• Journal of Magnetics
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.302-307
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• 2015

The purpose of the study was to identify how isotope and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast media impact on noise to computed tomography (CT) examination. For the study, divide the phantoms to two groups: 1) saline, saline + different kinds of contrast agent without $^{99m}Tc$ administration; 2) $^{99m}Tc$ administration: saline, saline + different kinds of contrast agent with $^{99m}Tc$ administration. CT contrast agent was used for Iopamidol$^{(R)}$ and Dotarem. And MRI contrast agent was used for Primovist$^{(R)}$ and Gadovist$^{(R)}$. To obtain an image, we used CT scanner. With an obtained image, we set the $1cm^2$ region of interest in the middle of bottle to measure the noise and CT number. As a result, there was no difference in CT number before and after inserting $^{99m}Tc$ into all contrast media including Normal Saline. However, when it comes to Noise, there was a difference before and after inserting $^{99m}Tc$ into every contrast media except MRI contrast media such as Primovist$^{(R)}$ and Gadovist$^{(R)}$.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권10호
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• pp.1006-1016
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• 2023

Objective: Computed tomography (CT) is an established method for the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of multiple myeloma. Here, we investigated the potential of photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in terms of image quality, diagnostic confidence, and radiation dose compared with energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT). Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients with known multiple myeloma underwent clinically indicated whole-body PCD-CT. The image quality of PCD-CT was assessed qualitatively by three independent radiologists for overall image quality, edge sharpness, image noise, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence using a 5-point Likert scale (5 = excellent), and quantitatively for signal homogeneity using the coefficient of variation (CV) of Hounsfield Units (HU) values and modulation transfer function (MTF) via the full width at half maximum (FWHM) in the frequency space. The results were compared with those of the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols as controls. Additionally, the radiation dose (CTDIvol) was determined. Results: We enrolled 35 patients with multiple myeloma (mean age 69.8 ± 9.1 years; 18 [51%] males). Qualitative image analysis revealed superior scores (median [interquartile range]) for PCD-CT regarding overall image quality (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), edge sharpness (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), image noise (4.0 [4.0-4.0] vs. 3.0 [3.0-4.0]), lesion conspicuity (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), and diagnostic confidence (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]) compared with EID-CT (P ≤ 0.004). In quantitative image analyses, PCD-CT compared with EID-CT revealed a substantially lower FWHM (2.89 vs. 25.68 cy/pixel) and a significantly more homogeneous signal (mean CV ± standard deviation [SD], 0.99 ± 0.65 vs. 1.66 ± 0.5; P < 0.001) at a significantly lower radiation dose (mean CTDIvol ± SD, 3.33 ± 0.82 vs. 7.19 ± 3.57 mGy; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Whole-body PCD-CT provides significantly higher subjective and objective image quality at significantly reduced radiation doses than the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols, along with readily available multi-spectral data, facilitating the potential for further advanced post-processing.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.177-183
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• 2014

Recent research in endodontics has highlighted the need for three-dimensional imaging in the clinical arena as well as in research. Three-dimensional imaging using computed tomography (CT) has been used in endodontics over the past decade. Three types of CT scans have been studied in endodontics, namely cone-beam CT, spiral CT, and peripheral quantitative CT. Contemporary endodontics places an emphasis on the use of cone-beam CT for an accurate diagnosis of parameters that cannot be visualized on a two-dimensional image. This review discusses the role of CT in endodontics, pertaining to its importance in the diagnosis of root canal anatomy, detection of periradicular lesions, diagnosis of trauma and resorption, presurgical assessment, and evaluation of the treatment outcome.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권8호
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• pp.1018-1023
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• 2020

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has reached global pandemic status as announced by the World Health Organization, which currently recommends reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) as the standard diagnostic tool. However, although the RT-PCR test results may be found negative, there are cases that are found positive for COVID-19 pneumonia on computed tomography (CT) scan. CT is also useful in assessing the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. When clinicians desire a CT scan of a patient with COVID-19 to monitor treatment response, a safe method for patient transport is necessary. To address the engagement of medical resources necessary to transport a patient with COVID-19, our institution has implemented the use of mobile CT. Therefore, we report two cases of COVID-19 pneumonia evaluated by using mobile cone-beam CT. Although mobile cone-beam CT had some limitations regarding its image quality such as scatter noise, motion and streak artifacts, and limited field of view compared with conventional multi-detector CT, both cases had acceptable image quality to establish the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. We report the usefulness of mobile cone-beam CT in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.165-169
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• 2011

Barium suspension, oral iodine contrast medium and water were applied in eight dogs to evaluate (1) distension of gastrointestinal tract, (2) the effect of the oral contrast media on the identification of the pancreas from surrounding organs, and (3) image quality and the presence of artifacts in canine pancreas computed tomography (CT) images. Oral iodine contrast medium, gastrografin, produced significant artifacts that deteriorated the CT images of the pancreas. The use of water did not provide the fullness of the gastrointestinal lumens. Barium suspension was effective for the identification of the pancreas from the surrounding gastrointestinal tract, without significantly increasing image noise. Barium suspension can be used as an optimal contrast medium that will not cause an adverse effect on the pancreatic density and image quality.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.469-476
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• 2012

