• Journal of the Korean Institute of Plant Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2018

Computed tomography (CT) scan room in the department of radiology is very necessary to maintain pleasant and proper illuminance to relieve fatigue and inconvenience because it affects the work environment to the radiologist. Accordingly, this paper describes the method for measurement of illuminance that exposed to an environmental elements in a CT scan room of the hospital. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose an optimal environment of CT scan room based on the measurement of illuminance. In addition, the 5 point method by KS C7612 was applied to measure the illuminance with illuminometer (Unfors xi light probe) in the CT scan room. In result of this paper, minimum value and maximum value of illuminance in the CT scan room was measured 212.7 lux and 354.8 lux, respectively. The illuminance of CT scan room was lower than KS A 3011. Finally, the work environment in CT scan room should provide higher illuminance for the comfortable environment of radiologists and patients.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.13 no.11
• /
• pp.768-777
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study is to minimize radiation exposure to the workers and public members during CT examination. The objects are seven of the CT rooms in university hospitals and four of the CT rooms in clinics located in Busan and Gyung-nam area. The places of measurement for radiation leakage are 1) 3 m above the ground of shielding wall in the control room 2) particular space in the control room 3) worker's gate in the control room 4) the patient gate. Its values were calculated maximum leakage radiation per week(MLRW). As a result, the worker's gate of M clinic displayed the highest dose. When it was calculated by MLRW in classic method, it showed 1) $5.97{\pm}0.23$, 2) $0.50{\pm}0.02$, 3) $10.00{\pm}0.11$, 4) $2.37{\pm}0.47$ mR/week. All of them did not exceed limit for maximum permissible dose per week(MPDW). However, When MLRW of M clinic was calculated by empirical method, its value displayed $118.31{\pm}17.72$ mR/week.(MPDW>100 mR/week). Radiation leakage influenced in the control room(p<0.05). Therefore, The way of calculating MLRW must be developed and shielding wall in control room is designed 3 m above the ground for reducing dangerous of leakage radiation.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.60-73
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study aims at decreasing spatial dose rate through work improvement whilst spatial dose rate is the cause of increasing personal exposure dose which occurs in the process of handling radioisotope. Methods: From February 2013 until July 2013, divided into "before" and "after" the improvement, spatial dose rate in laboratory of nuclear medicine was measured in gamma image room, PET/CT-1 image room, and PET/CT-2 image room as its locations. The measurement time was 08:00, 12:00 and 17:00, and SPSS 21.0 USA was opted for its statistical analysis. Result: The spatial dose rate at distribution worktable, injection table, the entrance to the distribution room, and radioisotope storage box, which had showed high spatial dose rate, decreased by more than 43.7% a monthly average. The distribution worktable, that had showed the highest spatial dose rate in PET/CT-1 image room, dropped the rate to 42.3% as of July. The injection table and distribution worktable in the PET/CT-2 image room also showed the decline of spatial dose rate to 89% and 64.4%, respectively. Conclusion: By improving distribution process and introducing proper radiation shielding material, we were able to drop the spatial dose rate substantially at distribution worktable, injection table, and nuclide storage box. However, taking into account of steadily increasing amount of radioisotope used, strengthening radiation related regulations, and safe utilization of radioisotope, the process of system improvement needs to be maintained through continuous monitoring.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.95-100
• /
• 2017

In this study, the bacterial contamination level of equipments and devices in the nuclear medicine department of a university hospital was investigated. CNS was detected from the sample collected from the door opening button of the nuclear medicine department. Bacillus sp. was detected from the table and CNS with Bacillus sp. were detected from the control button at the PET-CT room no.1. Also, CNS was detected from the table and the control button at the PET-CT room no.2. In the distribution room no.1, CNS and Bacillus sp. were detected while CNS being detected from the distribution room no.2 and CNS with Bacillus sp. being detected from the distribution room no.3. In the injection room, Enterrococcus faecium and Pontoea sp. were detected. On the table of the ecsomatics room, Pontoea sp. was detected. Bacillus sp. was detected from the inside of the syringe Pb shield and CNS was detected from the outside. Enterrococcus faecium was detected from the Gamma camera table and Bacillus sp. was detected from the door grip. On the chair at the patient waiting room, Pseudomonas aeruginosa abd Bacillus sp. were detected. Therefore, it was understood that infection should be prevented by securely sterilizing examination devices after each examination, maintaining cleanliness by regular sterilization of waiting chairs and such objects with a number of direct contacts with patients, and infection education for the features of nuclear department.

• Journal of Magnetics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.295-301
• /
• 2015

We evaluated certain issues related to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coupled with the use of active 2.5 GHz radio frequency identification (RFID) tags for patient identification using low field (0.3 T) MRI and computed tomography (CT) scans. We also investigated the performance of the RFID reader located outside the MRI room by considering several factors. A total of ten active RFID tags were exposed to several MRI sequences and X-rays of CT scan. We found that only card type active RFID tags are suitable for patient identification purpose in MRI environment and both wristbands as well as card tags were suitable for the same in CT environment. Severe artifacts were found in the captured MRI and CT images when the area of the imaging was in proximity to the tags. No external factors affected the performance of active RFID reader stationed outside the MRI scan room.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.12-24
• /
• 2003

