• International Journal of Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.102-110
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• 2015

The main source of noise in computed tomography (CT) images is a quantum noise, which results from statistical fluctuations of X-ray quanta reaching the detector. This paper proposes a neural network (NN) based hybrid filter for removing quantum noise. The proposed filter consists of bilateral filters (BFs), a single or multiple neural edge enhancer(s) (NEE), and a neural filter (NF) to combine them. The BFs take into account the difference in value from the neighbors, to preserve edges while smoothing. The NEE is used to clearly enhance the desired edges from noisy images. The NF acts like a fusion operator, and attempts to construct an enhanced output image. Several measurements are used to evaluate the image quality, like the root mean square error (RMSE), the improvement in signal to noise ratio (ISNR), the standard deviation ratio (MSR), and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR). Also, the modulation transfer function (MTF) is used as a means of determining how well the edge structure is preserved. In terms of all those measurements and means, the proposed filter shows better performance than the guided filter, and the nonlocal means (NLM) filter. In addition, there is no severe restriction to select the number of inputs for the fusion operator differently from the neuro-fuzzy system. Therefore, without concerning too much about the filter selection for fusion, one could apply the proposed hybrid filter to various images with different modalities, once the corresponding noise characteristics are explored.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.150-156
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• 2018

This study aims to develop an improved Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) reconstruction algorithm using anisotropic total variation (ATV) minimization to enhance the image quality of low-dose cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The algorithm first applies a filter that integrates the Shepp-Logan filter into a cosine window function on all projections for impulse noise removal. A total variation objective function with anisotropic penalty is then minimized to enhance the difference between the real structure and noise using the steepest gradient descent optimization with adaptive step sizes. The preserving parameter to adjust the separation between the noise-free and noisy areas is determined by calculating the cumulative distribution function of the gradient magnitude of the filtered image obtained by the application of the filtering operation on each projection. With these minimized ATV projections, voxel-driven backprojection is finally performed to generate the reconstructed images. The performance of the proposed algorithm was evaluated with the catphan503 phantom dataset acquired with the use of a low-dose protocol. Qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that the proposed ATV minimization provides enhanced CBCT reconstruction images compared with those generated by the conventional FDK algorithm, with a higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), lower root-mean-square-error, and higher correlation. The proposed algorithm not only leads to a potential imaging dose reduction in repeated CBCT scans via lower mA levels, but also elicits high CNR values by removing noisy corrupted areas and by avoiding the heavy penalization of striking features.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.203-210
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate appropriate contrast reference values (CRVs) by comparing the contrast in phantom and clinical images. Materials and Methods: Phantom contrast was measured using two methods: (1) counting the number of visible pits of different depths in an aluminum plate, and (2) obtaining the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for 5 tissue-equivalent materials (porcelain, aluminum, polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], polyoxymethylene [POM], and polymethylmethacrylate [PMMA]). Four panoramic radiographs of the contrast phantom, embedded in the 4 different regions of the arch-form stand, and 1 real skull phantom image were obtained, post-processed, and compared. The clinical image quality evaluation chart was used to obtain the cut-off values of the phantom CRV corresponding to the criterion of being adequate for diagnosis. Results: The CRVs were obtained using 4 aluminum pits in the incisor and premolar region, 5 aluminum pits in the molar region, and 2 aluminum pits in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region. The CRVs obtained based on the CNR measured in the anterior region were: porcelain, 13.95; aluminum, 9.68; PTFE, 6.71; and POM, 1.79. The corresponding values in the premolar region were: porcelain, 14.22; aluminum, 8.82; PTFE, 5.95; and POM, 2.30. In the molar region, the following values were obtained: porcelain, 7.40; aluminum, 3.68; PTFE, 1.27; and POM, - 0.18. The CRVs for the TMJ region were: porcelain, 3.60; aluminum, 2.04; PTFE, 0.48; and POM, - 0.43. Conclusion: CRVs were determined for each part of the jaw using the CNR value and the number of pits observed in phantom images.

• 핵의학기술
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.134-139
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• 2014

