• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 2016

Background: Whole-body counters are widely used to evaluate internal contamination of the internal presence of gamma-emitting radionuclides. In internal dosimetry, it is a basic requirement that quality control procedures be applied to verify the reliability of the measured results. The implementation of intercomparison programs plays an important role in quality control, and the accuracy of the calibration and the reliability of the results should be verified through intercomparison. In this study, we evaluated the reliability of 2 whole-body counting systems using 2 calibration methods. Materials and Methods: In this study, 2 whole-body counters were calibrated using a reference male bottle manikin absorption (BOMAB) phantom and a Radiation Management Corporation (RMC-II) phantom. The reliability of the whole-body counting systems was evaluated by performing an intercomparison with International Atomic Energy Agencyto assess counting efficiency according to the type of the phantom. Results and Discussion: In the analysis of counting efficiency using the BOMAB phantom, the performance criteria of the counters were satisfied. The relative bias of activity for all radionuclides was -0.16 to 0.01 in the Fastscan and -0.01 to 0.03 in the Accuscan. However, when counting efficiency was analyzed using the RMC- II phantom, the relative bias of $^{241}Am$ activity was -0.49 in the Fastscan and 0.55 in the Accuscan, indicating that its performance criteria was not satisfactory. Conclusion: The intercomparison process demonstrated the reliability of whole-body counting systems calibrated with a BOMAB phantom. However, when the RMC-II phantom was used, the accuracy of measurements decreased for low-energy nuclides. Therefore, it appears that the RMC-II phantom should only be used for efficiency calibration for high-energy nuclides. Moreover, a novel phantom capable of matching the efficiency of the BOMAB phantom in low-energy nuclides should be developed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.8
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• pp.3210-3223
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• 2024

International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recently developed the adult and pediatric meshtype reference computational phantoms (MRCPs) in high-quality/fidelity mesh format, featuring high deformability into various body sizes and poses. Utilizing this feature, the adult MRCPs-based body-size-dependent phantom library was developed for individualized dosimetry. To complete the full phantom library set, the present study produced the pediatric-MRCPs-based body-size-dependent pediatric phantom library. The library comprises a total of 637 phantoms (356 males and 281 females) with varying standing heights and body weights, covering a wide range of body sizes (i.e., including from 1st to 99th percentile height and weight values) for infants, children, and adolescents, offering a realistic representation of body shapes by reflecting ten secondary anthropometric parameters. The phantoms were automatically constructed utilizing automatic deformation program. The dosimetric impact of the library was investigated by calculating organ doses for external exposures to broad parallel photon beams in anterior-posterior direction. Compared with the values of the pediatric MRCPs, significant differences were observed at energies <0.05 MeV, showing larger values for underweight phantom and smaller values for obese phantom. The results highlight the importance of using the pediatric phantom library for accurate dose estimates of individual children with various body sizes.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.21-27
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• 2004

This study was conducted to estimate absorbed radiation doses associated with CT examinations. We compared CT dose index between single detector CT and multi detector CT. To establish radiation dose criteria in CT examination in Korea, we measured radiation dose for CT examinations in Seoul and kyungki-do. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. Averaged CTDIW value per 100 mAs was $13.5{\pm}3.2\;mGy$, and ranged from 8.1 mGy to 19.1 mGy in head phantom, was $7.1{\pm}2.0\;mGy$, and ranged from 3.7 mGy to 10.9 mGy in body phantom. 2. CTDIW was 3.2 mGy(1.26 times) larger in multi detector CT than single detector CT in head phantom, and 2.1 mGy(1.34 times) larger in body phantom. 3. The dose was the highest in 4 channel multi detector CT, and followed 8 channel multi detector CT, 16 channel multi detector CT and single detector CT in head phantom. And the dose was the highest in 4 channel and 8 channel multi detector CT, and followed 16 channel multi detector CT and single detector CT in body phantom.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2018

This study examined the properties of photons and the dose distribution in a human body via a simulation where the total body irradiation(TBI) is performed on a pediatric anthropomorphic phantom and a child size water phantom. Based on this, we tried to find the optimal photon beam energy and material for beam spoiler. In this study, MCNPX (Ver. 2.5.0), a simulation program based on the Monte Carlo method, was used for the photon beam analysis and TBI simulation. Several different beam spoiler materials (plexiglass, copper, lead, aluminium) were used, and three different electron beam energies were used in the simulated accelerator to produce photon beams (6, 10, and 15 MeV). Moreover, both a water phantom for calculating the depth-dependent dosage and a pediatric anthropomorphic phantom for calculating the organ dosage were used. The homogeneity of photon beam was examined in different depths for the water phantom, which shows the 20%-40% difference for each material. Next, the org an doses on pediatric anthropomorphic phantom were examined, and the results showed that the average dose for each part of the body was skin 17.7 Gy, sexual gland 15.2 Gy, digestion 13.8 Gy, liver 11.8 Gy, kidney 9.2 Gy, lungs 6.2 Gy, and brain 4.6 Gy. Moreover, as for the organ doses according to materials, the highest dose was observed in lead while the lowest was observed in plexiglass. Plexiglass in current use is considered the most suitable material, and a 6 or 10 MV photon energy plan tailored to the patient condition is considered more suitable than a higher energy plan.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.189-193
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• 2020

An MR-based attenuation correction (MRAC) map plays an important role in quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) image evaluation in PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. However, the MRAC map is affected by the magnetic field inhomogeneity of MRIs. This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of MRAC maps of physical phantoms on PET/MRI images. Phantom measurements were performed using the Siemens Biograph mMR. The modular type physical phantoms that provide assembly versatility for phantom construction were scanned in a four-channel Body Matrix coil. The MRAC map was generated using the two-point Dixon-based segmentation method for whole-body imaging. The modular phantoms were scanned in compact and non-compact assembly configurations. In addition, the phantoms were scanned repeatedly to generate MRAC maps. The acquired MRAC maps show differently assigned values for void areas. An incorrect assignment of a void area was shown on a locally compact space between phantoms. The assigned MRAC values were distorted using a wide field-of-view (FOV). The MRAC values also differed after repeated scans. However, the erroneous MRAC values appeared outside of phantom, except for a large FOV. The MRAC map of the phantom was affected by phantom configuration and the number of scans. A quantitative study using a phantom in a PET/MRI system should be performed after evaluation of the MRAC map characteristics.

