• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Purpose: The accuracy and advantages of OBI(On Board Imager) against the conventional method like film and EPID for the setup error correction were evaluated with the analysis of the accumulated data which were produced in the process of setup error correction using OBI. Materials and Methods: The results of setup error correction using OBI system were analyzed for the 130 patients who had been planned for 3 dimensional conformal radiation therapy during March 2006 and May 2006. Two kilo voltage images acquired in the orthogonal direction were fused and compared with reference setup images. The setup errors in the direction of vertical, lateral, longitudinal axis were recorded and calculated the distance from the isocenter. The corrected setup error were analyzed according to the lesion and the degree of shift variations. Results: There was no setup error in the 41.5% of total analyzed patients and setup errors between 1mm and 5mm were found in the 52.3%. 6.1% patients showed the more than 5mm shift and this error were verified as a difference of setup position and the movement of patient in a treatment room. Conclusion: The setup error analysis using OBI in this study verified that the conventional setup process in accordance with the laser and field light was not enough to get rid of the setup error. The KV images acquired using OBI provided good image quality for comparing with simulation images and much lower patients' exposure dose compared with conventional method of using EPID. These advantages of OBI system which were confirmed in this study proved the accuracy and priority of OBI system in the process of IGRT(Image Guided Radiation Therapy).

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.107-116
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• 2011

Respiratory gated radiation therapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy require identical tumor motions during each treatment with the motion detected in treatment planning CT. Therefore, this study developed a tumor motion monitoring and analysis system during the treatments employing RPM data, gated setup OBI images and a data analysis software. A respiratory training and guiding program which improves the regularity of breathing was used to patients. The breathing signal was obtained by RPM and the recorded data in the 4D console was read after treatment. The setup OBI images obtained gated at 0% and 50% of breathing phases were used to detect the tumor motion range in crenio-caudal direction. By matching the RPM data recorded at the OBI imaging time, a factor which converts the RPM motion to the tumor motion was computed. RPM data was entered to the institute developed data analysis software and the maximum, minimum, average of the breathing motion as well as the standard deviation of motion amplitude and period was computed. The computed result is exported in an excel file. The conversion factor was applied to the analyzed data to estimate the tumor motion. The accuracy of the developed method was tested by using a moving phantom, and the efficacy was evaluated for 10 stereotactic body radiation therapy patients. For the sine wave motion of the phantom with 4 sec of period and 2 cm of peak-to-peak amplitude, the measurement was slightly larger (4.052 sec) and the amplitude was smaller (1.952 cm). For patient treatment, one patient was evaluated not to qualified to SBRT due to the usability of the breathing, and in one patient case, the treatment was changed to respiratory gated treatment due the larger motion range of the tumor than treatment planed motion. The developed method and data analysis program was useful to estimate the tumor motion during treatment.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.103-109
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• 2016

Polyethylene pipes has useful benefits which are anti-corrosive and flexible material, so it is used to gas pipes but also class 3 water pipes of nuclear power plant, process pipes of petrochemical plant and chemical plant. So the usage of polyethylene pipes is widely increased. But it has been limited for the usage of polyethylene, because it can not be directly detected to fusion joints by using non destructive evaluation. Polyethylene pipes are connected by two methods, one is butt fusion and the other is electrofusion. Butt fusion is widely used to connecting the pipes. It is proposed to method for determining the reliability of joints in this study that is detection of the melt flow zone at fusion joints. In this study, middle density polyethylene is used, outside diameter of the test specimen is 225mm and thickness is 20.5mm. Speed of ultrasonic of this test specimen is 2,200m/s. Test specimens were fabricated by varying the heating time which means from 0% to 130% applying time through heating plate to polyethylene for detecting melt flow zone. Also 4 additional test specimens were made, one was made that not scrapping attached surface of pipes but applying 100% of the proper heating time and the others were made to include of soil, gravel and vinly tape paper at fusion joints, that were also applied 100% of proper heating time. Ultrasonic testing to measure the melt flow zone of 20 test specimens was conducted by using 3.5MHz and 5.0MHz ultrasonic probes and melt flow zone measuring was conducted to three times at different point to one specimen. To differentiate the melt flow zone signal, post image processing was equally conducted to all test results and image levels, contrast, sharpen, threshold were adopted to all teat results and the test results were displayed gray scale. From the results, for the shorter heating times the reflection area of multiple echo have been increased, so the data was obtained from the position where it can be eliminated as much as possible. At 80% of proper heating time(168 sec.), the signal of melt flow zone was obtained clearly, so measuring could be conducted. From 7% of proper heating time(15 sec.) to shorter heating times. we could not obtain the signal because test specimen was not fused. From the result, we can verify that measuring of melt flow zone by using phased array ultrasonic imaging method is possible. And we can verify to complete and incomplete butt fusion by measuring the melt flow zone.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2008