ASIR기법은 statistical noise modeling을 사용하여 CT image를 reconstruction하는 방법으로, mA를 낮춰도 이미지 질을 보전하며 noise reduction 효과가 있다고 알려져 왔다. 본 논문은 본원에서 주로 하는 bone SPECT/CT에 ASIR 기법을 적용하여 이미지를 평가하였다. GE의 Discorvery 670을 이용하여 120 kVp, 100 mA를 기준으로 mA를 변화시켜서 ASIR의 적용 전과 적용 후 영상을 비교하였다(ASIR level: 20-80%). Anthropomorphic phantom으로 ASIR (%)의 변화에 따른 SPECT image의 감쇠 보정 정도를 측정하였다. 두번째로 ACR phantom으로 CT image의 CNR, image noise, spatial resolution을 평가하였다. 세 번째로 lower torso phantom을 이용하여 spine에 최적화할 수 있는 ASIR level을 선택한 후 2명의 bone SPECT/CT follow up 환자에게 ASIR를 적용하여 영상을 획득한 후 5년 이상의 경험이 있는 10명의 방사선사에게 blind test를 시행하였다. SPECT의 영상의 감쇠 보정 정도는 ASIR의 변화와는 무관하게 모두 유의한 차이가 없었다(P>0.05). ASIR을 적용했을 때 CT image의 noise는 mA의 변화에 따라 최소 17%에서 최대 52%까지 감소하였다. ASIR를 적용하지 않았을 때 CNR은 40 mA에서 0.42를 보여준 반면 ASIR를 적용한 40 mA (ASIR 60%)에서도 0.8 이상을 유지하였다. High contrast 영역의 비교에서는 ASIR 적용과 상관없이 40 mA까지 12 lp/cm 영역을 구별할 수 있었다. Lower torso phantom의 spine image에서 100 mA image와 육안적으로 비슷한 ASIR level은 60% (40 mA) 정도였고, bone SPECT/CT에 적용한 후 blind test에서 육안적으로 ASIR를 적용하지 않았을 때와 차이를 구별하지 못하였다. 본 논문의 결과는 SPECT/CT에서 ASIR 기법을 사용했을 때 SPECT와 CT image의 특별한 영상의 질 저하 없이 radiation dose를 줄일 수 있다는 것을 보여준다. 또한 관심부위가 bone에 한정되어 있는 bone SPECT/CT 특성상 더 높은 ASIR level도 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국정보통신학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정보통신학회 2015년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.86-89
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• 2015

자동노출제어장치 (AEC : Auto Exposure Control)를 사용하는 경우와 사용하지 않았을 경우, 관전압과 관전류 설정에 따른 영상의 정량적인 평가를 통하여 최적의 영상을 찾고자 한다. 이를 통해 AEC 사용유무 및 촬영조건의 조절과 영상간의 관계를 파악하여, DR의 올바른 사용방법을 제안하고자 한다. 흉부팬텀으로 조건변화에 따른 Chest PA 영상을 획득한 뒤 영상평가인자인 신호 대 잡음비 (SNR), 대조도 대 잡음비 (CNR), 최대신호 대 잡음비 (PSNR), 평균 제곱근 (RMS)을 이용하여 영상평가를 실시한다. 관전압이 감소, 관전류가 증가함에 따라 SNR, CNR, PSNR은 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, RMS는 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다. 또한 고관전압, 저관전류 영역에서는 AEC를 사용하지 않았을 경우가 AEC를 사용하는 경우에 비해 SNR, PSNR이 높게 나타났으며, RMS는 낮게 나타났다. 그리고 저관전압, 고관전류영역에서는 AEC가 SNR, PSNR이 높게 나타났으며, RMS는 낮게 나타났다. 촬영조건의 변화와 AEC의 사용유무에 따라 영상의 질에서 차이를 확인할 수 있었다. 전체적인 상황과 방사선 종사자의 효율적인 업무를 위해 AEC 사용이 더 적합함을 알 수 있었다. 그러나 종사자의 무조건적인 AEC의 사용보다는 환자의 상태 및 촬영 자세 등 여러 조건을 고려한 능동적인 AEC 사용자세로 최적의 영상의 질을 얻도록 권장한다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.201-208
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• 2008

물리적 평가(physical evaluation)가 영상품질의 객관화와 정량화를 위한 토대를 제공함에도 불구하고, 부정확하고 가변적인 특성을 지닌 주관적 평가(subjective evaluation)가 영상평가에 중요한 역할을 하게 된다. 본 연구에서는 디지털 방사선 영상의 물리적 평가와 주간적 평가의 단점을 상호 보완하고 객관적 정량화를 위한 새로운 방법을 제안하고자 한다. 임상에 사용되고 있는 4대의 디지털 방사선 영상 촬영장치로부터 동일한 임상조건에서 흉부 팬톰 영상을 획득하였다. 물리적 영상평가를 위하여 디지털 흉부 팬톰 내에서 3개의 영역(폐, 심장, 그리고 복부)에 존재하는 CNR (contrast-to-noise ratio)를 측정하였고 분할(segmentation)과 정합(registration)등 다양한 영상처리기술이 적용되었다. 주관적 평가는 5명의 관찰자에 의한 저 대조도 물체의 식별 정도를 점수화 하였다. 두 평가의 특성을 보완 및 결합하고자 퍼지적분 이론이 도입되었다. 4대의 시스템으로부터의 평가결과가 비교되었으며, 물리적 평가와 주관적 평가가 항상 비례하지 않음을 보였다. 물리적 평가에서는 높은 점수를 보였던 시스템이 주관적 평가에서는 상대적으로 낮은 평가를 보였다. 본 연구에서 제안한 퍼지적분에 의한 영상평가의 정량화는 물리적 평가와 주관적 평가를 모두 포함하는 총체적인 평가 방법이며, 다양한 영상품질 평가에 유용할 것이라 사료된다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.483-489
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• 2022

