• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.501-508
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• 2017

The dependence of CT scanning parameters on the CT number to physical density conversion from the CT image of CT and CBCT electron density phantom acquired by the CT scanner using in radiotherapy were analyzed by experiment. The CT numbers were independent of the tube current product exposure time, slice thickness, filter of image reconstruction, field of view and volume of phantom. But the CT numbers were dependent on the tube voltage and cross section of phantom. As a result, for physical density range above 0, the maximum CT number difference observed at the tube voltage between 90 and 120 kVp was 27%, and the maximum CT number difference observed between CT body and head electron density phantom was 15%.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.171-177
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• 2020

Background: This study aims to determine the effective atomic number (Zeff) from dual-energy image sets obtained using a conventional computed tomography (CT) simulator. The estimated Zeff can be used for deriving the stopping power and material decomposition of CT images, thereby improving dose calculations in radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: An electron-density phantom was scanned using Philips Brilliance CT Big Bore at 80 and 140 kVp. The estimated Zeff values were compared with those obtained using the calibration phantom by applying the Rutherford, Schneider, and Joshi methods. The fitting parameters were optimized using the nonlinear least squares regression algorithm. The fitting curve and mass attenuation data were obtained from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The fitting parameters obtained from stopping power and material decomposition of CT images, were validated by estimating the residual errors between the reference and calculated Zeff values. Next, the calculation accuracy of Zeff was evaluated by comparing the calculated values with the reference Zeff values of insert plugs. The exposure levels of patients under additional CT scanning at 80, 120, and 140 kVp were evaluated by measuring the weighted CT dose index (CTDIw). Results and Discussion: The residual errors of the fitting parameters were lower than 2%. The best and worst Zeff values were obtained using the Schneider and Joshi methods, respectively. The maximum differences between the reference and calculated values were 11.3% (for lung during inhalation), 4.7% (for adipose tissue), and 9.8% (for lung during inhalation) when applying the Rutherford, Schneider, and Joshi methods, respectively. Under dual-energy scanning (80 and 140 kVp), the patient exposure level was approximately twice that in general single-energy scanning (120 kVp). Conclusion: Zeff was calculated from two image sets scanned by conventional single-energy CT simulator. The results obtained using three different methods were compared. The Zeff calculation based on single-energy exhibited appropriate feasibility.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.392-403
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• 2010

In this study, a new methodology by using the X-ray CT scan is proposed for estimating void ratio of very fine clayey soil. Since the particle size of the clay is too fine to calculate the volume of void inside the clays, CT scanning tests with a number of clay specimens that were artificially set to have various designated void ratios have been carried out. From the tests, a relationship between the CT values and void ratios is given to be used for estimating the invisible void ratio of very fine clay from a representative CT value scanned. The linear relationship was able to be acquired finally. It is expected that micro X-ray CT scanning can be capable of capturing the void ratio of very fine soils without any errors inherent in the conventional specific gravity tests.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.29-45
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• 1985

Computed Tomography Scanner (CT) is highly expensive in operation as well as purchasing. That reason may cause not only to increase the burden of patients but also to waste the capital resources leading to financial difficulties. However the numbers of CT installed throughout the country is increasing, because of efficiency in medical care, patient's concern, competitions among the hospitals within the same area. In the non-Metropolitan area the scanners were expected to be less utilized and less profitable. Nine hospitals equipped with the CT were studied on the utilization of that equipment during the period from November 1984 to February 1985 in non-Metropolitan area and break-even point in one hospital was analyzed for estimating profitabilities. The results were as follows ; 1. Among those nine hospitals, four hospitals had less than 400 beds, which is one of the restrictive minimum standards on the installation of Whole-body Computed Tomography Scanner. 2. The operating time during the normal operation period was longer than those of any other studies, but the accumulated down time was also longer than those of any other studies. The average number of scanning per week for each CT was 45, while the estimated number of for the break-even point was 56.7 cases. 3. When the downtime was excluded in calculating the average operation would be much closer to the cases for the break-even point. Therefore the break-down of the equipment was to be a main cause of the low profitability. 4. The average scanning rate for head area was 33.6%, however three of the nine hospitals showed about 20%. 5. If scanning ratio for the body parts excepting head was increased, the number of scanning for the break-even point would be diminished. 6. The small size hospital especially located near the Metropolitan area showed largest loss in the CT operation. In purchasing the highly expensive equipments in hospitals, demand should be taken into account and planning is recommended.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.336-343
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• 2010

