• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.222-228
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• 2023

This study aimed to analyze the applicability of the improved median filter in positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) fusion images based on parallel imaging using generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisition (GRAPPA). In this study, a PET/MR fusion imaging system based on a 3.0T magnetic field and ¹⁸F radioisotope were used. An improved median filter that can set a mask of the median value more efficiently than before was modeled and applied to the acquired image. As quantitative evaluation parameters of the noise level, the contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and coefficient of variation (COV) were calculated. Additionally, no-reference-based evaluation parameters were used to analyze the overall image quality. We confirmed that the CNR and COV values of the PET/MR fusion images to which the improved median filter was applied improved by approximately 3.32 and 2.19 times on average, respectively, compared to the noisy image. In addition, the no-reference-based evaluation results showed a similar trend for the noise-level results. In conclusion, we demonstrated that it can be supplemented by using an improved median filter, which suggests the problem of image quality degradation of PET/MR fusion images that shortens scan time using GRAPPA.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2021

Objective: Iterative reconstruction degrades image quality. Thus, further advances in image reconstruction are necessary to overcome some limitations of this technique in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan of the chest. Deep-learning image reconstruction (DLIR) is a new method used to reduce dose while maintaining image quality. The purposes of this study was to evaluate image quality and noise of LDCT scan images reconstructed with DLIR and compare with those of images reconstructed with the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo at a level of 30% (ASiR-V 30%). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 58 patients who underwent LDCT scan for lung cancer screening. Datasets were reconstructed with ASiR-V 30% and DLIR at medium and high levels (DLIR-M and DLIR-H, respectively). The objective image signal and noise, which represented mean attenuation value and standard deviation in Hounsfield units for the lungs, mediastinum, liver, and background air, and subjective image contrast, image noise, and conspicuity of structures were evaluated. The differences between CT scan images subjected to ASiR-V 30%, DLIR-M, and DLIR-H were evaluated. Results: Based on the objective analysis, the image signals did not significantly differ among ASiR-V 30%, DLIR-M, and DLIR-H (p = 0.949, 0.737, 0.366, and 0.358 in the lungs, mediastinum, liver, and background air, respectively). However, the noise was significantly lower in DLIR-M and DLIR-H than in ASiR-V 30% (all p < 0.001). DLIR had higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) than ASiR-V 30% (p = 0.027, < 0.001, and < 0.001 in the SNR of the lungs, mediastinum, and liver, respectively; all p < 0.001 in the CNR). According to the subjective analysis, DLIR had higher image contrast and lower image noise than ASiR-V 30% (all p < 0.001). DLIR was superior to ASiR-V 30% in identifying the pulmonary arteries and veins, trachea and bronchi, lymph nodes, and pleura and pericardium (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: DLIR significantly reduced the image noise in chest LDCT scan images compared with ASiR-V 30% while maintaining superior image quality.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.140-146
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• 2016

The ultrasound imaging in medical diagnosis has become a popular modality because of its safe, noninvasive, portable, relatively inexpensive, and provides a real-time image formation. However, usefulness of ultrasound imaging is at times limited due to the presence of signal-dependent noise like as speckle. Therefore, noise reduction is very important, as various types of noise generated limits the effectiveness of medical image diagnosis. This paper introduces a speckle noise reduce algorithm using total variation denoising (TVD) in Laplacian pyramid. With this method, speckle is removed by TVD of bandpass ultrasound images in Laplacian pyramid domain. For TVD in each pyramid layer, a ${\lambda}$ is selected by trial-and-error method. The visual comparison of despeckled 'in vivo' ultrasound images from pancreas shows that the proposed method could effectively preserve edges and detailed structures while thoroughly suppressing speckle. For a Simulated B-mode image, contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR) and signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) were obtained like 4.65 dB and 14.11 dB, respectively. The results show that the proposed method can conduct better than some of the existing methods in terms of the CNR and the SNR.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.613-621
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• 2019