This study proposes a new skull lateral examination, and provides an improved examination environment for patients and radiologists. The study was divided into three groups. One group was divided into the SID (source to image receptor distance) 110 ㎝ and 180 ㎝ in the skull lateral posture, the other group The other group was divided into an position in contact with the detector and an position without contact with the detector, and the other group was divided into male and female groups, considering that the difference in shoulder width between adult males and females would affect the dose and image quality. For dose evaluation, the ESD (entrance surface dose) was measured at the EAM (external auditory meatus), and the conditions were applied equally at 70 ㎸p, 200 ㎃, and 10 ㎃s. For image quality evaluation, SNR (signal to noise ratio) and CNR (contrast to noise ratio) were measured in frontal sinus, EAM, and sella turcica. As a result of ESD comparison, when sid 110 ㎝ to sid 180 ㎝ was changed among the three groups, ESD values decreased the most to 729.18±4.62 μ㏉ and 224.18±0.74 μ㏉ at 180 ㎝ (p<0.01). The values of SNR and CNR were statistically significant (p<0.01), but there was no qualitative difference. This shows that when the SID is 180 ㎝, it is possible to reduce the dose without lowering the image quality. So, It is suggested that the SID 180 ㎝ is used without contacting the detector when examining the skull lateral.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2010

본 연구의 목적은 직 간접 변환방식 검출기를 사용한 디지털 유방 X선 촬영시스템의 영상 화질을 비교하고 평가함에 있다. 영상의 정량적인 분해능을 나타내는 변조전달함수(MTF), 노이즈 특성을 나타내는 정규화된 잡음력 스펙트럼(NNPS), 그리고 신호 대 잡음비 성능을 나타내는 양자검출효율(DQE)인자를 이용하여 영상 화질평가를 하였다. DQE는 IEC 62220-1-2 규약에 따라 edge 팬텀을 사용한 MTF 도출을 이용하여 계산되었다. 대조도 대 노이즈비(CNR) 측정은 한국의료영상품질관리원에서 제시한 가이드라인에 따라 측정되었다. 직접 변환방식 검출기가 간접 변환방식 검출기에 비해 공간주파수별로 MTF와 DQE 값이 높은 것으로 측정되었다. 동일한 평균유선선량(AGD)일 때 직접 변환방식의 검출기는 더 높은 CNR값을 보였다. 공간주파수별로 높은 DQE 값을 갖는 직접 변환방식 검출기는 디지털 유방 X선 촬영시스템에 있어서 향상된 영상 화질과 적은 환자선량을 제공할 것이다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.502-512
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• 2021

Objective: To objectively and subjectively assess and compare the characteristics of monoenergetic images [MEI (+)] and polyenergetic images (PEI) acquired by dual-energy CT (DECT) of patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the images and data of 42 patients with breast cancer who had undergone dual-phase contrast-enhanced DECT from June to September 2019. One standard PEI, five MEI (+) in 10-kiloelectron volt (keV) intervals (range, 40-80 keV), iodine density (ID) maps, iodine overlay images, and Z effective (Z_eff) maps were reconstructed. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were calculated. Multiple quantitative parameters of the malignant breast lesions were compared between the arterial and the venous phase images. Two readers independently assessed lesion conspicuity and performed a morphology analysis. Results: Low keV MEI (+) at 40-50 keV showed increased CNR and SNR_{breast lesion} compared with PEI, especially in the venous phase ([CNR: 40 keV, 20.10; 50 keV, 14.45; vs. PEI, 7.27; p < 0.001], [SNR_{breast lesion}: 40 keV, 21.01; 50 keV, 16.28; vs. PEI, 10.77; p < 0.001]). Multiple quantitative DECT parameters of malignant breast lesions were higher in the venous phase images than in the arterial phase images (p < 0.001). MEI (+) at 40 keV, ID, and Z_eff reconstructions yielded the highest Likert scores for lesion conspicuity. The conspicuity of the mass margin and the visual enhancement were significantly better in 40-keV MEI (+) than in the PEI (p = 0.022, p = 0.033, respectively). Conclusion: Compared with PEI, MEI (+) reconstructions at low keV in the venous phase acquired by DECT improved the objective and subjective assessment of lesion conspicuity in patients with malignant breast lesions. MEI (+) reconstruction acquired by DECT may be helpful for the preoperative evaluation of breast cancer.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권12호
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• pp.4591-4596
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• 2023

Single-photon emission computed tomography SPECT image reconstruction methods have a significant influence on image quality, with filtered back projection (FBP) and ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) being the most commonly used methods. In this study, we proposed newly-designed adaptive non-blind deconvolution with a structural similarity (SSIM) index that can take advantage of the FBP and OSEM image reconstruction methods. After acquiring brain SPECT images, the proposed image was obtained using an algorithm that applied the SSIM metric, defined by predicting the distribution and amount of blurring. As a result of the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and coefficient of variation evaluation (COV), the resulting image of the proposed algorithm showed a similar trend in spatial resolution to that of FBP, while obtaining values similar to those of OSEM. In addition, we confirmed that the CNR and COV values of the proposed algorithm improved by approximately 1.69 and 1.59 times, respectively, compared with those of the algorithm involving an inappropriate deblurring process. To summarize, we proposed a new type of algorithm that combines the advantages of SPECT image reconstruction techniques and is expected to be applicable in various fields.