• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.49-53
• /
• 2007

Purpose: It was reported that CT-based measured attenuation correction (CT-MAC) produced radioactivity concentration values significantly higher than $^{68}Ge$-based segmented attenuation correction (Ge-SAC) in PET images. However, it was unknown whether the radioactivity concentration difference resulted from different sources (CT vs. Ge) or types (MAC vs. SAC) of attenuation correction (AC). We evaluated the influences of the source and type of AC on the radioactivity concentration differences between reconstructed PET images in normal subjects and patients. Material and Methods: Five normal subjects and 35 patients with a known or suspected cancer underwent $^{18}F-FDG$ PET/CT. In each subject, attenuation corrected PET images using OSEM algorithm (28 subsets, 2 iterations) were reconstructed by 4 methods: CT-MAC, CT-SAC, Ge-MAC, and Ge-SAC. The physiological uptake in normal subjects and pathological uptake in patients were quantitatively compared between the PET images according to the source and type of AC. Results: The SUVs of physiological uptake measured in CT-MAC PET images were significantly higher than other 3 differently corrected PET images. Maximum SUVs of the 145 foci with abnormal FDG uptake in CT-MAC images were significantly highest among 4 differently corrected PET images with a difference of 2.4% to 5.1% (p<0.001). The SUVs of pathological uptake in Ge-MAC images were significantly higher than those in CT-SAC and Ge-MAC PET images (p<0.001). Conclusion: Quantitative radioactivity values were highest in CT-MAC PET images. The adoption of MAC may make a more contribution than the adoption of CT attenuation map to such differences.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2008

Computed tomography (CT) is a medical imaging method employing tomography. CT is a 3-Dimensional (3-D) radiographic imaging technique, which is not suited for assessment of inflammation, but can be considered a reference method for assessment of bone damage, due to its direct 3-D visualization of calcified tissue. In this study of pathological joint changes in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) and quality analysis of bone destructions were performed by 3-Dimensional computed tomography images. These data demonstrate that the destructive progression of disease in a rat AIA model can be quantified using 3-D CT image analysis, which allows assessment of arthritic disease status and efficacy of experimental therapeutic agents.

• Proceedings of the Korea Inteligent Information System Society Conference
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.520-529
• /
• 2007

간암은 세계적으로 흔한 악성 종양에 속하지만 우리나라에서 간암은 위암, 폐암 다음으로 높은 사망률을 보이며 이러한 간암은 조기진단이 요구된다. 전문의는 간암의 진단을 위해 조영증강 CT영상을 이용하여 육안으로 간암을 판별하는데, 조영증강 CT영상을 이용한 진단은 주 종양의 진단에는 도움이 되지만 주 종양에서 주위 간 조직으로 전이된 간암들을 판별하는 것은 어려우며 실제로 시술 중에야 전이된 간암의 존재를 알 수 있다. 본 논문에서는 조영증강 CT영상을 이용하여 간과 주 종양을 자동으로 추출한 후, 미세하게 주 종양 주위로 전위된 간암들을 추출하는 방법을 제안하여 전문의를 보조할 수 있는 보조 전문가 시스템으로서의 유용성을 확인하고자한다. 조영증강 CT영상은 흉부에서 5mm간격으로 40 ${\sim}$ 50장정도로 촬영된다. 조영증강 CT영상을 이용하여 간 영역을 추출하기 위해서 간의 형태학적 정보 그리고 명암도와 명암의 분포도를 이용한 양자화 기법 등을 적용하여 추출하며 추출된 간 영역에서 간암의 후보 영역 추출은 간암의 명암도와 형태학적 특징 정보를 이용하여 추출한다. 본 논문에서는 간암의 추출을 위해 맵 상에 흩어져 분포되어 있는 유사 패턴들의 무게 중심을 찾아 하나의 패턴으로 그룹화 하는 개선된 SOM 알고리즘을 제안하여 간암 판별에 적용한 후, 기존의 SOM 알고리즘과 비교 분석한 결과. 본 논문에서 제안된 SOM 알고리즘을 적용한 간암 추출이 더 효율적임을 확인 할 수 있었으며, 전문의가 판별한 것과 비교 분석한 결과, 전문의를 보조할 수 있는 보조 전문가 시스템으로서의 가능성을 확인할 수 있었다.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2018

