• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

In order to provide complementary image data, CT(computed tomography), MR(magnetic resonance) and angiography have been used in the field of Stereotactic Radiosurgery(SRS) and neurosurgery. The aim of this work is to develop 3-D stereotactic localization system in order to determine the precise shape, size and location of the lesion in the brain in the field of Stereotactic Radiosurgery(SRS) and neurosurgery using multi-image modality and multi purpose QA phantom. In order to obtain accurate position of a target, Hitchcoke stereotactic frame and CT/angiography localizers were rigidly attached to the phantom with nine targets dispersed in 3-D space. The algorithms to obtain a 3-D stereotactic coordinates of the target have been developed using the images of the geometrical phantom which were taken by CT/angiography. Positions of targets computed by our algorithms were compared to the absolute position assigned in the phantom. Outlines of targets on each CT image were superimposed each other on angiography images. A spatial mean distance errors were 1.02${\pm}$0.17mm for CT with a 512${\times}$512 matrix and 2mm slice thickness, 0.41${\pm}$0.05mm for angiogra- phy localization. The resulting accuracy in the target localization suggests that the developed system has enough Qualification for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.619-627
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent on the area dose in the body when using automatic exposure control system in general radiography. After making rectangular holes in the center of the abdominal thickness paraffin phantom, CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent were respectively diluted with physiological saline solution for contrast medium dilution ratio of 10:0, 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, 3:7, 2:8, 1:9, 0:10%. Each experiment was set to 78 kVp, 320 mA, which is the proper condition for KUB photography, and thereafter a total of 30 inspections were made for each dilution ratio using an automatic exposure control device, and the area dose corresponding to the dilution ratio of each contrast agent, Average comparison and correlation analysis were performed on the exposure index. As a result, the CT contrast agent and the MRI contrast agent appeared different in area dose according to the dilution ratio(p<0.05), and as the dilution ratio increased, the area dose increased for CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent(P<0.05). In each test, the exposure index showed the manufacturer's recommendation of 200-800 EI value, and the exposure index and area dose increased as the area dose increased(p<0.05). In conclusion, CT contrast agent and MRI contrast agent confirmed to increase the area dose by general imaging test using all automatic exposure control device. Therefore, it is considered that it is necessary to perform it after the contrast medium has been excreted sufficiently when using usual imaging test after using the contrast agent in CT and MRI examination.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.239-250
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• 2006

Computational anthropomorphic phantoms are computer models of human anatomy used in the calculation of radiation dose distribution in the human body upon exposure to a radiation source. Depending on the manner to represent human anatomy, they are categorized into two classes: stylized and tomographic phantoms. Stylized phantoms, which have mainly been developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), describe human anatomy by using simple mathematical equations of analytical geometry. Several improved stylized phantoms such as male and female adults, pediatric series, and enhanced organ models have been developed following the first hermaphrodite adult stylized phantom, Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD)-5 phantom. Although stylized phantoms have significantly contributed to dosimetry calculation, they provide only approximations of the true anatomical features of the human body and the resulting organ dose distribution. An alternative class of computational phantom, the tomographic phantom, is based upon three-dimensional imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT). The tomographic phantoms represent the human anatomy with a large number of voxels that are assigned tissue type and organ identity. To date, a total of around 30 tomographic phantoms including male and female adults, pediatric phantoms, and even a pregnant female, have been developed and utilized for realistic radiation dosimetry calculation. They are based on MRI/CT images or sectional color photos from patients, volunteers or cadavers. Several investigators have compared tomographic phantoms with stylized phantoms, and demonstrated the superiority of tomographic phantoms in terms of realistic anatomy and dosimetry calculation. This paper summarizes the history and current status of both stylized and tomographic phantoms, including Korean computational phantoms. Advantages, limitations, and future prospects are also discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2012

Purpose : Combined MR/PET scanners that use the MRI for PET AC face the challenge of absent surface coils in MR images and thus cannot directly account for attenuation in the coils. To make up for the weak point of MR attenuation correction, Three Modality System (PET/CT +MR) were used in Severance hospital. The goal of this work was to investigate the effects of MR Torso Coil on CT attenuation correction for PET. Materials and Methods : PET artifacts were evaluated when the MR Torso Coil was present of CTAC data with changing various kV and mA in uniformity water phantom and 1994 NEMA cylinderical phantom. They evaluated and compared the following two scenarios: (1) The uniform cylinder phantom and the MR Torso Coil scanned and reconstructed using CT-AC; (2) 1994 NEMA cylinderical phantom and the MR Torso Coil scanned and reconstructed using CT-AC. Results : Streak artifacts were present in CT images containing the MR Torso Coil due to metal components. These artifacts persisted after the CT images were converted for PET-AC. CT scans tended to over-estimate the linear attenuation coefficient when the kV and mA is increasing of the metal components when using conventional methods for converting from CT number. Conclusion : The presence of MR coils during PET/CT scanning can cause subtle artifacts and potentially important quantification errors. Alternative CT techniques that mitigate artifacts should be used to improve AC accuracy. When possible, removing segments of an MR coil prior to the PET/CT exam is recommended. Further, MR coils could be redesigned to reduce artifacts by rearranging placement of the most attenuating materials.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 1997