Raw ginseng root of Panax ginseng is graded according to its shape and the quality of its internal tissue. A variety of grades are sold with prices according to grade. If an inferior raw ginseng is purchased, the consumer experience an economic loss. This research was conducted in order to explore the possibility of developing a noninvasive method for investigating raw ginseng's internal tissue. It has been determined that computed tomography (CT) scanner images agreed with actual cross-sections of raw ginseng. CT images were obtained to assess the internal portions of raw ginseng, and CT scans of raw ginseng were thoroughly measured using the Hounsfield unit (HU) system, since it allows for a more detailed analysis compared to nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. HU is a measure of attenuation used for CT images, with each pixel being assigned a value using a scale on which air is defined as -1000, water as 0 and compact bone as +1000. It takes about one second to process are slice and produce an image of the raw ginseng by a one channel CT scanner. An image good enough to discriminate the internal tissues can be obtained in 1/24 seconds with a one-channel CT scanner. Using this method, images of raw ginseng can be obtained and the characteristics of the internal tissues can be observed in a short time.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.595-602
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• 2018

Quality control (QC) of Computed Tomography (CT) devices is based on image quality measurement on AAPM CT phantom which is a standard phantom. Although it is possible to control the accuracy of the CT apparatus, it is expensive and has a disadvantage of low penetration rate. Therefore, in this study, we make image quality measurement phantom at low cost using FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) type three-dimensional printer and try to analyze the usefulness, compare it with existing standard phantom. To print a phantom, We used three-dimensional printer of the FFF system and PLA (Poly Lactic Acid, density: $1.24g/cm^3$) filament, and the CT device of 64 MDCT (Aquilion CX, Toshiba, Japan). In addition, we printed a phantom using three-dimensional printer after design using various tool based on existing standard phantom. For image quality evaluation, AAPM CT phantom and self-generated phantom were measured 10 times for each block. The measured data were analyzed for significance using the Mannwhiteney U-test of SPSS (Version 22.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). As a result of the analysis, phantom fabricated with three-dimensional printer and standard phantom showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Furthermore, we confirmed that image quality measurement performance of a phantom using three-dimensional printer is similar to the existing standard phantom. In conclusion, we confirmed the possibility of low cost phantom fabrication using three dimensional printer.

• 융합신호처리학회논문지
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.46-52
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• 2001

방사광을 이용한 형강 X선 CT 이미징의 고속화를 위한 촬상 시스템과 처리 알고리즘을 검토하였다. 본 논문에서 사용된 촬상시스템은 고계수율 영역에서 안정된 동작을 한 전자 시스템으로 불감시간이 약 6%로 감소되고 계측시간의 경우도 1 점 당 3초로 단축되었다. 또한 재구성 알고리즘의 효율화를 증명하였고, 메모리와 계산량을 약 1/100로 감소시켰다. 물리적 phantom으로 그 정량성을 확인하였고, 시험관내의 갑상선의 화상으로부터 요드 분포를 추정하였다. 이러한 결과는 생체내에서 형광 X선 CT 계측의 실현 가능성을 보여준 것이다.

• 한국정밀공학회지
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• 제28권7호
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• pp.834-850
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• 2011

In this paper, a novel tissue engineering scaffold design method based on triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) is proposed. After generating the hexahedral elements for a 3D anatomical shape using the distance field algorithm, the unit cell libraries composed of triply periodic minimal surfaces are mapped into the subdivided hexahedral elements using the shape function widely used in the finite element method. In addition, a heterogeneous implicit solid representation method is introduced to design a 3D (Three-dimensional) bio-mimetic scaffold for tissue engineering from a sequence of computed tomography (CT) medical image data. CT image of a human spine bone is used as the case study for designing a 3D bio-mimetic scaffold model from CT image data.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.13-18
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• 2004

Purpose : This study was to evaluate the influence of slice thickness of computed tomography (CT) and rapid protyping (RP) type on the accuracy of 3-dimensional medical model. Materials and Methods: Transaxial CT data of human dry skull were taken from multi-detector spiral CT. Slice thickness were 1, 2, 3 and 4 mm respectively. Three-dimensional image model reconstruction using 3-D visualization medical software (V-works /sup TM/ 3.0) and RP model fabrications were followed. 2-RP models were 3D printing (Z402, Z Corp., Burlington, USA) and Stereolithographic Apparatus model. Linear measurements of anatomical landmarks on dry skull, 3-D image model, and 2-RP models were done and compared according to slice thickness and RP model type. Results: There were relative error percentage in absolute value of 0.97, 1.98,3.83 between linear measurements of dry skull and image models of 1, 2, 3 mm slice thickness respectively. There was relative error percentage in absolute value of 0.79 between linear measurements of dry skull and SLA model. There was relative error difference in absolute value of 2.52 between linear measurements of dry skull and 3D printing model. Conclusion: These results indicated that 3-dimensional image model of thin slice thickness and stereolithographic RP model showed relative high accuracy.