Purpose Standardized uptake value(SUV) has been widely used as a quantitative metric of uptake in PET/CT for diagnosis of malignant tumors and evaluation of tumor therapy response. However, the SUV depends on various factor including PET/CT scanner specifications and reconstruction parameter. The purpose of this study is to validate a EQ PET to evaluate SUV across different PET/CT systems. Materials and Methods First, NEMA IEC body phantom data were used to calculate the EQ filter for OSEM3D with PSF and TOF reconstruction from three different PET/CT systems in order to obtain EARL compliant recovery coefficients of each spheres. The Biograph true point 40 PET/CT images were reconstructed with a OSEM3D+PSF reconstruction, images of the Biograph mCT 40 and Biograph mCT 64 PET/CT scanners were reconstructed with a OSEM3D+PSF, OSEM3D+TOF, OSEM3D+PSF+TOF. Post reconstructions, the proprietary EQ filter was applied to the reconstruction data. Recovery coefficient can be estimated by ratio of measured to true activity concentration for spheres of different volume and coefficient variability(CV) value of RC for each sphere was compared. For clinical study, we compared SUVmax applying different reconstruction algorithms in FDG PET images of 61 patients with lung cancer using Biograph mCT 40 PET/CT scanner. Results For the phantom studied, the mean values of CV for OSEM3D, OSEM3D+PSF, OSEM3D+TOF and OSEM3D+PSF+TOF reconstructions were 0.05, 0.04, 0.04 and 0.03 respectively for RC. Application of the proprietary EQ filter, the mean values of CV for OSEM3D, OSEM3D+PSF, OSEM3D+TOF and OSEM3D+PSF+TOF reconstructions were 0.04, 0.03, 0.03 and 0.02 respectively for RC. Clinical study, there were no statistical significance of the difference applying EQ PET on SUVmax of 61 patients FDG PET image. (p=1.000) Conclusion This study indicates that CV values of RC in phantom were decreased after applying EQ PET for different PET/CT system and The EQ PET reduced reconstruction dependent variation in SUVs for 61 lung cancer patients, Therefore, EQ PET will be expected to provide accurate quantification when the patient is scanned on different PET/CT system.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
• /
• v.36 no.8
• /
• pp.623-632
• /
• 2009

In this paper, we propose a pulmonary nodule registration for the tracking of lung nodules in sequential CT scans. Our method consists of following five steps. First, a translational mismatch is corrected by aligning the center of optimal bounding volumes including each segmented lung. Second, coronal maximum intensity projection(MIP) images including a rib structure which has the highest intensity region in baseline and follow-up CT series are generated. Third, rigid transformations are optimized by normalized average density differences between coronal MIP images. Forth, corresponding nodule candidates are defined by Euclidean distance measure after rigid registration. Finally, template matching is performed between the nodule template in baseline CT image and the search volume in follow-up CT image for the nodule matching. To evaluate the result of our method, we performed the visual inspection, accuracy and processing time. The experimental results show that nodules in serial CT scans can be rapidly and correctly registered by coronal MIP-based rigid registration and local template matching.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 1998

Purpose : To generate the axial, coronal and sagittal images from conventional simulation images, as a preliminary study of broad-beam simulator CT. Methods and Materials : Volumetric filtered back-projection was performed using 90 sheets of films from conventional simulator for every $4^{\circ}$ gantry angle. Two mAs exposure condition for 120kvp beam qualify at SFD 140cm was given to each film. Outside the silhouette portion was removed and scatter component was deconvolved before back-projection. Results : The axial, the sagittal and the coronal images with same spatial resolutions over all direction could be obtained. But image quality was very poor. Conclusion : CT images could be obtained using broad-beam. Scatter deconvolution technique was effective for this reconstruction. The fact that same spatial resolutions over all direction tells us the possibility of application of this technique to DRR or Simulator-CT. But the quality of image should be improved for clinical application practically.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.11 no.10
• /
• pp.333-341
• /
• 2011

