• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 1996

Using the 2-D and 3-D Hoffman brain phantom, 3-D Jaszczak phantom and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, the effects of data acquisition parameter, attenuation, noise, scatter and reconstruction algorithm on image quantitation as well as image quality were studied. For the data acquisition parameters, the images were acquired by changing the increment angle of rotation and the radius. The less increment angle of rotation resulted in superior image quality. Smaller radius from the center of rotation gave better image quality, since the resolution degraded as increasing the distance from detector to object increased. Using the flood data in Jaszczak phantom, the optimal attenuation coefficients were derived as 0.12cm$\^$-1/ for all collimators. Consequently, the all images were corrected for attenuation using the derived attenuation coefficients. It showed concave line profile without attenuation correction and flat line profile with attenuation correction in flood data obtained with jaszczak phantom. And the attenuation correction improved both image qulity and image quantitation. To study the effects of noise, the images were acquired for 1min, 2min, 5min, 10min, and 20min. The 20min image showed much better noise characteristics than 1min image indicating that increasing the counting time reduces the noise characteristics which follow the Poisson distribution. The images were also acquired using dual-energy windows, one for main photopeak and another one for scatter peak. The images were then compared with and without scatter correction. Scatter correction improved image quality so that the cold sphere and bar pattern in Jaszczak phantom were clearly visualized. Scatter correction was also applied to 3-D Hoffman brain phantom and resulted in better image quality. In conclusion, the SPECT images were significantly affected by the factors of data acquisition parameter, attenuation, noise, scatter, and reconstruction algorithm and these factors must be optimized or corrected to obtain the useful SPECT data in clinical applications.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.23-31
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• 2012

There are AEC mode and fix mode to exposure when the whole spine antero-posterior radiography is done by using DR equipment. This study compared the utility of fix mode to AEC mode, by evaluating organ dose and effective dose and by examining the quality of radiographic image. GE DEFINIUM 8000 and ART-200X Rando Phantom manufactured by Flukebiometical were used for this study. The Rando phantom was set in front of wall detector of X-rays equipment. AEC mode was set at 80kVp and Fix mode was set at 80kVp, 25mAs, 32mAs, 40mAs, and 50mAs. Whole spine AP image were aquired by combining C, T-L and L-S spine images obtained through 3 exposures. When obtaining C, T-L and L-S spine images, were checked for Air kerma (mGy) value calculated by UNFORS Xi meter attached at the phantom surface of center of radiation field. The effective and organ doses were compared by PCXMC program (PC-Based Monte Carlo Program). The quality of obtained radiographic image was evaluated visually by 3 radiologists using resolution chart. When the effective doses was calculated based on tissue weighting factor of ICRP-103, 1.278mSv was measured by AEC mode, and Fix mode measured 0.405mSv at 25mAs, 0.518mSv at 32mAs, 0.649mSv at 40mAs, and 0.810mSv at 50mAS. In addition, the organ dose measured with esposure at 25mAs by Fix mode was almost equivalent to the organ dose by AEC mode, at the esophagus, thyroid, oral mucosa, salivaly glands located at the cervical spine part, while the organ dose by Fix mode was in general lower than the organ dose by AEC mode at the other organs. When Fix mode at 32mAs, 40mAs, and 50mAs was compared to AEC mode for organ dose in 26 organs, AEC mode had higher measurement in 21 organs but not for than brain, trachea, thyroid, oral mucosa, and salivaly glands which are located at the cervical spine part. The image quality evaluated by resolution test chart was much higher with AEC mode than the quality with Fix mode at all exposure conditions. However, while the image quality of cervical spine exposured at 50mAs by Fix mode was lower than the quality of AEC mode, thoraco-lumbar spine and lumbo-sacral spine were calculated and the quality was similar to AEC mode. Scoliosis occurs mainly at thoraco-lumbar and lumbo-sacral spine, not at cervical spine. Compared to AEC mode, Using the appropriate protocol (80kVp, 50mAs) of fix mode for whole spine AP radiography was thought to be useful because the image quality of the thoraco-lumar and lumbo-sacral spine was similar on AEC mode, Also organ and effective doses can be decreased with Fix mode. Therefore, It is considered that fix mode can be used properly with AEC mode for whole spine AP radiography when considering patient's body posture.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2007

