• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.379-385
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• 2017

This study identifies the optimal tube voltages depending on the changes in the patient's body type for limb tests using a digital radiography (DR) system. For the upper-limp test, the dose area product (DAP) was fixed at $5.06dGy{\ast} cm^2$, and for the lower-limb test, the DAP was fixed at $5.04dGy{\ast} cm^2$. Afterwards, the tube voltage was changed to four different stages and the images were taken three times at each stage. The thickness of the limbs was increased by 10 mm to 30 mm to change in the patient's body type. For a quantitative evaluation, Image J was used to calculate the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and signal to noise ratio (SNR) among the four groups, according to the tube voltage. For statistical testing, the statistically significant differences were analyzed through the Kruskal-Wallis test at a 95% confidence level. For the qualitative analysis of the images, the pre-determined items were evaluated based on a 5-point Likert scale. In both upper-limb and lower-limb tests, the more the tube voltage increased, the more the CNR and SNR of the images decreased. The test on the changes depending on the patient's body shape showed that the more the thickness increased, the more the CNR and SNR decreased. In the qualitative evaluation on the upper limbs, the more the tube voltage increased, the more score increased to 4.6 at the maximum of 55kV and 3.6 at 40kV, respectively. The mean score for the lower limbs was 4.4, regardless of the tube voltage. The more either the upper or lower limbs got thicker, the more the score generally decreased. The score of the upper limps sharply dropped at 40kV, whereas that of the lower limps sharply dropped at 50kV. For patients with a standard thickness, the optimized images can be obtained when taken at 45kV for the upper limbs, and at 50kV for the lower limbs. However, when the thickness of the patient's limbs increases, it is best to set the tube voltage at 50 kV for the upper limbs and at 55 kV for the lower limbs.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiation dose for clinical PET/CT protocols in clinical environments using Alderson phantom and TLDs. Radiation doses were evaluated for both Philips GEMINI 16 slice PET/CT system and GE DSTe 16 slice PET/CT system. Specific organ doses with $^{137}Cs$ transmission scan, high quality CT scan and topogram in philips GEMINI PET/CT system were measured. Specific organ doses with CT scan for attenuation map, CT scan for diagnosis and topogram in GE DSTe PET/CT system were also measured. The organs were selected based on ICRP60 recommendation. The TLDs used for measurements were selected for within an accuracy of ${\pm}5%$ and calibrated in 10 MV X-ray radiation field. The effective doses for $^{137}Cs$ transmission scan, high qualify scan, and topogram in Philips GEMINI PET/CT system were $0.14{\pm}0.950,\;29.49{\pm}1.508\;and\;0.72{\pm}0.032mSv$ respectively. The effective doses for CT scan to make attenuation map, CT scan to diagnose and topogram in GE DSTe PET/CT system were $20.06{\pm}1.003,\;24.83{\pm}0.805\;and\;0.27{\pm}0.008mSv$ respectively. We evaluated the total effective dose by adding effective dose for PET Image. The total PET/CT doses for Philips GEMINI PET/CT (Topogram+$^{137}Cs$ transmission scan+PET, Topogram+high qualify CT+PET) and GE DSTe PET/CT (Topogram +CT for attenuation map+ PET, Topogram+diagnostic CT+ PET) are $7.65{\pm}0.951,\;37.00{\pm}1.508,\;27.12{\pm}1.003\;and\;31.89{\pm}0.805mSv$ respectively. Further study may be needed to be peformed to find optimal PET/CT acquisition protocols for reducing the patient exposure with good image qualify.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.487-502
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• 2012

