• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.165-169
• /
• 2010

Purpose : To survey the radiographic examination protocol for lateral cephalometric radiographic examinations and to measure their patient doses in Korea and to compare the dose according to the size of hospital, the type of image receptor system, and the installation duration. Materials and Methods : The radiographic examination protocols (kVp, mA, and exposure time) for lateral cephalometric radiography were surveyed with 61 cephalometric radiographic equipments and their patient dose-area product (DAP) measured with a DAP meter (DIAMENTOR M4-KDK, PTW, Freiburg, Germany) for 51 cephalometric radiographic equipments. The radiographic examination protocols and patient doses were compared according to the size of hospital (university dental hospital, dental hospital, and dental clinic), the type of image receptor system (film-based, DR and CR type) and the installation duration, respectively. SPSS 12.0.1 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA) was used for independent t-test and ANOVA test. Results : The average protocols were 77.0 kVp, 12.7 mA, 6.2 second for cephalometric radiography. The average patient dose (DAP) was $128.0mGy\;cm^2$ and 3rd quartile dose (DAP) $161.1mGy\;cm^2$ for cephalometric radiography for adult male. There was no statistically significant difference at average patient DAP according to the size of hospital, the type of image receptor system, and the installation duration, repectively. Conclusion : The average patient dose was $128.0mGy\;cm^2$ and the third quartile patient dose $161.1mGy\;cm^2$ for lateral cephalometric radiography for adult male in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.55-60
• /
• 2018

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of computer game exposure on pathological musculoskeletal symptoms in adolescents. Method: This study included 10 male junior high school students who used computers less than 3 times a week for 1 hr per day. The subjects were asked to play computer games for 4 hr. Magnetic resonance imaging of the hand and wrist, from the distal radius and ulnar head to the distal phalanges, and radiography of the cervical vertebrae were performed before and after playing computer games. For each dependent variable, a paired t-test was performed to identify significant changes before and after a 4-hr active computer game (p<.05). Results: The horizontal diameters of the flexor tendons in the index and middle fingers were significantly reduced after playing computer games. The horizontal diameters of the flexor tendons of other fingers did not show any significant differences, but there was a tendency toward a decrease after playing computer games. There was no significant change in the cervical lordosis angle before and after playing computer games. However, the cervical lordosis angle was relatively decreased. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that computer game exposure had direct and indirect effects on morphological changes of flexor tendons. In addition, playing computer games for long periods of time can have a negative effect on normal functioning of the musculoskeletal system, with the possible development of abnormalities. However, computer game exposure in adolescents cannot be decisively identified as a factor causing pathological symptoms, based on the results of this study alone. Thus, longterm longitudinal studies on the overall musculoskeletal system are necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.5
• /
• pp.1116-1120
• /
• 2022

The kidney is a rare site of ectopic adrenal adenoma. To the best of our knowledge, some cases of ectopic adrenal adenoma have been found in the kidney, but few of these cases explain the CT and MRI findings of the lesion. We reported a case of ectopic adrenal adenoma in the left renal sinus. A 47-year-old male patient underwent abdominal CT for routine health check-ups, which revealed a 1.2 cm enhancing mass in the left renal sinus. The MRI showed a signal drop of the mass in T1 weighted in- and opposed-phase, which indicates fat components. The mass was confirmed as an ectopic adrenal adenoma after surgery.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.16-24
• /
• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a significant correlation between vertebral marrow fat fraction measured using Dixon quantitative chemical shift MRI (QCSI) and BMD on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 68 healthy individuals [mean age, 50.7 years; range, 25-76; male/female (M/F) = 36/32] who underwent DXA of the L-spine and whole body MRI including QCSI of the L-spine and chemical shift MRI of the liver. The enrolled individuals were divided into subgroups according to sex and T-score [i.e., normal bone density (M/F=27/23) and osteopenia (M/F=9/9)]. Vertebral marrow (Dixon QCSI, TR/TE 10.2/4.8 ms) and hepatic fat fractions (chemical shift technique, TR/TE 110/4.9 and 2.2 ms) were calculated on MRI. We evaluated whether there were significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI), vertebral marrow fat fraction, or hepatic fat fraction among the subgroups. Whether or not the participant had reached menopause was also evaluated in females. The correlations among variables (i.e., age, BMI, vertebral marrow and hepatic fat fractions, BMD) were evaluated using Spearman's correlation method. Results: There were no significant differences in age, BMI, or vertebral marrow and hepatic fat fractions between the two male subgroups (normal bone density vs. osteopenia). In female subjects, mean age in the osteopenic subgroup was greater than that in the normal subgroup (p=0.01). Presence of menopause was more common in the osteopenic subgroup [77.8% (7/9)] than the normal subgroup [26.1% (6/23), p<0.05]. The other variables showed no significant difference between female subgroups. The only significant correlation with marrow fat fraction after partial correlation analysis was that with age in the female subjects (r=0.43, p<0.05). Conclusion: The vertebral marrow fat fraction calculated using the Dixon QCSI does not precisely reflect the mild decrease in BMD for either sex.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.82 no.6
• /
• pp.1477-1492
• /
• 2021

