 3: F2000 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA) Group 4: Z250 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, Minn., USA) Using density-measuring program, the micro-density of carious lesions on the specimens were measured. The mean density changes of each group were compared to the other groups to evaluate the effect of remineralization. The results were as follows: 1. The lesion density of all groups increased. 2. The mean density increase of Group 1, 2, 3 were higher than that of Group 4 every month(p<0.05). 3. There were significant differences of density increase among glass ionomer group(Group 1, 2, 3).

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.321-329
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• 1997

Purpose : It is well known that the risk of lymph nodes metastases to head and neck cancers are influenced by the location and size of the Primary tumor. as well as the degree and types of histological differentiation. However, data on the statistical analyses of lymph node metastases from the head and neck cancers among Korean Population are not available at present. In order to obtain current status of such data, we have analyzed cancer patients at the department of radiation oncology, korea universityhospital for radiation treatment. Materials and Methods : We have evaluated nine-hundred and ninetyseven (997) head and neck cancer Patients who visited to the Department of radiation oncology, between November 1981 to December 1995. After careful physical examinations and CAT scan, Patients were divided into two groups, those with positive lymph node metastases and with negative lymph node metastases. The nodal status were classified according to the TNM system of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Besults : Four-hundred and sixteen Patients out of the 997 patients were lymph node positive $(42\%)$ and 581 patients were lymph node negative $(58\%)$ when they were first presented at the department of radiation oncelogy. According to the AJCC classification, the distribution of positive lymph node is as follow: Nl:106 $(25.5\%),\;N2a:100\;(24\%),\;N2b:68\;(16.4\%),\;N2c:69\;(16.6\%),\;3:73\;(15\%).$ respectively. The frequency of lymph node metastases according to the primary sites is as follow : larynx 283 $(28.5\%)$, paranasal sinuses: 182 $(18\%),\;oropharynx:144\;(14.5\%)\;nasopharynx:122(12\%),\;oral\;cavity\;92\;(9\%),\;hypopharynx:71\;(7\%),\;falivary\;gland:58\;(6\%)$ unknown primary:31 $(3\%),\;skin:\;14(2\%)$,. The most frequent Primary site for the positive Iymph node metastases was nasopharynx $(71\%)$ followed by hypopharynx $(69\%),\;oropharynx\;(64\%),\;oral\;cavity\;(39\%)$ The most common histologic type was squamous cell carcinoma (652/997: $65.4\%$). followed by malignant lymphoma $(109/997:11\%)$. Conclusion : Statistical results of lymph node metastases from head and neck cancer at our department were very similar to those obtained from other countries. It is concluded that the location of Primary cancer influences sites of metastases on head and neck, and stage of the primary cancer also influences the development of metastatic lesions. Since the present study is limited on the data collected from one institute. further statistical analyses on Korean cancer Patients are warrented.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.371-377
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• 2001

Purpose: One or more abnormal vertebrae detected on bone scintigraphy is a common finding in clinical practice, and it could pose a diagnostic dilemma especially in cancer patients. as either metastasis or benign disease may cause scintigraphic abnormality. The purpose of this study was to determine whether additional spine SPECT has a role in differentiating malignant from benign lesions in patients with back pain. Materials and Methods: We reviewed spine SPECT studios obtained over a three-year period in 108 patients. Among them, forty-five patients with abnormal SPECT and clinically followed records were evaluated (20 cancer patients were included). Uptake patterns were classified as follows: 1. Body: diffusely increased uptake, linear increased uptake of end plate, segmental increased uptake, and cold defect, 2. Posterior element: posterior to body (pedicle), posterior to Intervertebral disc space (facet joint), and spinous process. Lesions were correlated with radiological findings and with final diagnosis. Results: Sixty-nine bone lesions were detected on SFECT images, including 18 metastases, 28 degenerative diseases and 21 compression fractures. Cold defect (6) and segmental increased uptake (5) were dominant findings in metastasis; linear increased uptake (12), and facet joint uptake (15) were in degenerative change; and diffuse increased uptake (9), and linear increased uptake (9) were in compression fracture. Conclusion: Cold defect and segmental increased uptake of body were characteristic findings of metastasis, but care should be taken because compression fracture also shows segmental increased uptake in some cases. Degenerative disease was easily diagnosed because of the typical finding of linear increased uptake of end plate and facet joint. Therefore, additional bone SPECT after planar bone scan would be helpful for differentiating metastasis from benign condition in cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.189-194
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• 2011