It is important to consider the contrast of object in Mammography because an absorption gap between tissues of body and breast in breast is low. This study is to evaluate MTF image with resolution chart according to change of combination of target and filter. The results were as follows : 1. There were significant differences in X-ray energy according to combination of filter(Mo/Mo, Mo/Rh. Mo/Al, Rh/Rh, Rh/Al) and acrylic thickness(2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm). 2. The value of lp/mm on MTF to 0.5 showed that the sharpness in MTF curve was 2.4 compared to Mo/Mo and 2cm acryl, 2.63 in Mo/Rh and 4 cm acryl, and 2.9 in Rh/Rh and 6cm acryl. 3. The value of lp/mm on MTF showed that the resolution in MTF curve was 6.0 compared to Mo/Mo and 2 cm acryl, 4.60 in Rh/Al and 4cm acryl, and 6.03 in Rh/Al and 6 cm acryl. 4. The value of MTF on 2.5 lp/mm distinguishable visually was 0.48 compared to Mo/Mo and 2 cm acryl, 0.53 in Mo/Rh and 4cm acryl, and 0.59 in Rh/Rh and 6cm acryl. 5. For the evaluation of an image of the mammo-phantom, the score of Mo/Mo was 12 points, Mo/Rh 11, Rh/Rh 10.5, Mo/Al 10, Rh/Al 9.0, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was tried to remove the noise and improve the spatial resolution in the computed tomography (CT) by using anisotropic 2-dimensional (2D) diffusion based filter. We used 4-channel multi-detector CT and american association of physicists in medicine (AAPM) phantom was used for CT performance evaluation to evaluate the image quality. X-ray irradiation conditions for image acquisition was fixed at 120 kVp, 100 mAs and scanned 10 mm axis with ultra-high resolution. The improvement of anisotropic 2D diffusion filtering that we suggested firstly, increase the contrast of the image by using histogram stretching to the original image for 0.4%, and multiplying the individual pixels by 1.2 weight value, and applying the anisotropic diffusion filtering. As a result, we could distinguished five holes until 0.75 mm in the original image but, five holes until 0.40 mm in the image with improved anisotropic diffusion filter. The noise of the original image was 46.0, the noise of the image with improved anisotropic 2D diffusion filter was decreased to 33.5(27.2%). In conclusion improved anisotropic 2D diffusion filter that we proposed could remove the noise of the CT image and improve the spatial resolution.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2010

Inveon PET is a recently developed preclinical PET system for small animal. This study was conducted to measure the performance of Inveon PET as recommended by the NEMA NU 4-2008. We measured the spatial resolution, the sensitivity, the scatter fraction and the NECR using a F-18 source. A 3.432 ns coincidence window was used. A $1\;mm^3$ sized F-18 point source was used for the measurement of spatial resolution within an energy window of 350~625 keV. PET acquisition was performed to obtain the spatial resolution from the center to the 5 cm offset toward the edge of the transverse FOV. Sensitivity, scatter fraction, and NECR were measured within an energy window of 350~750 keV. For measuring the sensitivity, a F-18 line source (length: 12.7 cm) was used with concentric 5 aluminum tubes. For the acquisition of the scatter fraction and the NECR, two NEMA scatter phantoms (rat: 50 mm in diameter, 150 mm in length; mouse: 25 mm in diameter, 70 mm in length) were used and the data for 14 half-lives (25.6 hr) was obtained using the F-18 line source (rat: 316 MBq, mouse: 206 MBq). The spatial resolution of the F-18 point source was 1.53, 1.50 and 2.33 mm in the radial, tangential and axial directions, respectively. The volumetric resolution was $5.43\;mm^3$ in the center. The absolute sensitivity was 6.61%. The peak NECR was 486 kcps @121 MBq (rat phantom), and 1056 kcps @128 MBq (mouse phantom). The values of the scatter fraction were 20.59% and 7.93% in the rat and mouse phantoms, respectively. The performances of the Inveon animal PET scanner were measured in this study. This scanner will be useful for animal imaging.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2000

The IP(imaging plate) has been widely used to measure the two-dimensional distribution of incident radiation since it has a high sensitivity, reusability, a wide dynamic range, a high position resolution. Particularly, the easiness of acquiring digitized image using IP poses a strong merit because recent trend of data handling prefers image digitization. In order to test its usefulness in photon beam dosimetry, we measured the off-axis ratio(OAR) on portal planes and percent depth dose(PDD) within a phantom using IP, and compared the results with the data based on EGS4 Monte Carlo particle transport code, ion-chambers, conventional films. For the measurement, we used 6 MV X-rays, various field sizes. As a result, IP showed significant deviation from ion-chamber measurement: a significant overresponse, 100% greater than that of ion-chamber measurement at deep part of the phantom. Filtration of low-energy scattered photons at deep part of the phantom using 0.5 mm thick lead sheets did improve the result, only to the unacceptable extent. However, portal dose measurement showed possibilities of If as a dosimeter by showing errors less than 5%, as compared with film measurement.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.577-584
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• 2013