Coronary artery CT angiography has short scanning length, the exposure dose is high. Therefore, it is required to study on the organ dose when using MDCT. We compared the differences between the absorbed dose and effective dose in the major organs assessing the absorbed dose in the major organs by 16-MDCT and 64-MDCT in the subjects with coronary artery CT angiography, the same protocol by 16-MDCT and 64-MDCT. As a result, the great orders of absorbed dose when conducting coronary artery CT angiography had been shown as heart, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, spleen, large intestine, lung, small intestine, thyroid gland, ovary, bladder, and orbit with the absorbed dose distribution of $0.538{\pm}0.026(Mean{\pm}SD,\;p<0.05)mGy{\sim}71.316{\pm}4.316mGy$ in 16-MDCT, and heart, stomach, pancreas, spleen, liver, kidney, small intestine, large intestine, lung, thyroid gland, ovary, bladder, and orbit with the absorbed dose distribution of $0.87{\pm}0.01mGy{\sim}115.26{\pm}1.59mGy$ in 64-MDCT, demonstrating some different distributions. The exposed doses to the patient per one time scanning with coronary artery CT angiography were $71.316{\pm}4.316mGy$ in 16-MDCT as the absorbed dose based on the heart and $115.26{\pm}1.59mGy$ in 64-MDCT. The effective doses were 7.41 mSv and 12.11 mSv in 16 and 64-MDCT, respectively. Taking into account the results of brain CT with 2.8 mSv that has comparatively large scanning length and size, facial CT 0.8 mSv, chest CT 5.7 mSv, pelvic CT 7.2 mSv, and abdominal and pelvic CT 14.4 mSv, it is very high considering the scanning length of 13 cm limited to the heart for the scanning range.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.355-359
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• 1999

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.21-25
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• 2010

Purpose: For better PET imaging with accuracy the transmission scanning is inevitably required for attenuation correction. The attenuation is affected by condition of acquisition and patient position, consequently quantitative accuracy may be decreased in emission scan imaging. In this paper, the present study aims at providing the measurement for attenuation varying with the positions of the patient's arm in whole body PET/CT, further performing the comparative analysis over its SUV changes. Materials and Methods: NEMA 1994 PET phantom was filled with $^{18}F$-FDG and the concentration ratio of insert cylinder and background water fit to 4:1. Phantom images were acquired through emission scanning for 4min after conducting transmission scanning by using CT. In an attempt to acquire image at the state that the arm of the patient was positioned at the lower of ahead, image was acquired in away that two pieces of Teflon inserts were used additionally by fixing phantoms at both sides of phantom. The acquired imaged at a were reconstructed by applying the iterative reconstruction method (iteration: 2, subset: 28) as well as attenuation correction using the CT, and then VOI was drawn on each image plane so as to measure CT number and SUV and comparatively analyze axial uniformity (A.U=Standard deviation/Average SUV) of PET images. Results: It was found from the above phantom test that, when comparing two cases of whether Teflon insert was fixed or removed, the CT number of cylinder increased from -5.76 HU to 0 HU, while SUV decreased from 24.64 to 24.29 and A.U from 0.064 to 0.052. And the CT number of background water was identified to increase from -6.14 HU to -0.43 HU, whereas SUV decreased from 6.3 to 5.6 and A.U also decreased from 0.12 to 0.10. In addition, as for the patient image, CT number was verified to increase from 53.09 HU to 58.31 HU and SUV decreased from 24.96 to 21.81 when the patient's arm was positioned over the head rather than when it was lowered. Conclusion: When arms up protocol was applied, the SUV of phantom and patient image was decreased by 1.4% and 9.2% respectively. With the present study it was concluded that in case of PET/CT scanning against the whole body of a patient the position of patient's arm was not so much significant. Especially, the scanning under the condition that the arm is raised over to the head gives rise to more probability that the patient is likely to move due to long scanning time that causes the increase of uptake of $^{18}F$-FDG of brown fat at the shoulder part together with increased pain imposing to the shoulder and discomfort to a patient. As regarding consideration all of such factors, it could be rationally drawn that PET/CT scanning could be made with the arm of the subject lowered.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.45-55
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• 2020