This paper is focused on mineral compositions, microstructures and distributional characters of remained grains in the fault rocks collected from a fault developed in Yongdang-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju City, Korea, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscope, laser grain size analysis and fractal dimension analysis methods. The exposed fault core zone is about 1.5 meter thick. On the average, the breccia zone is 1.2 meter and the gouge zone is 20cm thick, respectively. XRD results show that the breccia zone consists predominantly of rock-forming minerals including quartz and feldspar, but the gouge zone consists of abundant clay minerals such as chlorite, illite and kaolinite. Mineral vein, pyrite and altered minerals commonly observed in the fault rock support evidence of fault activity associated with hydrothermal alteration. Fractal dimensions based on box counting, image analysis and laser particle analysis suggest that mineral grains in the fault rock underwent fracturing process as well as abrasion that gave rise to diminution of grains during the fault activity. Fractal dimensions(D-values) calculated by three methods gradually increase from the breccia zone to the gouge zone which has commonly high D-values. There are no noticeable changes in D-values in the gouge zone with trend being constant. It means that the bulk-crushing process of mineral grains in the breccia zone was predominant, whereas abrasion of mineral grains in the gouge zone took place by continuous fault activity. It means that the bulk-crushing process of mineral grains in the breccia zone was predominant, whereas abrasion of mineral grains in the gouge zone took place by continuous fault activity. Mineral compositions in the fault zone and peculiar trends in grain distribution indicate that multiple fault activity had a considerable influence on the evolution of fault zones, together with hydrothermal alteration. Meanwhile, fractal dimension values(D) in the fault rock should be used with caution because there is possibility that different values are unexpectedly obtained depending on the measurement methods available even in the same sample.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 2012

As the breast cancer rate is increasing fast in Korean women, people pay more attention to mammography and number of mammography have been increasing dramatically over the last few years. Mammography is the only means to diagnose breast cancer early, but harms caused by radiation exposure shouldn't be overlooked. Therefore, it is important to calculate the radiation dose being absorbed into the breast tissue during the process of mammography for a protective measure against radiation exposure. Because it is impossible to directly measure the radiation dose being absorbed into the human body, statistical calculation methods are commonly used, and most of them are supposed to simulate the interaction between radiation and matter by describing the human body internal structure with anthropomorphic phantoms. However, a simulation using Geant4 Code of Monte Carlo Method, which is well-known as most accurate in calculating the absorbed dose inside the human body, helps calculate exact dose by recreating the anatomical human body structure as it is through the DICOM file of CT. To calculate the absorbed dose in the breast tissue, therefore, this study carried out a simulation using Geant4 Code, and by using the DICOM converted file provided by Geant4, this study changed the human body structure expressed on the CT image data into geometry needed for this simulation. Besides, this study attempted to verify if the dose calculation of Geant4 interlocking with the DICOM file is useful, by comparing the calculated dose provided by this simulation and the measured dose provided by the PTW ion chamber. As a result, under the condition of 28kVp/190mAs, the Difference(%) between the measured dose and the calculated dose was found to be 0.08 %~0.33 %, and at 28 kVp/70 mAs, the Difference(%) of dose was 0.01 %~0.16 %, both of which showed results within 2%, the effective difference range. Therefore, this study found out that calculation of the absorbed dose using Geant4 Simulation is useful in measuring the absorbed dose in the breast tissue for mammography.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.342-351
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• 2010

The SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites were fabricated by combining 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 vol. % of zirconium diboride ($ZrB_2$) powders with silicon carbide (SiC) matrix. The SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites and the sintered compacts were produced through spark plasma sintering (SPS) under argon atmosphere, and its physical, electrical, and mechanical properties were examined. Also, the thermal image analysis of the SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites was examined. Reactions between $\beta$-SiC and $ZrB_2$ were not observed via x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The apparent porosity of the SiC+30vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+35vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+45vol.%$ZrB_2$ and SiC+50vol.%$ZrB_2$ composites were 7.2546, 0.8920, 0.6038, 1.0981, and 10.0108%, respectively. The XRD phase analysis of the sintered compacts demonstrated a high phase of SiC and $ZrB_2$. Among the $SiC+ZrB_2$ composites, the SiC+50vol.%$ZrB_2$ composite had the lowest flexural strength, 290.54MPa, the other composites had more than 980MPa flexural strength except the SiC+30vol.%$ZrB_2$ composite; the SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$ composite had the highest flexural strength, 1011.34MPa, at room temperature. The electrical properties of the SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites had positive temperature coefficient resistance (PTCR). The V-I characteristics of the SiC-$ZrB_2$ composites had a linear shape in the temperature range from room to $500^{\circ}C$. The electrical resistivities of the SiC+30vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+35vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$ SiC+45vol.%$ZrB_2$ and SiC+50vol.%$ZrB_2$ composites were $4.573\times10^{-3}$, $1.554\times10^{-3}$, $9.365\times10^{-4}$, $6.999\times10^{-4}$, and $6.069\times10^{-4}\Omega{\cdot}cm$, respectively, at room temperature, and their resistance temperature coefficients were $1.896\times10^{-3}$, $3.064\times10^{-3}$, $3.169\times10^{-3}$, $3.097\times10^{-3}$, and $3.418\times10^{-3}/^{\circ}C$ in the temperature range from room to $500^{\circ}C$, respectively. Therefore, it is considered that among the sintered compacts the SiC+35vol.%$ZrB_2$, SiC+40vol.%$ZrB_2$ and SiC+45vol.%$ZrB_2$ composites containing the most outstanding mechanical properties as well as PTCR and V-I characteristics can be used as an energy friendly ceramic heater or ohmic-contact electrode material through SPS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.403-407
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• 2018