하지 혈관조영검사에서 움직임을 줄이기 위한 방법으로 재질별 하드보드지, 포맥스, 폴리카보네이트, 아크릴을 사용하여 고정용 보조기구를 제작하였고, 제작된 재질별 Phantom의 정량적 화질평가를 위해 마스크 영상, DSA 영상, Roadmap 영상을 SNR과 CNR로 분석하여 보조기구의 유용성을 알아보고자 하였다. DSA 기법으로 하지 Phantom 만을 사용하여 촬영한 마스크 영상과 보조기구 위에 하지 Phantom을 올려놓고 촬영한 마스크 영상의 SNR과 CNR을 비교한 결과 SNR은 약 0~0.06(0~10%), CNR은 약 0~0.003(0~5.36%)정도의 낮은 차이를 확인 하였다. DSA 기법으로 혈관모형의 Water Phantom 만을 사용하여 촬영한 영상과 보조기구 위에 Water Phantom을 올려놓고 촬영한 영상의 SNR과 CNR을 비교한 결과 SNR은 약 0.11~0.35(0.78~2.47%), CNR은 약 0.016~0.031(0.18~2.85%) 정도의 낮은 차이를 확인 하였다. Roadmap 기법으로 Water Phantom 만을 사용하여 촬영한 영상과 보조기구(하드보드지, 포맥스, 폴리카보네이트, 아크릴) 위에 water Phantom을 올려놓고 촬영한 영상의 SNR과 CNR을 비교한 결과 SNR은 0.02~0.05(0.54~1.38%), CNR은 0.002~0.004(1.96~3.70%) 정도의 낮은 차이를 확인 하였다. 결과적으로 보조기구를 사용하지 않았을 때와 보조기구(하드보드지, 포맥스, 폴리카보네이트, 아크릴)을 사용하였을 때를 비교 했을때 SNR과 CNR의 차이가 낮아 보조기구의 사용이 화질의 미치는 영향이 적다고 판단된다. 환자 고정을 위한 보조기구의 사용은 움직임에 따른 조영제 사용량 감소, 시간적 측면 감소, 방사선 피폭 감소, 위험요소의 제거 등에 유용하게 사용할 수 있으며, 보조기구 제작에 대한 각각재료들의 장점은 많으나 본 연구에서 하드보드지 경우 다른 재료에 비해 가격이 저렴하고, 가공이 쉬운 장점을 가지고 있어 검사 및 시술에서 쉽게 적용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다. 검사자가 보조기구를 제작하여 사용 할 때 각 검사의 목적 및 방법에 맞게 재질의 특성, 경제성을 고려하여 사용하는 것이 유용할 것으로 판단된다.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

Chest PA 검사 시 디지털 촬영에 대한 검사 조건 권고안은 마련되어 있지 않다. 각 기기 회사들도 이전의 아날로그 촬영에 적용되었던 고관전압 촬영 조건을 권고하고 있다. 디지털 흉부 X-선 촬영시 관전압, 관전류, 부가여과 필터 변화에 따른 피폭선량을 비교하기 위해 Philips 사에서 권고하는 적정 노출지수( Expos ure Index ) 값인 200 ~ 800사이 값을 만족하는 검사조건을 선별하였다. 유효선량을 평가하기 위해 몬테카를로 시뮬레이션을 시행하였으며 SNR과 CNR을 측정하여 영상평가를 시행하였다. 관전압과 관전류, 부가여과 필터를 조절하여 유효 선량을 최대 77% 까지 감소시킬 수 있었다. 검사조건별로 다소간의 차이는 있으나 영상평가 결과 비슷한 품질의 영상을 얻을 수 있었다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.103-109
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• 2022

To maintain improved image quality in mammography, the quality control process is performed using the ACR (American college of radiology) phantom. In addition, many studied were performed by fabricating the customized breast phantom to provide more information in mammography. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality by designing the modified ACR phantoms. The five modified acrlylic ACR phantoms were designed by considering insert position and phantom thickness. The phantoms were consisted of 4.5, 3.0, and 1.5 cm in terms of phantom thickness, and 3.0, 2.0, and 0.5 cm in terms of insert position, respectively. The acquired images were evaluated by PSNR (peak signal to noise ratio), RMSE (root mean square error), CC (correlation coefficient), CNR (contrast to noise ratio), and COV (coefficient of variation). Based on the similarity analysis, the result is suitable between conventional and new designed phantoms. In addition, the CNR and COV results in terms of insert position showed that image quality for 0.5 cm was 2.3 and 27.4% improved compared with 2 and 3 cm, respectively. According to phantom thickness results, the CNR result for 1.5 cm and COV result for 4.5 cm were 50.1 and 62.7% improved compared with that those conditions. In conclusion, we confirmed that the image quality depends on the breast size and thickness through modified ACR phantom study.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.589-594
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• 2017

