• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.669-676
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in the values of Hounsfield Unit (HU) according to the changes in monoenergy (keV) and dilution ratio of the contrast agent, using the spectral CT. Spectral CT was used as the testing device, while 20 cc syringe phantom was used to set a total of six dilution ratios of the contrast agent: 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, and 3:7. Here, the non-ionic iodine solution (350 mg/ml) was used as a contrast agent. The syringe axial image was reconstructed by adjusting the obtained data on nine MonoE levels; 40 keV, 45 keV, 50 keV, 55 keV, 60 keV, 65 keV, 70 keV, 75 keV, and 80 keV. The HU values were measured at the three points of the reconstructed syringe axial image. The measurements were taken 1,620 times in total. In the analysis of the HU values according to the changes in keV and dilution ratio of the contrast agent, the highest and lowest HU values were obtained from dilution ratio 8:2 and dilution ratio 3:7, respectively, across every MonoE in the comparison of HU according to dilution ratio per MonoE (p<0.05), while the highest and lowest HU values were obtained from 40 keV and 80 keV, respectively, across all dilution ratios in the comparison of HU according to MonoE per dilution ratio (p<0.05). For the correlation per each parameter, a negative correlation of -15.014 ± 0.298 was found for HU per keV (R²=0.519) and a negative correlation of -61.372 ± 3.608 was found for HU per dilution ratio (R²=0.152) (p<0.05). To conclude, an increase in keV or dilution ratio of the contrast agent was shown to decrease the HU, and the findings in this study are anticipated to serve as the basic data in the research of HU-related parameters in Spectral CT.

• 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.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.431-437
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• 2015

This convergence study analyzed the effectiveness of contrast agent reduction by normal saline solution dilution in the computed tomography of arteries of lower limb. 48 patients of 125 cc contrast agent and 30 patients of the same amount divided at a ratio of 7:3 for the contrast agent and normal saline solution were studied. The average attenuation coefficient(HU) and signal to noise ratio(SNR) of abdominal aorta, femoral artery, popliteal artery and posterior tibial artery at each image were evaluated quantitatively and the four criteria in the five point scale was conducted qualitatively by two radiologists and four radiological technologists. In the quantitative evaluation, both HU and SNR had high average score before dilation but there were no statistical significance by independent t-test(p>0.05). In the qualitative evaluation, there were a little differences in the average scores between 4.86~4.77 of original contrast agent and 4.83~4.67 of dilated contrast agent but there were no statistical significance(p>0.05). In the computed tomography of arteries of lower limb, the dilated contrast agent doesn't influence image quality and reduces overall contrast agent and lowers iodine content per unit of molecular therefore will contribute to decrease side effect of contrast agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation of blooming artifacts according to dilution ratio of contrast agent on CT angiography images. A total of 10 sets were prepared by differently setting the ratio of contrast media and saline in a ball phantom made by a 3D printer. CT scan images were obtained and reconstructed by MIP and MPR techniques to obtain axial, sagittal and coronal images, respectively. After, the diameter of the ball phantom of the image obtained after the test was measured each 30 times, a total 1800 times. As a result, the dilution of 20:80 in the coronal plane was the smallest (p<0.05). Similarly, when dilute to 20:80 in the sagittal plane of MIP, it was the smallest as 20.39 ± 0.08 mm (p<0.05). Correlation analysis between dilution ratio and measurement size confirmed strong negative correlations in all reconstructed images (p<0.05). In conclusion, the higher the dilution ratio of the contrast agent, the more difficult it is to measure actual blood vessel measurement. Therefore, this study may provide basic data in future studies on actual measurement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.417-422
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• 2023