Currently, the highest cancer death rate in Korea is lung cancer, which is a typical cancer that is difficult to detect early. Low-dose chest CT is being used for early detection, which has a greater lung cancer diagnosis rate of about three times than regular chest x-ray images. However, low-dose chest CT not only significantly reduces image resolution but also has a weak signal and is sensitive to noise. Also, air filled lungs are low-density organs and the presence of noise can significantly affect early diagnosis of cancer. This study used Visual C++ to set a circle inside a large circle with a density of 2.0, with a density of 1.0, which is the density of water, in which five small circle of mathematics have different densities. Gaussian noise was generated by 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% respectively to determine the effect of noise on the mean value, the standard deviation value, and the relative noise ratio(SNR). In areas where the density difference between the large and small circles was greatest in the event of 1 % noise, the SNR in the area with the greatest variation in noise was 4.669, and in areas with the lowest density difference, the SNR was 1.183. In addition, the SNR values can be seen to be high if the same results are obtained for both positive and negative densities. Quality was also clearly visible when the density difference was large, and if the noise level was increased, the SNR was reduced to significantly affect the noise. Low-density organs or organs in areas of similar density to cancers, will have significant noise effects, and the effects of density differences on the probability of noise will affect diagnosis.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2006

Purpose: Post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMR) is known to decrease loco-regional recurrence. Adequate skin and dermal dose are achieved by adding bolus. The more difficult clinical issue is determining the necessary number of bolus treatment, given the limits of normal skin tolerance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the necessary number of bolus treatment after PMR in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Four female breast cancer patients were included in the study. The median age was 53 years(range, $38{\sim}74$), tumor were left sided in 2 patients and right sided in 2patients. All patients were treated with postoperative radiotherapy after MRM. Radiotherapy was delivered to the chest wall (C.W) and supraclavicular lymph nodes (SCL) using 4 MV X-ray. The total dose was 50 Gy, in 2 Gy fractions (with 5 times a week). CT was peformed for treatment planning, treatment planning was peformed using $ADAC-Pinnacles^3$ (Phillips, USA) for all patients without and with bolus. Bolus treatment plans were generated using image tool (0.5 cm of thickness and 6 cm of width). Dose distribution was analyzed and the increased skin dose rate in the build-up region was computed and the skin dose using TLD-100 chips (Harshaw, USA) was measured. Results: No significant difference was found in dose distribution without and with bolus; C.W coverage was $95{\sim}100%$ of the prescribed dose in both. But, there was remarkable difference in the skin dose to the scar. The skin dose to the scar without and with bolus were $100{\sim}105%\;and\;50{\sim}75%$. The increased skin dose rates in the build-up region for Pt. 1, Pt. 2. Pt. 3 and Pt. 4 were 23.3%, 35.6%, 34.9%, and 41.7%. The results of measured skin dose using TLD-100 chips in the cases without and with bolus were 209.3 cGy and 161.1 cGy, 200 cGy and 150.2 cGy, 211.4 cGy and 160.5 cGy, 198.6 cGy and 155.5 cGy for Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, and Pt. 4. Conclusion: It was concludes through this analysis that the adequate number of bolus treatments is 50-60% of the treatment program. Further, clinical trial is needed to evaluate the benefit and toxicity associated with the use of bolus in PMR.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.29 no.1 s.72
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• pp.83-94
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of cancellous and cortical bone and the effect of estrogen in ovariectomized rats. Fifty female rats, 250gm in body weight, were divided into three groups : ovariectomized group(OVE), ovariectomized and estrogen-injected group(OVE-EST), and sham operated and estrogen-injected group(EST). Bilateral ovariectomy was performed at the onset of the experiment. In OVE-EST group and EST group, estrogen was injected $50{\mu}g/kg$ B.W. every other days from 3 weeks after surgery to sacrifice. Each five rats were sacrificed after 5, 6, 7 weeks. One side of mandibular body was radiographed with a soft x-ray apparatus(Hitex Co., Ltd., Japan). Thereafter the obtained microradiographs were used for the morphometric analysis using a Image analyzer. The morphometric analysis was perforrmed for parameters such as total bone area, cortex bone area and medullary bone area. The other side of the mandibular bone was decalcified and embedded in paraffin as using a general method. The specimens were sectioned and stained with Mallory's anilline blue and observed light microscopically. The results were as follows. 1 In all groups, the proportion of cortex to total bone area was not significantly different. 2. In ovariectomized(OVE) group, the proportion of marrow cavity to medullary bone area increased significantly from 5 to 7 weeks(p<0.05). In ovariectomized and estrogen-injected(OVE-EST) group, it decreased significantly at 7 weeks, and in estrogen-injected(EST) group, it decreased significantly from 6 weeks(p<0.05). 3. Microradiogram and histopathologic findings revealed that marrow cavity was enlarged and osteoclasts were observed around irregular bone surface in OVE group. In OVE-EST group, the size of marrow cavity at 7 weeks was similar to that of control group. In EST group, as dense trabecular bone increased from 5 to 7 weeks, marrow cavity decreased.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.534-538
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• 2001

