• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between exposure index (EI) and dose factors related to radiation dose optimization in digital radiography (DR) system. Two phantoms with built-in regional test object for quantitative assessment of images were used to produce image signals that acquired in chest radiography background. EI and entrane surface dose (ESD) increased proportionally with rise of radiation dose (kVp, mAs) in both DR and CR systems. Especially, DR detector was effective to form good contrast and hence, reached easily to improvement of image quality with minimal dose changes. It made operators possible to expect the accuracy of EI values deeply related to absorbed dose of the detector. The evaluation of images was obtained specially employed calculation of noise to signal ratio (NSR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR). These measurements were performed for how exposure factors affect image quality. NSR was inversely proportional to kVp and mAs and low NSR represented high signal detection efficiency. Consequently, EI values was the measure of the amount of exposure received by the image receptor and it was proportional to exposure factors. Therefore the EI in a recommended range from manufacturer can offer optimal image quality. Also, continuous monitoring of EI values in the digital radiography can reduce the unnecessary patient dose and help the quality control of the system.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2021

The purpose of these experiments is often to scan infected patients with MRI. Therefore, it is to investigate whether the antibacterial film containing silver ions, which is a non-magnetic substance, affects magnetic resonance imaging. In this experiment, the ACR phantom was used, not the patient. The ACR phantom was wrapped in an antibacterial film and the SNR, CNR, sagittal localization image, and geometrical accuracy were compared before and after. The experiment was performed 10 times and the averaged values were compared. There were no significant differences in the results of all experiments. The FDA recommends removing metal and antibacterial film masks during MRI scans. The reason is that there was one case of injury with facial burns. When I touched the antibacterial film to check the fever during the 2 hour experiment, I did not feel any particular fever. In light of the experimental results, it would be helpful to use an antibacterial film when testing an infected patient. The reason is that there isn't a difference before and after the experiment of SNR, CNR, and sagittal localization images.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.637-645
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to find the optimum test device for the cerebral blood vessels by comparing and analyzing the SNR and CNR methods for images of three devices (i.e., MRA, CTA, and DSA). The study targeted 90 patients who underwent cerebral angiography from November 2016 to May 2017. The measuring parts were measured by using Rt MCA, Lt MCA, and ACA Image J. The results of quantitative analysis showed that the mean SNR of MRA, the CNR of MRA, the signal strength of MRA, the mean SNR of CTA, the CNR of CTA, the signal strength of CTA, the SNR of DSA, the CNR of DSA, and the signal strength of DSA were evaluated as 254.87, 178.13, 326.81, 74.75, 62.2, 356.66, 26.85, 25.89, and 4400.69, respectively (p<0.05). As a result, both SNR and CNR methods measured it in the order of MRA>CTA>DSA. Statistical significance was determined by using ANOVA analysis at p<0.05 and Bonferroni method was used as a post-hoc analysis SPSS. In conclusion, the results of this study revealed that the optimum imaging devices were MRA, CTA, and DSA after evaluating randomly selected patients with cerebrovascular disease.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the detection rate of hyperacute intracerebral hemorrhage in echo planar imaging (EPI) and other MR sequences. materials and Methods : Intracerebral hemorrhage was experimentally induced in ten rats. EPI, fast spin-echo (FSE) T2 weighted images, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), spin-echo (SE) T1 weighted images and gradient echo (GE) T1 weight ed images of rat's brains were obtained 2 hours after onset of intracerebral hemorrhage. EPI and FSE T2 images were additionally obtained 30 min and 1 hour after onset of hemorrhage in 3 and 6 rat, repeatedly, For objective visual assessment, discrimination between the lesion and normal brain parenchyma was evaluated on various MR sequences by three radiologists. For quantitative assessment, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated fro hemorrhage-normal brain parenchyma. Statistical analysis was performed usning the Wilcoxon-Ranks test. Results : EPI, FLAIR, and FSE T2 images showed high signal intensity lesions. The lesion discrimination was easier on EPI than on other sequences, and also EPI showed higher signal intensity for the subjective visual assessment. In quantitative evaluation, CNR of the hemorrhagic lesion versus normal brain parenchyma were higher on EPI and FLAIR images (p<0.01). There was no difference in CNR between EPI and FLAIR (p>0.10). On MR images obtained 30 minutes and 1 hour after the onset of intracerebral hemorrhage, the lesion detection was feasible on both EPI and FSE T2 images showing high signal intensity. Conclusion : EPI showed higher detection rate as compared with other MR sequences and could be useful in early detection and evaluation of intracerebral hemorrhage.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.138-142
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• 2016

Dual-energy digital radiography (DEDR) has been used for detecting lesions within the body using energy subtraction methods. The purpose of this study was to acquire optimal bone and tissue image by changing physical factors such as Tube voltage (kVp) and add filters, and then we compared with the predicted values using SRS-78 program and experimental results. For that purpose, we acquired images according to changes in physical parameters of various materials since we had to acquire the optimal bone and tissue image using energy subtraction. Used phantom consists of aluminum and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and a comparison of image optimization was measured by contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). In results, first of all, we confirmed that a subtraction image from 50 kVp image and 120 kVp image is optimal bone and tissue image. Also when we added a 10 mm Aluminum add filter, we expected it is a result of the optimal bone and tissue image. Besides, we confirmed these results are consistent with the predicted optimized condition by SRS-78 program.. In conclusion, we indicated that we can acquire optimal bone and tissue image by controling physical factors such as kVp, add filters through this study. Also we expected that DEDR will contribute to the field of medical imaging technology.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.225-229
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• 2021