IGRT(Image Guided Radiation Therapy) in radiation therapy is a very useful technique in order to increase setup of patient and position reproducibility. Tomotherapy can increase accuracy of setup to take IGRT by MVCT, but it be for verified accuracy of Image guided, and MVCT occurs the exposure of patient. Through this study, IGRT accuracy of Tomotherapy is very accurate within 1.0mm. When MVCT using Tomotherapy phantom for QA, QC be taken, exposure dose is Fine(2mm Slice thickness) 3cGy, Normal(4mm Slice thickness) 1.5cGy, Corse(6mmSlice thickness) 1.0cGy. Measurement value of spatial resolution using AAPM CT performance phantom did't cause a big difference. As a result, ability of IGRT in Tomotherapy is very accurate. While obtaining image for IGRT, we should minimize expose range because patient's be exposed to radiation. We should make an effort to do accurate radiation therapy to minimize exposure of patient by selecting the appropriate thickness of MVCT depending on patient's body and treat area.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 1998

We can and must improve the diagnostic images using available knowledge and technology. At the same time we must strive to reduce the patient's integral and entrance radiation dose. Reducing the integral dose to the patient during the radiologic procedure is a primary concern of the patient, especially the pediatric patient, the radiologist and the technologist. A 100cm focal film distance generally is used for most over-table radiography. The early x-ray tubes and screen film combinations required long exposures, which often resulted in motion artifacts. But nowaday, we have the generators and x-ray tubes that can deliver the energy necessary in a very short time and the receptors that can record the information just as rapidly. And, we performed this studies to evaluate the patient exposure dose and the image quality by increasing focal film distance in diagnostic radiography. There are many factors which affected to exposure factor, but we studied to verify of FFD increase, only. Effect of increasing the focal film distance to a 140 cm distance was tested as follows; 1. The focal film distances were set at 100, 120, and 140cm. 2. A 18cm acryl(tissue equivalent) phantom was placed on the table top. 3. An Capintec 192 electrometer with PM 05 ion chamber was placed at the entrance surface of the phantom, and exposure were made at each focal film distances. 4. The procedure was repeated in the same manner as above except the ion chamber was placed beneath the phantom at the film plane. 5. Exit exposure were normalize to 8mR for each portions of the experiment. Based on the success of the empirical measurements, a detailed mathematical analysis of the dose reduction was performed using the percent depth dose data. The results of this study can be summerized as followings ; 1) Increasing FFD from 100 cm to 140 cm, we would create a situation that would have a significant effect on the overall quality of radiograph and achive the 17.42% reduction of entrance dose and the 18.95% reduction of integral dose that the patient receives. 2) Thickness of Al step wedge for equal film density increased with the long distance. 3) Increasing FFD, Magnification of image was lowered. 4) Resolution of image also increased with the FFD. As the results described above, we strongly recommend using the long FFD to provide better information for our patients and profession in abdomen radiographic studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2021

Computed tomography (CT) has the problem of having more radiation exposure compared to other radiographic apparatus. There is a low-dose imaging technique for reducing exposure, but it has a disadvantage of increasing noise in the image. To compensate for this, various noise reduction algorithms have been developed that improve image quality while reducing the exposure dose of patients, of which the median modified Wiener filter (MMWF) algorithm that can be effectively applied to CT devices with excellent time resolution has been presented. The purpose of this study is to optimize the mask size of MMWF algorithm and to see the excellence of noise reduction of MMWF algorithm for existing algorithms. After applying the MMWF algorithm with each mask sizes set from the MASH phantom abdominal images acquired using the MATLAB program, which includes Gaussian noise added, and compared the values of root mean square error (RMSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), coefficient correlation (CC), and universal image quality index (UQI). The results showed that RMSE value was the lowest and PSNR, CC and UQI values were the highest in the 5 x 5 mask size. In addition, comparing Gaussian filter, median filter, Wiener filter, and MMWF with RMSE, PSNR, CC, and UQI by applying the optimized mask size. As a result, the most improved RMSE, PSNR, CC, and UQI values were showed in MMWF algorithms.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2018

We aims to perform comparative analysis on the dose area and image qualities varying on the slice thickness when using Automatic Exposure Controller (AEC) and manual exposure; thus, it wants to suggest a measure to reduce exposure dose by setting the optimal examination condition for each slice thickness. The method was to set the thickness as Thin, Normal, and Heavy adult and evaluate the dose area, spatial resolution, low contrast resolution, Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) according to each slice thickness by using the AEC and the manual exposure controller. The dose area according to each slice thickness all increased both when using the AEC and the manual exposure. However, the manual exposure showed lower dose area product than the AEC. Spatial resolutions and low contrast resolutions were all observed to be higher than the evaluation standard. Also, the SNR and CNR of each thickness all increased when using the AEC. When using the manual exposure, SNR and CNR increased in all cases other than the Heavy Adult. Consequently, the Thin and Normal Adult showed dose reduction about 2 times when using the manual exposure controller, while ensuring the image quality. Heavy adult was able to maintain good image quality by using AEC.