Purpose Dedicated breast CT is an emerging volumetric X-ray imaging modality for diagnosis that does not require any painful breast compression. To improve the detection rate of weakly enhanced lesions, an adaptive image rescaling (AIR) technique was proposed. Materials and Methods Two disks containing five identical holes and five holes of different diameters were scanned using 60/100 kVp to obtain single-energy CT (SECT), dual-energy CT (DECT), and AIR images. A piece of pork was also scanned as a subclinical trial. The image quality was evaluated using image contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The difference of imaging performances was confirmed using student's t test. Results Total mean image contrast of AIR (0.70) reached 74.5% of that of DECT (0.94) and was higher than that of SECT (0.22) by 318.2%. Total mean CNR of AIR (5.08) was 35.5% of that of SECT (14.30) and was higher than that of DECT (2.28) by 222.8%. A similar trend was observed in the subclinical study. Conclusion The results demonstrated superior image contrast of AIR over SECT, and its higher overall image quality compared to DECT with half the exposure. Therefore, AIR seems to have the potential to improve the detectability of lesions with dedicated breast CT.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.115-119
• /
• 2009

I think this will be valuable reference for assuring consistency and homogeneity of clarity and managing dental radiation equipment by experimentation of dental radiation equipment permanent which based on KS C IEC 61223-3-4 standard and KS C IEC 61223-2-7. Put a dental radiation generator and experiment equipment as source and film(sensor) length within 30 em, place the step-wedge above the film(sensor). Tie up tube voltage 60 kVp, tube current 7 mA and then get an each image through CCD sensor and film by changing the exposure time as 0.12sec, 0.25sec, 0.4sec. Repeat the test 5times as a same method. Measure the concentration of each stage of film image, which gained by experiment, using photometer. And the image that gained by CCD sensor, analyze the pixel value's change by using image J, which is analyzing image program provided by NIH(National Institutes of Health). In case of film, while 0.12sec and 0.25sec show regular rising pattern of density gap as exposure time's increase, 0.4sec shows low rather than 0.12sec and 0.25sec. In case of CCD sensor density test, the result shows opposite pattern of film. This makes me think that pixels of CCD's sensor can have 0~255 value but it becomes saturation if the value is over 255. The way that getting clear reception during decreasing human's exposed radiation is one of maintaining an equipment as a best condition. So we should keeping a dental radiation equipment's condition steadily through cyclic permanent test after factor examination. Even digital equipment doesn't maintain a permanent, it can maintain a clarity by post processing of image so that hard to set it as standard of permanent test. Therefore it would be more increase the accuracy that compare a film as standard image. Thus I consider it will be an important measurement to care for dental radiation equipment and warrant homogeneity, consistency of dental image's clarity through comparing pattern which is the result from factor test against cyclic permanent test.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2021

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to manufacture a patient-specific gel phantom combining three-dimensional (3D) printing and polymer gel and evaluate the radiation dose and dose profile using gel dosimetry. Methods: The patient-specific head phantom was manufactured based on the patient's computed tomography (CT) scan data to create an anatomically replicated phantom; this was then produced using a ColorJet 3D printer. A 3D polymer gel dosimeter called RTgel-100 is contained inside the 3D printing head phantom, and irradiation was performed using a 6 MV LINAC (Varian Clinac) X-ray beam, a linear accelerator for treatment. The irradiated phantom was scanned using magnetic resonance imaging (Siemens) with a magnetic field of 3 Tesla (3T) of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Medicine, and then compared the irradiated head phantom with the dose calculated by the patient's treatment planning system (TPS). Results: The comparison between the Hounsfield unit (HU) values of the CT image of the patient and those of the phantom revealed that they were almost similar. The electron density value of the patient's bone and brain was 996±167 HU and 58±15 HU, respectively, and that of the head phantom bone and brain material was 986±25 HU and 45±17 HU, respectively. The comparison of the data of TPS and 3D gel revealed that the difference in gamma index was 2%/2 mm and the passing rate was within 95%. Conclusions: 3D printing allows us to manufacture variable density phantoms for patient-specific dosimetric quality assurance (DQA), develop a customized body phantom of the patient in the future, and perform a patient-specific dosimetry with film, ion chamber, gel, and so on.

