• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to find the current problems of positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) data on CD for inter-hospital transfer. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 746 consecutive $^{18}F$-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT data CDs from 56 hospitals referred to our department for image interpretation. The formats and contents of PET/CT data CDs were reviewed and the email questionnaire survey about this was performed. Results: PET/CT data CDs from 21 of 56 hospitals(37.5%) included all transaxial CT and PET images with DICOM standard format which were required for authentic interpretation. PET/CT data from the others included only secondary capture images or fusion PET/CT images. According to this survey, the main reason of limited PET/CT data on CD for inter-hospital transfer was that the data volume of PET/CT was too large to upload to the Picture Archiving and Communication System. Conclusion: The majority of hospitals provided limited PET/CT data on CD for inter-hospital transfer, which could be inadequate for accurate interpretation and clinical decision making. It is necessary to standardize the format of PET/CT data on CD for inter-hospital transfer including all transaxial CT and PET images with DICOM standard format.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

Purpose Auto exposure control (AEC) in SPECT/CT automatically controls the exposure dose (mA) according to patient's shape and size. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of AEC in SPECT/CT on exposure dose reduction and image quality. Materials and Methods The model of SPECT/CT used in this study was Discovery 670 (GE, USA), Smart mA for AEC; and $^{99m}Tc$ as a radioisotope. To compare SPECT and CT images by CT exposure dose variation, we used a standard technique set at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10, 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 mA, and AEC at 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp, 10-250 mA. To evaluate resolution and contrast of SPECT images, triple line phantom and flangeless Esser PET phantom were used. For CT images, noise and uniformity were checked by anthropomrphic chest phantom. For dose evaluation to find DLP value, anthropomorphic chest phantom was used and the CT protocol of torso was applied by standard technique (120 kVp, 100 mA) and AEC (120 kVp, 10-250 mA). Results When standard and AEC were applied, the resolutions at SPECT images with attenuation correction (AC) were the same as FWHM by center 3.65 mm, left 3.48 mm, right 3.61 mm. Contrasts of standard and AEC showed no significant difference: standard 53.5, 29.8, 22.5, 15.8, 6.0, AEC 53.5, 29.6, 22.4, 15.7, 6.1 In CT images, noise values at standard and AEC were 15.4 and 18.5 respectively. The application of AEC increases noise but the value of coefficient variation were 33.8, 24.9 respectively, obtaining uniform noise image. The values of DLP at standard and AEC were 426.78 and 352.09 each, which shows that the application of AEC decreases exposure dose more than standard by approximately 18%. Conclusion The results of our study show that there was no difference of AC in SPECT images based on the CT exposure dose variation at SPECT/CT images. It was found that the increased CT exposure dose leads to the improvement of CT image quality but also increases the exposure dose. Thus, the use of AEC in SPECT/CT contributes to obtaining equal AC SPECT images, and uniform noise in CT images while reducing exposure dose.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2022

Sparse-view computed tomography (CT) imaging technique is able to reduce radiation dose, ensure the uniformity of image characteristics among projections and suppress noise. However, the reconstructed images obtained by the sparse-view CT imaging technique suffer from severe artifacts, resulting in the distortion of image quality and internal structures. In this study, we proposed a convolutional neural network (CNN) with wavelet transformation and residual learning for reducing artifacts in sparse-view CT image, and the performance of the trained model was quantitatively analyzed. The CNN consisted of wavelet transformation, convolutional and inverse wavelet transformation layers, and input and output images were configured as sparse-view CT images and residual images, respectively. For training the CNN, the loss function was calculated by using mean squared error (MSE), and the Adam function was used as an optimizer. Result images were obtained by subtracting the residual images, which were predicted by the trained model, from sparse-view CT images. The quantitative accuracy of the result images were measured in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM). The results showed that the trained model is able to improve the spatial resolution of the result images as well as reduce artifacts in sparse-view CT images effectively. Also, the trained model increased the PSNR and SSIM by 8.18% and 19.71% in comparison to the imaging model trained without wavelet transformation and residual learning, respectively. Therefore, the imaging model proposed in this study can restore the image quality of sparse-view CT image by reducing artifacts, improving spatial resolution and quantitative accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.891-899
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• 2023