본 연구의 목적은 뇌 컴퓨터단층검사 시 양자잡음제거(Quantum Denoising System; QDS) 알고리즘을 적용한 영상 분석을 통해 화질 향상 효과를 알아보고자 한다. 2017년 7월부터 2017년 10월까지 경북 소재 G 영상의학과에 뇌 컴퓨터단층검사를 위해 내원한 45명의 성인을 대상으로 동의하에 후향적 연구를 하였고, 뇌 컴퓨터단층검사 시 QDS(-)를 적용하지 않은 그룹(A Group)과 QDS(+)를 적용한 그룹(B Group)으로 나누어 검사하였다. 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 노이즈값은 Pons부분과 Vermis부분 모두 QDS(+)를 적용한 B그룹에서 통계적으로 유의하게 낮았다(A Group; Pons $6.92{\pm}0.98HU$, Vermis 6.72, B Group; Pons $5.41{\pm}1.05HU$, Vermis $5.28{\pm}0.73HU$ : p<0.05). SNR값은 Pons부분과 Vermis 부분 모두 QDS(+)를 적용한 B그룹에서 통계적으로 유의하게 높았다(A Group; Pons $5.21{\pm}1.28$, Vermis $6.23{\pm}1.49$, B Group; Pons $7.28{\pm}2.56$, Vermis $8.63{\pm}3.04$ : p<0.05). 결론적으로 뇌 컴퓨터단층검사 시 양자잡음제거 알고리즘을 적용한다면 영상의 노이즈 감소 및 신호 대 잡음비(SNR), 대조도 대 잡음비(CNR)를 좀 더 개선시켜 진단에 적절한 영상을 얻을 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제44권2호
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• pp.101-107
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate optimal CT scan parameters to minimize patient dose to the irradiation and maintain satisfactory image quality in low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) scans. In a chest anthropomorphic phantom, chest CT scans were performed at different kVp and mA within reference of 3.4mGy in volume CT Dose Index (CTDI_vol). The following quantitative parameters had been statistically evaluated: image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and figure of merit (FOM). Nine radiographers conducted the blind test to select the optimal kVp-mA combination. Results indicated that the kVp-mA combination of 80kVp-90mA, 100kVp-50mA, 120kVp-30mA and 140kVp-30mA were obtained high SNR and CNR. The 120kVp-30mA combination offered good compromise in the FOM, which showed the quality and dose performance. In the blind test, an image of 80kVp-90mA obtained a high score with 4.7 points, and 120kVp-10mA or 140kVp-10mA with a low tube current were observed severe noise and poor image quality, thus resulting in decreased diagnostic accuracy. On the other hand, in the combination of high kVp and high mA(140kVp-90mA), the image quality was improved, but the radiation dose was also increased. the FOM value of 140kVp-90mA was lower than 120kVp-30mA. The application of appropriate scan parameters in low-dose chest CT scans produced satisfactory results in dose and image quality for the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.4313-4319
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• 2013

본 연구는 흑혈류영상 획득에서 고속스핀에코기법의 신호소실 현상을 이용하여 검사시간을 최소화시켜 환자의 불편을 줄이고 진단적 가치를 유지하고자 하였다. 연구방법은 흑혈류영상을 획득한 환자 32명을 대상으로, 기존의 이중역전회복기법과 새로운 기법인 고속스핀에코기법을 각각 적용한 후, 기법에 따른 혈류의 신호소거 차이를 알아보기 위해 T1, T2 강조영상에서 내경동맥 내강의 SNR과 CNR을 비교 평가하였다. 연구결과, SNR은 고속스핀에코기법이 이중역전회복기법 보다 T1, T2 강조영상에서 11.49%(4.73), 13.66%(6.03) 낮았으며, CNR은 고속스핀에코기법이 T1 강조영상에서 8.69%(15.04) 높았고, T2 강조영상에서 7.55% (13.17) 낮았으나, 통계적 수준에서 두 기법간의 SNR과 CNR의 차이는 유의하지 않았다. 그러므로 흑혈류영상 획득 시 고속스핀에코기법을 이용한다면 진단적 가치는 유지하면서 검사시간을 최소화하여 환자의 불편을 줄일 수 있다고 판단된다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.485-491
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• 2023

As an auxiliary tool for fixing the patient's posture when taking an X-ray, sponges with high radiolucencies are laminated in various thicknesses. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of an auxiliary tool for hand oblique projection X-ray by manufacturing it with a uniform thickness by 3D printing and comparing it with existing sponge tools. In the auxiliary tool, radiolucency was measured at the stairs where each finger was located, and pixel information values were compared in the digital imaging and communications in medicine(DICOM) image. Contrast to noise ratio(CNR) and signal to noise ratio(SNR) were compared by shooting the hand phantom and the auxiliary tool together. As the thickness of the sponge tool increased, radiolucency decreased by 15.52% and pixel information value increased by 20.61%. The transmittance of the 3D printing tool increased by 0.82%, and the pixel information value differed by 5.66%. CNR and SNR increased by 20.03% and 22.42% in 3D printing compared to existing sponge tools. while taking hand oblique projection, maintaining the thickness of the auxiliary tool uniformly through 3D printing maintains high radiolucency and minimal impact on medical images, and increases CNR and SNR, making it useful as an auxiliary tool for taking hand oblique projection.