3-dimensional Neuronavigator, Viewing Wand(ISG Technologies, Toronto, Cannda) is the surgery aid equipment for real time image (CT or MRI) guided surgery. The assurance of spatial accuracy of this system is important for clinical application. In this study, we have designed the acrylic brain phantom and measured the spatial error with that phantom. The phantom has designed to have capability to simulate image guided surgery. The phantom has 22 vertical rods whose diameters are 5mm and each rods has different length. CT scans were performed by 2.0mm slice and reconstructed for 3-Dimensional analysis. End point of rods can be obtained using reconstructed 3- Dimensional images and they are compared to actual position data. Average deviation was less than 2mm for various situations. Spatial error of Viewing Wand is acceptable in the clinical points of view, while cosmetics of the software needs to be modified to more user friend. Better accuracy can be expected when we apply the mixed fiducial fit registration and surface fit registration method. And even better results can be obtained if registration points distributed even and symetric around the target.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.506-508
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• 2002

As an advancement of medical imaging modalities and analyzing software with multi-function, active researches to acquire high contrast and high resolution image being done. In recently, development of medical imaging modalities like as Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is aiming to display anatomical structure more accuracy and faster. Thus, one of the important areas in CT today is the use of CT scanner for the quantitative evaluation of 3-D reconstruction images from 2-D tomographic images. In CT system, the effective slice thickness and the quality of 3-D reconstructed image will be influenced by imaging acquisition parameters (e.g. pitch and scan mode). In diagnosis and surgical planning, the accurate distance measurements of 3-D anatomical structures play an important role and the accuracy of distance measurements will depend on the acquisition parameters such as slice thickness, pitch, and scan mode. The skull phantom was scanned with SDCT for various acquisition parameters and acquisition slice thicknesses were 3 and 5 mm, and reconstruction intervals were 1, 2, and 3 mm to each pitch. 3-D visualizations and distance measurements were performed with PC based 3-D rendering and analyzing software. Results showed that the image quality and the measurement accuracy of 3-D SDCT images are independent to the reconstruction intervals and pitches.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 2012

A polymer gel dosimeter was fabricated. A 3-dimensional dosimetry experiment was performed in the small field of the photon of the cyberknife. The dosimeter was installed in a head and neck phantom. It was manufactured from the acrylic and it was used in dosimetry. By using the head and neck CT protocol of the CyberKnife system, CT images of the head and neck phantom were obtained and delivered to the treatment planning system. The irradiation to the dosimeter in the treatment planning was performed, and then, the image was obtained by using 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after 24 hours. The dose distribution of the phantom was analyzed by using MATLAB. The results of this measurement were compared to the results of calculation in the treatment planning. In the isodose curve on the axial direction, the dose distribution coincided with the high dose area, 0.76mm difference on 80%, rather than the low dose area, 1.29 mm difference on 40%. In this research, the fact that the polymer gel dosimeter and MRI can be applied for analyzing a small field in a 3 dimensional dosimetry was confirmed. Moreover, the feasibility of using these for the therapeutic radiation quality control was also confirmed.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.117-118
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• 1998

The aim of this work is to develop 3-D stereotactic localization system in order to determine the precise shape, size and location of the lesion in the brain in the field of Stereotactic Radiosurgery(SRS) and neurosurgery using CT/MRI/angiography and multi-purpose QA phantom. The algorithms to obtain a 3-D stereotactic coordinates of the target have been developed, and targets on each CT image were superimposed each other on MR/angiography images without distortion corretion. This system was implented in Visual C++ as a PC-based application program.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2000

Purpose : To assess the distortion of MRI with the Leksell stereotactic radiosurgery system in variable pulse sequence and imaging plane through phantom study, to find most adequate imaging plane and pulse sequence for stereotactic radiosurgery system. Materials and methods : We made the phantoms for MRI and get images in variable conditions and analyzed the image distortion using image analysis program, and statistically using paired student t-test. Results : The transeverse plane images had acceptable error ranges bless than 1.5mm) in all pulse sequence in both the analysis of fiducial marker in stereotactic G-frame and the phantom study. The coronal plane images had unacceptable large errors (more than 1.7mm) in the analysis of fiducial marker in the stereotactic G-frame, but had corrected small errors (less than 1.5mm) in the phantom study. Conclusion : We find from the phantom study that the present MR machines are adequate for stereotactic surgery system in frequently used pulse sequences, and imaging planes.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 1994

Purporse : It is known that detection of calcification by MRI is difficulty in intracranial calcified lesions, but author tried to evaluate the signal intensity image of calcification by MR with experimental model. Subjects & Methods : Author analyzed and compared with values of calcium carbonate and hydroxyapatite phantoms by each concentration (10, 20, 30, 40, 50%) and size(1-10mm), measured ROI attenuating from CT and MRI(TlWI & T2WI). Results : The high concentration of calcium carbonate is, the lower the signal intensity of calcium carbonate phantom is both T1 & T2WI. For concentration of Hydroxyapatite of up to 30% by weight the signal intensity on standard T1 weighted images increased but subsequently decreased. Hyperintensity does not preclude calcification as a cause of the signal alteration-an observation that all radiologists interpreting MR images need to be aware of. Conclusion: The signal intensity of intracranial calcification is various on MR imaging in concerning with components, concentration, & size of calcification, and especially high signal intensity of intracranial calcification noted differencial diagnosis.