• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of an iterative reconstruction algorithm and an automatic exposure control (AEC) technique on image quality and radiation dose through phantom experiments with coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography protocols. We scanned the AAPM CT performance phantom using 320 multi-detector-row CT. At the tube voltages of 80, 100, and 120 kVp, the scanning was repeated with two settings of the AEC technique, i.e., with the target standard deviations (SD) values of 33 (the higher tube current) and 44 (the lower tube current). The scanned projection data were reconstructed also in two ways, with the filtered back projection (FBP) and with the iterative reconstruction technique (AIDR-3D). The image quality was evaluated quantitatively with the noise standard deviation, modulation transfer function, and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR). More specifically, we analyzed the influences of selection of a tube voltage and a reconstruction algorithm on tube current modulation and consequently on radiation dose. Reduction of image noise by the iterative reconstruction algorithm compared with the FBP was revealed eminently, especially with the lower tube current protocols, i.e., it was decreased by 46% and 38%, when the AEC was established with the lower dose (the target SD=44) and the higher dose (the target SD=33), respectively. As a side effect of iterative reconstruction, the spatial resolution was decreased by a degree that could not mar the remarkable gains in terms of noise reduction. Consequently, if coronary CT angiogprahy is scanned and reconstructed using both the automatic exposure control and iterative reconstruction techniques, it is anticipated that, in comparison with a conventional acquisition method, image noise can be reduced significantly with slight decrease in spatial resolution, implying clinical advantages of radiation dose reduction, still being faithful to the ALARA principle.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2013

Purpose: Myocardial perfusion SPECT using $^{201}Tl$ is an important method for viability of left ventricle and quantitative evaluation of cardiac function and now various reconstruction methods are used to improve the image quality. But in case of small sized heart, you should always be careful because of the Partial Volume Effect which may cause errors of quantitative indices at the reconstruction step. So, In this study, we compared those quantitative indices of left ventricle according to the reconstruction method of myocardial perfusion SPECT with the Echocardiography and verified the degree of the differences between them. Materials and Methods: Based on ESV 30 mL of Echocardiography, we divided 278 patients (male;98, female;188, Mean age;$65.5{\pm}11.1$) who visited the Asan medical center from February to September, 2012 into two categories; below the criteria to small sized heart, otherwise, normal or large sized heart. Filtered and output each case, we applied the method of FBP and OSEM to each of them, and calculated EDV, ESV and LVEF, and we conducted statistical processing through Repeated Measures ANOVA with indices that measured in Echocardiography. Results: In case of men and women, there were no significant difference in EDV between FBP and OSEM (p=0.053, p=0.098), but in case of Echocardiography, there were meaningful differences (p<0.001). The change of ESV especially women in small sized heard, significant differences has occurred among FBP, OSEM and Echocardiography. Also, in LVEF, there were no difference in men and women who have normal sized heart among FBP, OSEM and Echocardiography (p=0.375, p=0.969), but the women with small sized heart have showed significant differences (p<0.001). Conclusion: The change in quantitative indices of left ventricle between Nuclear cardiology image reconstruction, no difference has occurred in the patients with normal sized heart but based on ESV, under 30 mL of small sized heart, especially in female, there were significant differences in FBP, OSEM and Echocardiography. We found out that overestimated LVEF caused by PVE can be reduced in average by applying OSEM to all kinds of gamma camera, which are used in analyzing the differences.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2011

Purpose: Basal/Acetazolamide-challenged brain perfusion SPECT is very useful to assess cerebral perfusion and vascular reserve. However, as there is a trade off between sensitivity and spatial resolution in the selection of collimator, the selection of optimal collimator is crucial. In this study, we examined three collimators to select optimal one for 1-day brain perfusion SPECT. Materials and Methods: Three collimators, low energy high resolution-parallel beam (LEHR-par), ultra resolution-fan beam (LEUR-fan) and super fine-fan beam (LESFR-fan), were tested for 1-day imaging using Triad XLT 9 (TRIONIX). The SPECT images of Hoffman 3D brain phantom filled with 99mTc of 170 MBq and a normal volunteer were acquired with a protocol of 50 kcts/frame and detector rotation of 3 degree. Filterd backprojection (FBP) reconstruction with Butterworth filter (cut off frequencies, 0.3 to 0.5) was performed. The quantitative and qualitative assessments for three collimators were performed. Results: The blind tests showed that LESFR-fan provided the best image quality for Hoffman brain phantom and the volunteer. However, images for all the collimator were evaluated as 'acceptable'. On the other hand, in order to meet the equivalent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), total acquisition time or radioactivity dose for LESFR-fan must have been increased up to almost twice of that for LEUR-fan and LEHR-par. The volunteer test indicated that total acquisition time could be reduced approximately by 10 to 14 min in clinical practice using LEUR-fan and LEHR-par without significant loss on image quality, in comparison with LESFR-fan. Conclusion: Although LESFR-fan provides the best image quality, it requires significantly more acquisition time than LEUR-fan and LEHR-par to provide reasonable SNR. Since there is no significant clinical difference between three collimators, LEUR-fan and LEHR-par can be recommended as optimal collimators for 1-day brain perfusion imaging with respect to image quality and SNR.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2012