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is very useful for the quantitative evaluation of internal structures, particularly defects in rock samples, such as pores and fractures. In situ CT allows 3D imaging of a sample subjected to various external treatments such as loading and therefore enables observation of changes that occur during the loading process. We reviewed state-of-the-art of in situ CT applications for geomaterials. Two triaxial cells made using relatively low density but high strength materials were developed aimed at in situ CT scanning during hydro-mechanical laboratory testing of rocks. Preliminary results for in situ CT imaging of granite and sandstone samples with diameters ranging from 25 mm to 50 mm show a resolution range of 34~105 ㎛ per pixel pitch, indicating the feasibility of in situ CT observations for internal structural changes in rocks at the micrometer scale. Potassium iodide solution was found to improve the image contrast, and can be used as an injection fluid for hydro-mechanical testing combined with in situ CT scanning.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.171-175
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to assess the dose reduction of eye lens and availability of bismuth garments resulting from the use of radioprotective bismuth garments to shield the eyes of patients undergoing head CT. Rando phantom and TLDs were used to determine the amount of dose reduction by bismuth shielding of the eye in the following simulated CT scans : (a) scanning of the head including orbits, (b) scanning of the whole head, and (c) $20^{\circ}$ angled scanning of the head excluding orbits. The average dose reduction of eye lens was 43.2%, 36.0% and 1.4% for the three CT scans listed above. Significant reduction in the eye lens dose was achieved by using superficial orbital bismuth shielding during head CT scans. However, bismuth shields should not be used for the patients when their eyes are excluded from the primarily exposed region.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.245-251
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• 2017

This study measured the exposure dose during abdominal-pelvic CT exam which occupies 70% of CT exam and tried to propose a protocol for optimized exposure dose in abdomen and pelvis without affecting the imagery interpretation. The study scanned abdomen-pelvis using the current clinical scan method, the 120 kVp, auto exposure control(AEC), as 1 phase. As for the newly proposed 2 phase scan method, the study divided into 1 phase abdomen exam and 2 phase pelvis exam and each conducted tube voltage 120 kVp, AEC for abdomen exam, and fixed tube current method in 120 kVp, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 mA for pelvis exam. The exposure dose value was compared using $CTDI_{VOL}$, DLP value measured during scan, and average value of CT attenuation coefficient, noise, SNR from each scan image were obtained to evaluate the image. As for the result, scanning of 2 phase showed significant difference compared to 1 phase. In $CTDI_{VOL}$ value, the 2 phase showed 26% decrease in abdomen, 1.8~59.5% decrease in pelvis for 100~250 mA, 12.7%~30% increase in pelvis for 300~400 mA. Also, DLP value showed 53% decrease in abdomen and 41~81% decrease in pelvis when scanned by 2 phase compared to 1 phase, but it was not statistically significant. As for the SNR, when scanning 2 phase close to heart, scanning 1 phase close to pelvis, scanning and scanning 1 phase at upper and lower abdomen, it was higher when scanning 2 phase for 200~250 mA. Also, the CT number and noise was overall similar, but the noise was high close to pelvis. However, when scanning 2 phase for 250 mA close to pelvis, the noise value came out similar to 1 phase, and did not show statistically significant difference. It seems when separating pelvis to scan in 250 mA rather than 400 mA in 1 phase as before, it is expected to have reduced effect of exposure dose without difference in the quality of image. Thus, for patients who often get abdominal-pelvic CT exam, fertile women or children, this study proposes 2 phase exam for smaller exposure dose with same image quality.