Purpose To survey perceptions of certified physicians on the protocol of chest CT in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) using a negative pressure isolation stretcher (NPIS). Materials and Methods This study collected questionnaire responses from a total of 27 certified physicians who had previously performed chest CT with NPIS in COVID-19 isolation hospitals. Results The nine surveyed hospitals performed an average of 116 chest CT examinations with NPIS each year. Of these, an average of 24 cases (21%) were contrast chest CT. Of the 9 pulmonologists we surveyed, 5 (56%) agreed that patients who showed abnormalities in serum D-dimer required contrast chest CT. All 9 surveyed radiologists agreed that the image quality of the chest CT with NPIS was sufficient for CT image interpretation regarding pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. Furthermore, in our 9 surveyed infectionologists, 5 (56%) agreed that a risk of secondary infection in the CT room after temporary opening of NPIS could be prevented through a process of disinfection. Conclusion Experienced physicians considered that the effects of NIPS on chest CT image quality was minimal in patients with COVID-19, and the risk of CT room contamination was easily controlled.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.26-33
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• 2005

의료기기들 중 기능 영상을 보기 위해 이용되는 PET 장치에서 획득된 결과 영상은 선명하지 않기 때문에, 해부학적 구조와 기능 영상을 동시에 보기 위해서는 선명한 영상을 제공하는 CT 와 PET 장치와 하나로 통합하여 영상을 획득하게 되었다. 그래서 한번의 촬영으로 PET/CT 영상을 얻을 수 있게 된 것이다. 서로 다른 특성을 갖는 이미지를 융합하게 되면 보다 정확한 진단을 내리는데 많은 도움을 준다. 본 논문은 CT 영상에서 폐 영역을 반 자동(Semi-Auto)으로 분리한 후 PET 영상에 자동으로 융합하는 방법을 제안한다. 반 자동 폐 영역 분할을 위해 1 차원 신호 처리 기법과 Seeded Region Growing 기법을 사용한다. 수행된 폐 분리 결과는 몸의 해부학적 구조를 보기 위해 사용되는 CT 영상에서 추출한 폐 영역을 기능을 보기 위한 PET 영상에 퓨전 함으로서 진단 전문가가 보다 정확한 진단을 하는데 도움이 될 것이다. 또한 이러한 기능을 쉽게 구현하고 사용할 수 있도록 시각 프로그래밍 기법을 접목하였다.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.7 no.7
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• pp.114-123
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• 2007

The increasing use of computed tomography (CT) as a diagnostic tool creates the need from and efficient means of evaluating the performance of the CT scanner now in use. Accordingly, acceptance testing and quality assurance of CT is of great importance. The aim of this study is to analyze of AAPM CT performance phantom in the CT accreditation program. The modular phantom offers the CT system with which to measure eight performance parameters. The parameters are listed of CT attenuation coefficient of water, noise, uniformity, spatial resolution, contrast resolution, slice thickness (5 and 10 mm), artifacts and alignment. The phantom evaluation was done by two radiologists. The acceptance testing protocol described here in demonstrates the successful of the guidelines for the quality assurance using AAPM CT performance phantom. We need to be upgraded for the CT image quality and make the standard reference of the quality assurance in the CT.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.257-267
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• 2006