To compare between calcium scoring CT (CSCT) and Low-dose CT (LDCT) image finding for coronary artery calcification (CAC) in screening of lung disease by MDCT. A total of 61 subjects who retired-workers exposed to inorganic dust were performed LDCT and CSCT by using a MDCT scanner on the same day, after be approved by the institutional review board, and obtaining the written informed consent from all subjects. LDCT images were read for detecting lung diseases as well as CAC by a experienced chest radiologist, then the subjects were divided either the positive group with CAC or the negative group without it. The CSCT was used to quantify and detect the presence of calcification in the coronary artery, and score of CAC calculated by using a Rapidia software (ver 2.8). In all coronary arteries, calcium score of positive group was higher better than that in negative group, especially in the total calcium (13.7 vs. 582.9, p=0.008) and the left anterior descending artery (3.2 vs. 249.0, p=0.006). CAC findings between CSCT and LDCT image were showed excellent agreement in cut-off point 100(K-value=0.80, 95% CI=0.69-0.91) from total calcium score. CAC findings on LDCT images showed the higher relation with CSCT. Therefore, the obstructive coronary artery disease could be predicted by CAC on LDCT images for screening of lung diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.166-171
• /
• 2010

Purpose: The SPECT/CT is able to acquire diagnostic information resolved the difficult problems that discriminate regions of focals by intergrating functional images and anatomical images. We introduce the usefulness of "Volumetrix Suite" which can describe 3D images by the convergence of the SPECT/CT images and reference CT images. Materials and Methods: We applied Volumetrix Suite program (Volumetrix IR, Volumetrix 3D) to patients, Bone, Venography, Parathyroid, WBC, taken diagnostic CT examination which have same regions of focal in Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center. After acquiring SPECT/CT images and reference CT images, we fused a couple of scans applying for this programs. The CT scan of Infinia Hawkeye 4 shows limitation of anatomical information. For this reason, we tried to transfer CT images that have lots of diagnostic informations as the form of Dicom file in PACS, and changed from 2D images to 3D images after image registering in Xeleris Workstaion of Hawkeye 4. Results & Conclusion: By using Volumetrix Suite program, we're able to acquire more accurate anatomical informations with 3D rendering which can distinguish both location and range of focals in Infinia Hawkeye 4. Thus, the result of utilizing this program indicate that nuclear medicine anatomical images can be improved by providing more diagnostic imformations produced by its program.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.221-233
• /
• 2020

CT(computed tomography, CT) examinations is one of the most useful diagnostic equipment for identifying information in the human body in diagnostic radiology. Recently, the number of CT scans is increasing every year due to the high reliability of CT scans. Increasing the number of tests will accelerate the aging of CT devices, which is why the importance of quality management for CT devices is on the rise. Particularly in CT, quality management refers to a behavior of figuring out and correcting all sorts of hindrance factors that can cause all the problems related to the equipment associated with the diminishment of diagnosed area due to the reduction of image quality in clinical imaging in advance and maintaining a consistent level of image quality and obtaining a proper image. Here, these researchers aim to summarize and report the general contents of quality management in CT.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the reproducibility and usefulness of the images through the fusion of CT(Computed tomography) and MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging) using a self-manufactured phantom. We will also compare and analyze the target dose from acquired images. Materials and Methods: Using a self-manufactured phantom, CT images and MRI images are acquired by 1.5T and 3.0T of different magnetic fields. The reproducibility of the size and volume of the small holes present in the phantom is compared through the image from CT and 1.5T and 3.0T MRI, and dose changes are compared and analyzed on any target. Results: 13 small hole diameters were a maximum 31 mm and a minimum 27.54 mm in the CT scan and the were measured within an average of 29.28 mm 1 % compared to actual size. 1.5 T MRI images showed a maximum 31.65 mm and a minimum 24.3 mm, the average is 28.8 mm, which is within 1 %. 3.0T MRI images showed a maximum 30.2 mm and a minimum 27.92 mm, the average is 29.41 mm, which is within 1.3 %. The dose changes in the target were 95.9-102.1 % in CT images, 93.1-101.4 % in CT-1.5T MRI fusion images, and 96-102 % in CT-3.0T MRI fusion images. Conclusion: CT and MRI are applied with different algorithms for image acquisition. Also, since the organs of the human body have different densities, image distortion may occur during image acquisition. Because these inaccurate images description affects the volume range and dose of the target, accurate volume and location of the target can prevent unnecessary doses from being exposed and errors in treatment planning. Therefore, it should be applied to the treatment plan by taking advantage of the image display algorithm possessed by CT and MRI.