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.298-307
• /
• 2009

By using the MR T2 map technique, this study intends, first, to measure the change of T2 values of cartilage between healthy people and patients with osteoarthritis and, second, to assess the form and the damage of cartilage in the knee-joint, through which this study would consider the utility of the T2 map technique. Thirty healthy people were selected based on their clinical history and current status and another thirty patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who were screened by simple X-ray from November 2007 to December 2008 were selected. Their T2 Spin Echo (SE hereafter) images for the cartilage of the knee joint were collected by using the T2 SE sequence, one of the multi-echo methods (TR: 1,000 ms; TE values: 6.5, 13, 19.5, 26, 32.5. 40, 45.5, 52). Based on these images, the changes in the signal intensity (SI hereafter) for each section of the cartilage of the knee joint were measured, which yielded average values of T2 through the Origin 7.0 Professional (Northampton, MA 01060 USA). With these T2s, the independent samples T-test was performed by SPSS Window version 12.0 to run the quantitative analysis and to test the statistical significance between the healthy group and the patient group. Closely looking at T2 values for each anterior and lateral articular cartilage of the sagittal plane and the coronal plane, in the sagittal plane, the average T2 of the femoral cartilage in the patient group with arthritis of the knee ($42.22{\pm}2.91$) was higher than the average T2 of the healthy group ($36.26{\pm}5.01$). Also, the average T2 of the tibial cartilage in the patient group ($43.83{\pm}1.43$) was higher than the average T2 in the healthy group ($36.45{\pm}3.15$). In the case of the coronal plane, the average T2 of the medial femoral cartilage in the patient group ($45.65{\pm}7.10$) was higher than the healthy group ($36.49{\pm}8.41$) and so did the average T2 of the anterior tibial cartilage (i.e., $44.46{\pm}3.44$ for the patient group vs. $37.61{\pm}1.97$ for the healthy group). As for the lateral femoral cartilage in the coronal plane, the patient group displayed the higher T2 ($43.41{\pm}4.99$) than the healthy group did ($37.64{\pm}4.02$) and this tendency was similar in the lateral tibial cartilage (i.e., $43.78{\pm}8.08$ for the patient group vs. $36.62{\pm}7.81$ for the healthy group). Along with the morphological MR imaging technique previously used, the T2 map technique seems to help patients with cartilage problems, in particular, those with the arthritis of the knee for early diagnosis by quantitatively analyzing the structural and functional changes of the cartilage.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.74-84
• /
• 2004

Purpose: Since I-125 emits low energy (27-35 keV) radiation, thinner crystal and collimator could be employed and, hence, it is favorable to obtain high quality images. The purpose of this study was to derive the optimized parameters of I-125 SPECT using a new simulation tool, GATE (Geant4 Application for Tomographic Emission). Materials and Methods: To validate the simulation method, gamma camera developed by Weisenberger et al. was modeled. Nal(T1) plate crystal was used and its thickness was determined by calculating detection efficiency. Spatial resolution and sensitivity curves were estimated by changing variable parameters for parallel-hole and pinhole collimator. Peformances of I-125 SPECT equipped with the optimal collimator were also estimated. Results: in the validation study, simulations were found to agree well with experimental measurements in spatial resolution (4%) and sensitivity (3%). In order to acquire 98% gamma ray detection efficiency, Nal(T1) thickness was determined to be 1 mm. Hole diameter (mm), length (mm) and shape were chosen to be 0.2:5:square and 0.5:10:hexagonal for high resolution (HR) and general purpose (GP) parallel-hole collimator, respectively. Hole diameter, channel height and acceptance angle of pinhole (PH) collimator were determined to be 0.25 mm, 0.1 mm and 90 degree. The spatial resolutions of reconstructed image of the I-125 SPECT employing HR:GP:PH were 1.2:1.7:0.8 mm. The sensitivities of HR:GP:PH were 39.7:71.9:5.5 cps/MBq. Conclusion: The optimal crystal and collimator parameters for I-125 Imaging were derived by simulation using GATE. The results indicate that excellent resolution and sensitivity imaging is feasible using I-125 SPECT.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.12-16
• /
• 2015

Purpose Principal component analysis (PCA) is a method often used in the neuroimagre analysis as a multivariate analysis technique for describing the structure of high dimensional correlation as the structure of lower dimensional space. PCA is a statistical procedure that uses an orthogonal transformation to convert a set of observations of correlated variables into a set of values of linearly independent variables called principal components. In this study, in order to investigate the usefulness of PCA in the brain PET image analysis, we tried to analyze C[11]-PIB PET image as a representative case. Materials and Methods Nineteen subjects were included in this study (normal = 9, AD/MCI = 10). For C[11]-PIB, PET scan were acquired for 20 min starting 40 min after intravenous injection of 9.6 MBq/kg C[11]-PIB. All emission recordings were acquired with the Biograph 6 Hi-Rez (Siemens-CTI, Knoxville, TN) in three-dimensional acquisition mode. Transmission map for attenuation-correction was acquired using the CT emission scans (130 kVp, 240 mA). Standardized uptake values (SUVs) of C[11]-PIB calculated from PET/CT. In normal subjects, 3T MRI T1-weighted images were obtained to create a C[11]-PIB template. Spatial normalization and smoothing were conducted as a pre-processing for PCA using SPM8 and PCA was conducted using Matlab2012b. Results Through the PCA, we obtained linearly uncorrelated independent principal component images. Principal component images obtained through the PCA can simplify the variation of whole C[11]-PIB images into several principal components including the variation of neocortex and white matter and the variation of deep brain structure such as pons. Conclusion PCA is useful to analyze and extract the main pattern of C[11]-PIB image. PCA, as a method of multivariate analysis, might be useful for pattern recognition of neuroimages such as FDG-PET or fMRI as well as C[11]-PIB image.