• International Journal of Contents
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.52-59
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• 2012

This study uses digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) files acquired after CT scan to obtain the absorbed dose distribution inside the body by using the patient's actual anatomical data; uses geometry and tracking (Geant)4 as a way to obtain the accurate absorbed dose distribution inside the body. This method is easier to establish the radioprotection plan through estimating the absorbed dose distribution inside the body compared to the evaluation of absorbed dose using thermo-luminescence dosimeter (TLD) with inferior reliability and accuracy because many variables act on result values with respect to the evaluation of the patient's absorbed dose distribution in diagnostic imaging and the evaluation of absorbed dose using phantom; can contribute to improving reliability accuracy and reproducibility; it makes significance in that it can implement the actual patient's absorbed dose distribution, not just mere estimation using mathematical phantom or humanoid phantom. When comparing the absorbed dose in polymethly methacrylate (PMMA) phantom measured in metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeter for verification of Geant4 and the result of Geant4 simulation, there was $0.46{\pm}4.69%$ ($15{\times}15cm^2$), and $-0.75{\pm}5.19%$ ($20{\times}20cm^2$) difference according to the depth. This study, through the simulation by means of Geant4, suggests a new way to calculate the actual dose of radiation exposure of patients through DICOM interface.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-45
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• 2018

Purpose In this study, we evaluated image by applying with and without point spread function algorithm(PSF) according to reconstruction type. Materials and Methods Biograph mMR (Siemens, Germany) was used as PET/MR scanner. For phantom study, we used NEMA IEC Body phantom maintaining radioactivity ratio (hotsphere:background = 8:1). To evaluate phantom image quality, percent contrast recovery and signal to noise ratio (SNR) were used by drawing ROI to 4 spheres. In clinical study, the 20 patients who underwent simultaneous PET/MR was selected and set the ROI at liver. we evaluated images as SNR. Results In the phantom results, The percent contrast recovery applying PSF algoritm was high 5 % compared to without PSF algoritm and SNR was also high 11 %. In the clinical study result, we confirmed that The SNR applying PSF algoritm was high 5 % compared to without PSF algoritm. Conclusion We need to simulate a lot of phantom study and clinical analysis to improve image quality for PET/MRI.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.453-460
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to determine the dose distribution and image quality according to slice thickness and BC(beam collimation) in the gantry aperture. CT scans were performed with a 64-slice MDCT(Brilliance 64, Philips, Cleveland, USA) scanner. To determine the dose distribution according to BC, a ionization chamber was placed at isocenter and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm positions from the isocenter in the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock directions. The dose distribution for phantom scan was also measured using CT head and body dose phantom with five holes at the center of the phantom and the positions of the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock directions. The image noise measurement for different BCs was performed using an AAPM CT phantom. Water-filled block of the phantom was moved by 5 cm or 10 cm to the 12 o'clock direction, and the image noise was measured at the center of the phantom, and the points of 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock direction respectively. Some points were placed beyond the scan field of view (SFOV), so that measurement was not possible at that points. The results are as follows: The CTDIw showed a larger decrease as the source goes farther from the iso-center or the BC became wider. The CTDIw depends on the BC width more than the number of the channel of a detector array. The value of CTDIW decreased with increasing BC, but the value decreased 16.6~31.9% in the head phantom scan in air scan and 51.0~64.5% in the body phantom scan. The value of the noise was 3.9~5.9 in the head and 5.3~7.4 in the body except for BC of $2{\times}0.5\;mm$, regardless of the degree of deviation from the iso-center. When a subject was located within the SFOV, the position did not significantly affect image quality even if the subject was out of the center.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.651-660
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to create a phantom with a HU value similar to that of the human Femur using a 3D printer to replace the existing pig bone. A total of 372 people were analyzed to determine the HU value of human Femur. Using a 3D printer, a human bone model phantom was fabricated using PLA-Cu 20% and subjected to CT examination. Pig bones were 6 months old pigs, and bones 2 days after slaughter were used. As a result of the examination, the 3D printing phantom made with 80% of the internal filling showed a similar value to all data of the human body (p<0.05), and there was a difference from the pig bone (p>0.05). In addition, in the case of the HU value of Femur by age group, it was confirmed that the value of HU decreased as the age group increased (p<0.05). 3D printing and HU values confirmed a weak negative correlation with respect to the stacking height, but confirmed a strong positive correlation (R² = 0.996) with 182.13±1.290 in the inner filling (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was confirmed that the human body model phantom using 3D printing can exhibit a similar level of HU value to the human body compared to the existing pig bone phantom, and this study will provide basic data for the production of a human body model phantom using a 3D printer.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.272-274
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• 2012

Phantom limb pain is a painful sensation that is perceived in a body part that no longer exists. To control this pain, many methods have been used such as medication, physical treatment, nerve block, neuromodulation, surgical treatment and mirror therapy. However, until now, there effects have been uncertain. We report the successful reduction of phantom limb pain using mirror therapy when other treatments initially failed to control the pain.