Purpose : The aim of this study was to investigate the variables affecting video display terminal (VDT) syndrom and prevent the harm of VDT syndrom Materials and Methods : A questionnarie study was performed with 170 radiotechnologists working at CT room

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

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.276-284
• /
• 2008

A computed tomography (CT) is a powerful system for the effectively fast and accurate diagnosis. The CT system, therefore, has used substantially and developed for improving the performance over the past decade, resulting in growing concerns over the radiation dose from the CT. Advanced CT techniques, such as a multidetector row CT scanner and dual energy or dual source CT, have led to new clinical applications that could result in further increases of radiation does for both patients and workers. The objective of this study was to review the international guidelines of the shielding requirements for a CT facility required for a new installation or when modifying an existing one. We used Google Search Engine to search the following keywords: computed tomography, CT regulation or shield or protection, dual energy or dual source CT, multidetector CT, CT radiation protection, and regulatory or legislation or regulation CT. In addition, we searched some special websites, that were provided for sources of radiation protection, shielding, and regulation, RSNA, AAPM, FDA, NIH, RCR, ICRP, IRPA, ICRP, IAEA, WHO (See in Table 1 for full explanations of the abbreviations). We finally summarized results of the investigated materials for each country. The shielding requirement of the CT room design was very well documented in the countries of Canada, United States of America, and United Kingdom. The wall thickness of the CT room could be obtained by the iso-exposure contour or the point source method. Most of documents provided by international organizations were explained in importance of radiation reduction in patients and workers. However, there were no directly-related documents of shielding and patient exposure dose for the dual energy CT system. Based international guidelines, the guideline of the CT room shielding and radiation reduction in patients and workers should be specified for all kinds of CT systems, included in the dual energy CT. We proposed some possible strategies in this paper.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.110-114
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The advancement in PET/CT test devices has decreased the test time and popularized the test, and PET/CT tests have continuously increased. However, this increases the exposure dose of radiation workers, too. This study aims to measure the radiation shielding rate of $^{18}F-FDG$ with a strong energy and the shielding effect when worker wore an apron during the PET/CT test. Also, this study compared the shielding rate with $^{99m}TC$ to minimize the exposure dose of radiation workers. Materials and Methods: This study targeted 10 patients who visited in this hospital for the PET/CT test for 8 days from May 2nd to 10th 2013, and the $^{18}F-FDG$ distribution room, patient relaxing room (stand by room after $^{18}F-FDG$ injection) and PET/CT test room were chosen as measuring spots. Then, the changes in the dose rate were measured before and after the application of the APRON. For an accurate measurement, the distance from patients or sources was fixed at 1M. Also, the same method applied to $^{99m}TC's$ Source in order to compare the reduction in the dose by the Apron. Results: 1) When there was only L-block in the $^{18}F-FDG$ distribution room, the average dose rate was $0.32{\mu}Sv$, and in the case of L-blockK+ apron, it was $0.23{\mu}Sv$. The differences in the dose and dose rate between the two cases were respectively, $0.09{\mu}Sv$ and 26%. 2) When there was no apron in the relaxing room, the average dose rate was $33.1{\mu}Sv$, and when there was an apron, it was $22.3{\mu}Sv$. The differences in the dose and dose rate between them were respectively, $10.8{\mu}Sv$ and 33%. 3) When there was no APRON in the PET/CT room, the average dose rate was $6.9{\mu}Sv$, and there was an APRON, it was $5.5{\mu}Sv$. The differences in the dose and dose rate between them were respectively, $1.4{\mu}Sv$ and 25%. 4) When there was no apron, the average dose rate of $^{99m}TC$ was $23.7{\mu}Sv$, and when there was an apron, it was $5.5{\mu}Sv$. The differences in the dose and dose rate between them were respectively, $18.2{\mu}Sv$ and 77%. Conclusion: According to the result of the experiment, $^{99m}TC$ injected into patients showed an average shielding rate of 77%, and $^{18F}FDG$ showed a relatively low shielding rate of 27%. When comparing the sources only, $^{18F}FDG$ showed a shielding rate of 17%, and $^{99m}TC$'s was 77%. Though it had a lower shielding effect than $^{99m}TC$, $^{18}F-FDG$ also had a shielding effect on the apron. Therefore, it is considered that wearing an apron appropriate for high energy like $^{18}F-FDG$ would minimize the exposure dose of radiation workers.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2015

In order to establish the quality control on patient safety following the guideline presented by American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) TG-100 committee, we aim to analyze the modes based on errors occurred during treatment of patients at the radiation oncology department at Yeungnam University Hospital and establish a quality control guideline for patient safety when patient-centered radiation treatment is conducted. We aim to analyze the errors that can occur during radiation treatment at the radiation department, and assess the frequency of error, the severity of error affecting patients, and probability of proceeding without noticing error, with scores. The places where errors can take place were divided into CT simulation treatment room, treatment planning room, and treatment room for the analysis. In CT simulation treatment room, an error from using the immobilization device showed the highest Risk Priority Number (RPN) value of 60, and an error from simulation treatment information input showed the lowest of 6. In treatment planning room, an error from selecting the radiation dose calculation model showed the highest RPN value of 168, and an error of patient treatment start date showed the lowest of 36. In treatment room, a Table Bar error showed the highest RPN value of 252, a weight change error showed 190, and a Pillow error showed the lowest of 24.