Purpose : In conventional PET image reconstruction, iterative reconstruction methods such as OSEM (Ordered Subsets Expectation Maximization) have now generally replaced traditional analytic methods such as filtered back-projection. This includes improvements in components of the system model geometry, fully 3D scatter and low noise randoms estimates. SharpIR algorithm is to improve PET image contrast to noise by incorporating information about the PET detector response into the 3D iterative reconstruction algorithm. The aim of this study is evaluation of SharpIR reconstruction method in PET/CT. Materials and Methods: For the measurement of detector response for the spatial resolution, a capillary tube was filled with FDG and scanned at varying distances from the iso-center (5, 10, 15, 20 cm). To measure image quality for contrast recovery, the NEMA IEC body phantom (Data Spectrum Corporation, Hillsborough, NC) with diameters of 1, 13, 17 and 22 for simulating hot and 28 and 37 mm for simulating cold lesions. A solution of 5.4 kBq/mL of $^{18}F$-FDG in water was used as a radioactive background obtaining a lesion of background ratio of 4.0. Images were reconstructed with VUE point HD and VUE point HD using SharpIR reconstruction algorithm. For the clinical evaluation, a whole body FDG scan acquired and to demonstrate contrast recovery, ROIs were drawn on a metabolic hot spot and also on a uniform region of the liver. Images were reconstructed with function of varying iteration number (1~10). Results: The result of increases axial distance from iso-center, full width at half maximum (FWHM) is also increasing in VUE point HD reconstruction image. Even showed an increasing distances constant FWHM. VUE point HD with SharpIR than VUE point HD showed improves contrast recovery in phantom and clinical study. Conclusion: By incorporating more information about the detector system response, the SharpIR algorithm improves the accuracy of underlying model used in VUE point HD. SharpIR algorithm improve spatial resolution for a line source in air, and improves contrast recovery at equivalent noise levels in phantoms and clinical studies. Therefore, SharpIR algorithm can be applied as through a longitudinal study will be useful in clinical.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 2012

Purpose : Presently, hardwares and softwares for reducing radiation exposure are continually developed for PET/CT examination. Purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of reducing radiation exposure dose of CT and SUV changes of PET when applied each kernel to ACCT (Attenuation Correction Computed Tomography) according to adopted IRIS (Iterative Reconstruction in Image Space) software. Materials and Methods : Biograph mCT (Siemens, Germany) was used as a PET/CT scanner. Using AAPM CT performance phantom, from standard (120 kVp, 100 mAs), 7 scans were conducted by reducing 15 mAs each. After image reconstruction by FBP (Filtered Back Projection) and IRIS, noise and spatial resolution were evaluated. The same method was applied to anthropomorphic chest phantom and acquired images were compared. NEMA IEC body phantom was used for SUV evaluation. Injected dose rate for hot sphere (hot) and background cylinder (BKG) were 1:8. CT dose condition (120 kVp, 50 mAs) was the same for each scan and PET scan durations were 1, 2, 3 and 4min. After scanning, each kernel of IRIS was applied to ACCT. And PET images were reconstructed by ACCT adopted IRIS for comparing SUV changes. Results : AAPM phantom test for noise evaluation, SD for FBP 100 mAs, IRIS 55 mAs were 8.8 and 8.9. FBP 85 mAs, IRIS 40 mAs were 9.5 and 9.7. FBP 70 mAs, IRIS 25 mAs were 11.9 and 11.1. Above mAs condition for FBP and IRIS, SD showed similar values. And for spatial resolution test, there was no significant difference. For chest phantom test, when applied the same mAs and kernel to both of FBP and IRIS, every applied kernels showed reduced noise. Lower mAs and higher kernel value showed higher noise reduction. There was no considerable difference only except for I70 very sharp kernel for SUV comparison using NEMA IEC body phantom. Conclusion : In this study, low mAs (55 mAs) applied IRIS and standard mAs (100 mAs) applied FBP showed similar noise. And only except for I70 kernel, there was no significant SUV changes. It is possible to reduce needless radiation exposure and acquire better image quality than FBP's through applying appropriate kernel of IRIS to PET/CT.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.253-258
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and analyze the relationship between the external radiation dose reconstruction which is transmitted from the patient who receives radiation treatment through electronic portal imaging device (EPID) and the internal dose derived from the Monte Carlo simulation. As a comparative analysis of the two cases, it is performed to provide a basic indicator for similar studies. The geometric information of the experiment and that of the radiation source were entered into Monte Carlo n-particle (MCNPX) which is the computer simulation tool and to derive the EPID images, a tally card in MCNPX was used for visualizing and the imaging of the dose information. We set to source to surface distance (SSD) 100 cm for internal measurement and EPID. And the water phantom was set to be 100 cm of the source to surface distance (SSD) for the internal measurement and EPID was set to 90 cm of SSD which is 10 cm below. The internal dose was collected from the water phantom by using mesh tally function in MCNPX, accumulated dose data was acquired by four-portal beam exposures. At the same time, after getting the dose which had been passed through water phantom, dose reconstruction was performed using back-projection method. In order to analyze about two cases, we compared the penetrated dose by calibration of itself with the absorbed one. We also evaluated the reconstructed dose using EPID and partially accumulated (overlapped) dose in water phantom by four-portal beam exposures. The sum dose data of two cases were calculated as each 3.4580 MeV/g (absorbed dose in water) and 3.4354 MeV/g (EPID reconstruction). The result of sum dose match from two cases shows good agreement with 0.6536% dose error.