Background: Knowledge of size and morphology of the normal trachea is important for airway management and tracheal reconstruction. Conventional radiography is a simple method used to measure the tracheal diameter, but it is not accurate because of the artifacts related to image magnification and overlapping by the shoulder. The purpose of this study was to provide the normal values of the tracheal size and anatomy in Korean adults using Computerized Topography. Material and Method: There were 43 men and 34 women included in this study. They were divided into three age groups(group 1, 20-39 years ; group 2, 40-59 yeas , groups 3, $\geq$60 years). The anteroposterior and transverse diameters and cross - sectional areas of the trachea were measured at the level of the thoracic inlet(Level 1) and the aortic arch(Level 2). These values obtained at each level were compared between age groups and sexes. Result: In 43 men, the anteroposterior / transverse diameters(mean SD in millimeters) of the trachea at levels 1 and 2 were 19.95$\pm$2.99 / 17.72$\pm$2.13 and 19.77$\pm$2.57 / 18.02$\pm$2.19, respectively. In 34 women, those values at levels 1 and 2 were 15.56$\pm$2.12 / 14.18$\pm$2.07 and 15.35$\pm$1.82 / 15.00$\pm$1.60, respectively. At both levels, the anteroposterior and transverse diameters were significantly greater in men than in women (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area of the trachea at levels 1 and 2 were 279.14$\pm$61.37 / 281.93$\pm$63.97 $\textrm{mm}^2$ in men and 173.29$\pm$35.81 / 181.88$\pm$34.74 in women, respectively. They also showed significantly greater values in men than in women(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in diameters and cross-sectional areas of the trachea between age groups. Conclusion: There are significant differences in the internal diameter and cross- sectional area of the trachea between men and women in normal Korean adults, while the age difference was insignificant. We believed CT is a relatively accurate and safe way to measure the internal diameter and cross-sectional areas of the trachea.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 1994

The need for assessment of ureteric function in the patient with an obviousely dilated ureter has increased particularly with the added spectrum of asymptomatic patients presenting with hydrone-phrosis and hydroureter on antenatal and perinatal ultrasound. To assess the influence of ureteral status on kidney washout during $^{99m}Tc$-DTPA diuretic renography, ureteral images were reviewed in 80 children referred for hydronephrosis. A scintigraphically abnormal ureter was defined as an intense and continuous image of > 10 min during diuretic renography. Out of them, a total of 16 nephroureteral systems in 12 children with scintigraphically abnormal ureter were analyzed. A diuretic washout index using response half time (t1/2) by linear fitting after lasix injection, was determined on renal (Kt1/2) and ureteral (Ut1/2) curves (diuretic renogram vs. diuretic ureterogram). Diuretic ureterogram curve patterns corresponding to normal (type I), obstructive (II) and non-obstructive (III) cases were described. Compared with X-ray data, diuretic renography was highly sensitive (88%) and specific (99%) for detecting any ureteral abnormality. Despite an obstructive Kt1/2 (>20 min), no patient with an abnormal ureter underwent therapy at the ureteropelvic junction because the hydronephrosis regressed after surgery at the lower level. Our data indicate that the abnormal ureter findings during diuretic renography have to be recognized before therapy for children with hydeonephrosis.