암은 한국에서 전체 사망률의 가장 많은 원인 중의 하나이며 이 중 간세포 암은 암에 의한 사망원인 중 성별에 관계없이 위암 다음으로 사망률이 높다. 특히 $40{\sim}60$세까지 중장년 기에서의 간암 발생률은 세계에서 가장 높은 발병률을 보이고 있으며 OECD 국가 중에서 간암 사망률로 최고 수치를 기록하고 있다. 본 논문에서는 조영증강 CT 영상에서 간암을 자동으로 추축하는 방법을 제안하여 전문의를 보조할 수 있는 보조 전문가 시스템으로서의 유용성을 확인하고자 한다. 흉부로부터 5mm 간격으로 약 $40{\sim}50$장 정도 촬영한 조영 증강 CT 영상으로부터 늑골의 정보를 이용하여 장기들의 정보만으로 구성된 내부 영역과 늑골 및 피하지방층, 그리고 배경으로 구성된 외부 영역을 구분한다. 간 영역의 정보가 포함된 내부 영역에서 명암도와 명암의 분포도, 간의 형태 및 위치 정보, 그리고 각 슬라이드를 기준으로 이전 CT 영상과 다음 CT 영상의 정보를 이용하여 간 영역을 추출한다. 간암은 추출된 간 영역에 형태기반 보간법을 적용하여 CT 촬영시 생기는 슬라이드 사이의 5mm 공간정보를 복원한 후, 각 슬라이드를 기준으로 이전 CT 영상과 다음 CT 영상의 정보와 간암이 가지는 명암도 및 형태학적 특정 정보를 이용하여 추출한다. 제안된 간 영역 및 간암 추출 방법을 전문의가 판별한 것과 비교 분석한 결과, 전문의를 보조 할 수 있는 보조 전문가 시스템으로서 효율적임을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.12 no.2 s.46
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• pp.123-130
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• 2007

The aim of this study was to propose a fusion and registration method with heterogeneous small animal acquisition system in small animal in-vivo study. After an intravenous injection of $^{18}F$-FDG through tail vain and 60 min delay for uptake, mouse was placed on an acryl plate with fiducial markers that were made for fusion between small animal PET (microPET R4, Concorde Microsystems, Knoxville TN) and Discovery LS CT images. The acquired emission list-mode data was sorted to temporally framed sinograms and reconstructed using FORE rebining and 2D-OSEM algorithms without correction of attenuation and scatter. After PET imaging, CT images were acquired by mean of a clinical PET/CT with high-resolution mode. The microPET and CT images were fusion and co-registered using the fiducial markers and segmented lung region in both data sets to perform a point-based rigid co-registration. This method improves the quantitative accuracy and interpretation of the tracer.

• 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.17 no.8
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• pp.34-40
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• 1998

본 논문에서는 일반 X-ray 필름을 사용하는 기존 아날로그 의료 영상 진단 체계의 문제점들을 해결하기 위해 연구 개발된 포괄적인 영상관리 전송 시스템(PACS)에서의 효율 적인 영상 전송과 저장을 위해 병원에서 매일 다량으로 발생하는 의료 영상들 중 CT와 MR영상을 대상으로 하여 새로운 무손실 영상 압축 기법인 CRAC 압축 알고리즘을 설계하 였다. CRAC 압축 알고리즘에서는 CT와 MR 영상의 파일구조를 분석하여 런랭스 코딩에 적합하도록 데이터를 재배열하는 전처리 작업을 설계하였으며, 이를 CT와 MR 영상에 최적 화 시킨 개선된 런랭스 알고리즘으로 1차 압축시켜 그 결과를 산술 부호화 알고리즘과 결합 함으로써 압축효율을 향상시켰다. 이러한 CRAC 압축 알고리즘은 무손실 압축 기법으로, 의 료 영상을 압축한 수 손실 없이 원 영상을 그대로 복원할 수 있기 때문에 PACS에서의 CT, MR 영상의 판독을 위한 단기 저장시에 적합한 압축 알고리즘으로 CT와 MR 영상의 무손 실 압축에 대해 새로운 전처리 방법을 제시하였고, 기존 무손실 압축 방법들과 비교 분석한 결과 압축률이 2.1%∼5.9% 정도 향상되었다.