In this study, normal saline was diluted with the contrast medium at a certain ratio for the purpose of reducing the image quality poor and side effects caused by the contrast medium during CT examination. At this time, by finding the energy level of DECT that can compensate for the decrease in contrast of the image according to the degree of dilution, the usefulness of applying DECT for compensating the difference in image contrast was investigated through comparative analysis by applying SNR, CNR, and SSIM. As a result, when a dilution ratio of 4 (contrast medium): 6 (normal saline) and the energy level of DECT of 65 keV were applied, the contrast difference was the most similar to that when using the undiluted contrast medium. At this time, SNR was 813.71 ± 37.6, CNR was the highest at 921.87 ± 17.1, and SSIM index was measured at 0.851, which is the most similar to 1. The results of this study are meaningful in providing basic information for finding the appropriate dilution rate and energy level for each examination site through future clinical studies. It is believed that it can be reduced.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.134-141
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• 2015

The purpose on this research is quantitatively comparing and analyzing signal intensity of 1.0mol and 0.5mol contrast agent. For this study, two MR phantoms were produced. One of them is used with 1.0mol Gadobutrol. The other is used with 0.5mol Gadoteridol. These two phantoms respectively have been scanned by SE T1 sequence which is used to get a general contrast-enhanced image in 1.5T MRI and 3D FLASH sequence which is used as enhanced angio MRI. Signal intensity was measured by scanned images as per contrast agent dilution ratio. The results were as follow: RSP(Reaction Starting Point) of the two sequences(2D SE, 3D FLASH) was respectively 6.0%, 60.0% in 0.5mol contrast and 2.0%, 20.0% in 1.0mol contrast, which means in 0.5mol contrast, RSP was formed faster than the one in 1.0mol contrast. MPSI was respectively 1358.8[a.u], 1573[a.u] in 0.5mol contrast and 1374[a.u], 1642.4[a.u] in 1.0mol contrast, which means 0.5mol contrast's MPP (0.4%, 10.0%) was formed faster than 1.0mol contrast's MPP (0.16%, 1.8%). Lastly, RA as per contrast agent dilution ratio was 27.4%, 11.8% wider in 0.5mol contrast(20747.4[a.u], 23204.6[a.u]) than in 1.0mol contrast(12691.9[a.u], 20747.4[a.u]). According to the study, we are able to assure that signal reaction time of 1.0mol contrast is slower than the one of 0.5mol contrast in contrast-enhanced MRI at two different sequences(2D SE, 3D FLASH). Furthermore, owing to the fact that there are not any signal intensity differences between 1.0mol and 0.5mol contrast, it is not true that high concentration gadolinium MR contrast agent does not always mean high signal intensity in MRI.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.223-232
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• 1993

Technetium labeled isonitrile analogues are widely used as myocardial perfusion imaging agents. We synthesized and characterized a new isonitrile compound, ethyl 3-isocyanobutyrate(EIB). Proton and $^{13}C$ NMR spectroscopy and thin layer chromatography with a $C_{18}$ coat was performed. EIB was easily labeled with $^{99m}TcO_4^-$- with sodium dithionite. The labeling efficiency measured by RP-HPLC was over 95%. The labeled product was stable with dilution in normal saline and with prolonged incubation at room temperature. There was no formation of secondary products or free $^{99m}TcO_4^-$. In vivo kinetics study of $^{99m}Tc$ (I) labeled EIB in rabbits showed adequate myocardial uptake, good contrast against lung background, and relatively rapid liver clearance. The heart to lung ratio was over 2.5 and the heart to liver ratio was approximately from 0.4 to 5 at 60 minutes post injection. Hepatic clearance of $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$ was faster ($t_{1/2}$=6 minutes) than that of $^{99m}Tc-MIBI$. In vivo kinetics observed in dog was similar to that in rabbit but there was faster gallbladder filling, and thus lower liver background. SPECT imaging of the canine myocardium showed favorable imaging characteristics. However, biodistribution in mice demonstrated a myocardial % injected dose/organ of less than 0.1%. This was thought to be due to interspecies difference in plasma esterase activity. In human plasma, $^{99m}Tc$ ( I ) labeled EIB was stable for at least 2 hours, without production of secondary products by HPLC. We conclude that ethyl 3-isocyanobutyrate may be a potential new myocardial perfusion imaging agent and deserves further investigation as to its usefulness for clinical use.