This study used magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to quantitatively analyze the neural fiber tractography according to the age of normal corpus callosum and to evaluate of usefulness. The research was intended for the applicants of 60 persons that was in a good state of health with not brain or other disease. The test parameters were TR: 6650 ms, TE: 66 ms, FA: $90^{\circ}$, NEX: 2, thickness: 2 mm, no gap, FOV: 220 mm, b-value: $800s/mm^2$, sense factor: 2, acquisition matrix size: $2{\times}2{\times}2mm^3$, and the test time was 3 minutes 46 seconds. The evaluation method was constructed the color-cored FA map include to the skull vertex from the skull base in scan range. We set up the five ROI of corpus callosum of genu, anterior-mid body, posterior-mid body, isthmus, and splenium, tracking, respectively, and to quantitatively measured the length of neural fiber. As a result, the length of neural fiber, for the corpus callosum of genu was 20's: $61.8{\pm}6.8$, 30's: $63.9{\pm}3.8$, 40's: $65.5{\pm}6.4$, 50's: $57.8{\pm}6.0$, 60's: $58.9{\pm}4.5$, more than 70's: $54.1{\pm}8.1mm$, for the anterior-mid body was 20's: $54.8{\pm}8.8$, 30's: $58.5{\pm}7.9$, 40's: $54.8{\pm}7.8$, 50's: $56.1{\pm}10.2$, 60's: $48.5{\pm}6.2$, more than 70's: $48.6{\pm}8.3mm$, for the posterior-mid body was 20's: $72.7{\pm}9.1$, 30's: $61.6{\pm}9.1$, 40's: $60.9{\pm}10.5$, 50's: $61.4{\pm}11.7$, 60's: $54.9{\pm}10.0$, more than 70's: $53.1{\pm}10.5mm$, for the isthmus was 20's: $71.5{\pm}17.4$, 30's: $74.1{\pm}14.9$, 40's: $73.6{\pm}14.2$, 50's: $66.3{\pm}12.9$, 60's: $56.5{\pm}11.2$, more than 70's: $56.8{\pm}11.3mm$, and for the splenium was 20's: $82.6{\pm}6.8$, 30's: $86.9{\pm}6.4$, 40's: $83.1{\pm}7.1$, 50's: $81.5{\pm}7.4$, 60's: $78.6{\pm}6.0$, more than 70's: $80.55{\pm}8.6mm$. The length of neural fiber for normal corpus callosum were statistically significant in the genu(P=0.001), posterior-mid body(P=0.009), and istumus(P=0.012) of corpus callosum. In order of age, the length of neural fiber increased from 30s to 40s, as one grows older tended to decrease. For this reason, the nerve cells of brain could be confirmed through the neural fiber tractography to progress actively in middle age.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 2003

Background: Lung-to-heart uptake ratio (LHR) in $^{201}Tl-chloride$ myocardial perfusion scan is believed to be a reliable marker for left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, but the clinical value of LHR is controversial for $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ imaging. Furthermore, most of results suggesting lung uptake of $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ as a potential marker for LV dysfunction used immediate post-stress images, instead of routine images acquired 1 hour after tracer injection. The goal of our study was to investigate whether LHR evaluated with routine gated $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ imaging can reflect the degree of perfusion defect or left ventricular performance. Subjects and Methods: 241 patients underwent exercise $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ myocardial SPECT were classified into normal myocardial perfusion (NP, n=135) and abnormal myocardial perfusion (AP, n=106) group according to the presence of perfusion defect. LHR was calculated from anterior projection image taken at 1-hour after injection. Two legions of interest (ROIs) were placed on left lung above LV and on myocardium showing the highest radioactivity. Subjects were classified by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), as Gr-I: >50%, Gr-II: 36-50%, Gr-III: <36% and by summed stress score (SSS), as Gr-A: <4, Gr-B: 4-8, Gr-C: 9-13, Gr-D: >13, LHR was compared among these groups. Results: In NP group(n=135), LHR, were higher in men than women ($men:\;0.311{\pm}0.03,\;women:\;0.296{\pm}0.03,\;p<0.05$). Significant difference, in LHR were found between NP and AP groups both for men and women ($men:\;0.311{\pm}0.03\;vs\;.\;0.331{\pm}0.06,\;women:\;0.296{\pm}0.03\;vs.\;0.321{\pm}0.07.\;p<0.05$). There were weak negative correlation between LHR and LVEF (r=-0.342, p<0.05) and weak positive correlation between LHR and SSS (r=0.478, p<0.05) in men, but not in women (LVEF: r=-0.279, p=0.100, SSS: r=0.276, p=0.103). Increased LHR was defined when for more than mean + 2SD value ($men{\geq}0.38,\;women{\geq}0.37$) of the LHR of the subject with normal perfusion. Increased LHR were observed more frequently in subjects with lower LVEF (Gr-I: 11.1%, Gr-II: 27.0%, Gr-III: 35.4%, p<0.05) and higher SSS(Gr-A: 14.0%, Gr-B: 5.7%, Gr-C: 18.2%, Gr-D: 40.7%, p<0.05). Conclusions: LHRs obtained from routine $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ gated SPECT images were weakly correlated with LVEF and perfusion defect. Although significant overlaps were observed between normal and abnormal perfusion group, LHRs could be used as an indirect marker of severe perfusion defect or reduced left ventricular function.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 2006

Purpose: To demonstrate that water bolus in the patient surface can decrease the dose inhomogeneity by patient surface large tissue defect when the surface is in an electron-beam field. And We tried to find a easy way to water control. Methods and Materials: To demonstrate the use of water bolus in the irregular surface clinically, the case of a patient with myxofibrosarcoma of the chest wall who was treated with electrons. We obtained dose distribution using missing tissue option of PINACLE 6.2b (ADAC, USA). We fabricate a Mev-green for water bolus in patient with defect of tissue. Then put the water bolus which is vinyl packed water into the designed Mev-green. We peformed CT scan with CT-simulator. Three-dimensional (3D) dose distributions with and without water bolus in the large irregular chest wall were calculated for a representative patient. Resulting dose distributions and dose-volume histograms of water bolus were compared with missing tissue option and non bolus plans. We fabricate a new water control device. Results: Controlled Water bolus markedly decrease the dose heterogeneity, and minimizes normal tissue exposure caused by the surface irregularities of the chest wall mass. In the test case, The non bolus plan has a maximum target dose of 132%. After applying water bolus, the maximum target dose has been reduced substantially to 110.4%. The maximum target dose was reduced by 21.6% using this technique. Conclusion: The results showed that controlled water bolus could significantly improve the dose homogeneity in the PTV for patients treated with electron therapy using water control device. This technique may reduce the incidence of normal organ complications that occur after electron-beam therapy in irregular surface. And our new device shows handiness of water control.