The digital image such as medical X-ray and nuclear medicine field mainly contains noise distribution. The noise degree in image degrades image quality. That is why, the noise reduction algorithm is efficient for medical image field. In this study, we confirmed effectiveness of application for median modified Wiener filter (MMWF) algorithm for noise reduction in PET/MR image compared with median filter image, which is used as conventional noise redcution algorithm. The Jaszczak PET phantom was used by using 18F solution and filled with NaCl+NiSO4 fluids. In addition, the radioactivity ratio between background and six spheres in the phantom is maintained to 1:8. In order to mimic noise distribution in the image, we applied Gaussian noise using MATLAB software. To evlauate image quality, the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and coefficient of variation (COV) were used. According to the results, compared with noise image and images with MMWF algorithm, the image with MMWF algorithm is increased approximately 33.2% for CNR result, decreased approximately 79.3% for COV result. In conclusion, we proved usefulness of MMWF algorithm in the PET/MR images.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2024

Purpose: To improve the image quality in positron emission tomography (PET), the attenuation correction technique based on the computed tomography (CT) data is important process. However, the artifact is caused by metal material during PET/CT scan, and the image quality is degraded. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate image quality according to with and without iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) algorithm using customized 3D printing phantom. Materials and Methods: The Hoffman and Derenzo phantoms were designed. To protect the gamma ray transmission and express the metal portion, lead substance was located to the surface. The SiPM based PET/CT was used for acquisition of PET images according to application with and without iMAR algorithm. The quantitative methods were used by signal to noise ratio (SNR), coefficient of variation (COV), and contrast to noise ratio (CNR). Results and Discussion: The results shows that the image quality applying iMAR algorithm was higher 1.15, 1.19, and 1.11 times than image quality without iMAR algorithm for SNR, COV, and CNR. Conclusion: In conclusion, the iMAR algorithm was useful for improvement of image quality by reducing the metal artifact lesion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.715-723
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• 2020

Cross-talk artifacts occur in two adjacent groups of axial imaging of lesions lumbar 4-5 and sacrum 1 in lumbar spine MRI. This causes problems in reading lesions in areas corresponding to the posterior vertebra. In this study, we are going to completely remove the cross-talk artifacts through optimal concatenation TR. The region of interested were measured by averaging them into fat (ROI1), erector spinal muscle(lateral tract: iliocostalis lumborum muscle) (ROI2), erector spinal muscle(lateral tract: longissimus muscle) (ROI3), and spinous process (ROI4). The mean signal intensity (SI) was 163.43 ± 25.08 at C4 for ROI1, ROI 2 and ROI 3 at C6, 67.89 ± 11.75 and 69.99 ± 10.91 and ROI4 at C5, respectively (p<0.000). The mean signal to noise ratio (SNR) was 135.45 ± 35.90, 56.92 ± 15.90, 58.77 ± 15.59, and 54.91 ± 118.95 for SNR 1, 2, 3 and 4 (p<0.000). The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was CNR1 78.52 ± 24.11, CNR2 was 76.67 ± 24.38 and CNR3 was 80.54 ± 26.33 in concatenation 6, respectively (p<0.000). The SNR, CNR, and the most efficient concatenation TR value over time are 6, and it is considered to help reduce cross-talk artifact if this is applied to T1 axial images.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.148-152
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• 2016

The main goal was to evaluate effectiveness of a modified TSE sequence compared with DIR (double inversion recovery) sequence in acquisition of fast flow brain vessel images using signal void effect. 32 healthy volunteers (10 men and 22 women; mean age of 31 years; ranging between 28-43 years) who underwent black blood DIR sequence (group A) and the modified TSE sequence (group B) were enrolled in our study. Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR) of the internal carotid arteries' lumen were compared in T1 and T2 weighted images for both group A and B. The images obtained from group B showed lower SNR values in internal carotid artery than the group A in both of the T1 and T2 weighted images (11.49% and 13.66% respectively). While the CNR values were higher in the group B than the group A in both of the T1 and T2 weighted images (8.69% and 7.55 % respectively). The qualitative score of all categories were not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore approximately 49% of the total scan time was reduced from group B. Our study is to shorten the scanning time and minimize the inconveniences of the patients in acquisition of the black blood images of brain by using the signal void effect in the modified TSE technique while keeping the diagnostic value of the test.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.573-579
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• 2023

This study compares dose difference between the presence or absence of grid in Chest PA radiography using auto exposure control and compares image quality among presence, absence or virtual grid, and proposes a new clinically useful grid combination for chest radiography. The human body phantom was placed Chest PA position and the dosimeter was placed at T6. The same irradiation conditions and field size were applied. 30 images were obtained in the state in which grid was applied and in the state in which grid was not applied, and an additional 30 images in which the virtual grid was applied to the image without the grid were obtained. Radiation dose was presented to entrance surface dose. The image quality was analyzed by comparing the signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratio. ESD decreased by 48% when the grid was not used, compared to when the grid was used. SNR and CNR increased by 32% and 30% compared to grid use when grid was not used, respectively. In the case of using the virtual grid, it increased by 18% and 16% respectively, compared to the case of using the grid. As a result of this study, it is believed that when using a virtual grid instead of a grid, the quality of the image can be maintained while reducing the patient dose.