Purpose : To present the T1 and T2 relaxation times of the major cerebral metabolites at 1.5T and 3.0T and compare those between 1.5T and 3.0T. Materials and Methods : Using the phantom containing N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), Choline (Cho), and Creatine (Cr) at both 1.5T and 3.0T MRI, the T1 relaxation times were calculated from the spectral data obtained with 5000 ms repetition time (TR), 20 ms echo time (TE), and 11 different mixing time (TM)s using STEAM (STimulated Echo-Acquisition Mode) method. The T2 relaxation times were obtained from the spectral data obtained with 3000 ms TR and 5 different TEs using PRESS (Point-RESolved Spectroscopy) method. The T1 and T2 relaxation times obtained at 1.5T were compared with those of 3.0T. Results : The T1 relaxation times of NAA were $2293\;{\pm}\;48\;ms$ at 1.5T and $2559\;{\pm}\;124\;ms$ at 3.0T (11.6% increase at 3.0T). The T1 relaxation times of Cho were $2540\;{\pm}\;57\;ms$ at 1.5T and $2644\;{\pm}\;76\;ms$ at 3.0T (4.1% increase at 3.0T). The T1 relaxation times of Cr were $2543\;{\pm}\;75\;ms$ at 1.5T and $2665\;{\pm}\;94\;ms$ at 3.0T (4.8% increase). The T2 relaxation times of NAA were $526\;{\pm}\;81\;ms$ at 1.5T and $468\;{\pm}\;74\;ms$ at 3.0T (11.0% decrease at 3.0T). The T2 relaxation times of Cho were $220\;{\pm}\;44ms$ at 1.5T and $182\;{\pm}\;35\;ms$ at 3.0T (17.3% decrease at 3.0T). The T2 relaxation times of Cr were $289\;{\pm}\;47\;ms$ at 1.5T and $275\;{\pm}\;57\;ms$ at 3.0T (4.8% decrease at 3.0T). Conclusion : The T1 relaxation times of the major cerebral metabolites (NAA, Cr, Cho), which were measured at the phantom, were 4.1%-11.6% longer at 3.0T than at 1.5T. The T2 relaxation times of them were 4.8%-17.3% shorter at 3.0T than at 1.5T. To optimize MR spectroscopy at 3.0T, TR should be lengthened and TE should be shortened.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1381-1388
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• 2002

Purpose : Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography(MRCP) is a noninvasive method for imaging the pancreaticobiliary tree. The aim of this study was to evalute the usefulness of MRCP for the diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary diseases in children. Methods : From October 1996 to May 2001, 67 patients with obstructive jaundice and three patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis were evaluated with abdominal ultrasonography and MRCP. The final diagnosis was based on the operative and pathologic findings with biopsy specimen including clinical and laboratory findings. Results : A total of 70 patients, consisting of 31 males and 39 females, with a mean age of $2.6{\pm}3.3$ years were studied. The final diagnosis was biliary atresia in 25, neonatal cholestasis in 18, choledochal cyst without anomalous pancreatobiliary duct union(APBDU) in nine, choledochal cyst with APBDU in seven, cholestatic hepatitis in five, chronic recurrent pancreatitis in three, sclerosing cholangitis in two, and secondary biliary cirrhosis in one case. The overall diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography was 75.7% and that of MRCP was 97.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of MRCP were 100% and 98% for biliary atresia, 87.5% and 100% for choledochal cyst with APBDU, 100% and 100% for choledochal cyst without APBDU, sclerosing cholangitis and chronic recurrent pancreatitis, respectively. Conclusion : MRCP is a fast, non-invasive and reliable method for diagnosing pancreaticobiliary diseases in children and will be the standard diagnostic procedure in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.201-208
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the optimal flip angle by measuring the SNR and CNR according to the angle of changes of the MRI technique using the Image J program. A total of 30 normal volunteers were assessed by using a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging system (Philips, Medical System, Achieva). For the MRI angiography, we set the region of interest in four regions and evaluated the SNR and CNR. The statistical significance of SNR and CNR was calculated by one-way ANOVA using quantitative analysis at five different positions. The Bonferroni method was used for post-hoc analyzes. Statistical significance was determined by using ANOVA analysis at p<0.05 and Bonferroni method was used as a post-hoc analysis. The results of this study, the measurement values of ACA(SNR:$876.59{\pm}14.22$, CNR:$1999.7{\pm}12.5$), PCA(SNR:$863.48{\pm}13.29$, CNR:$1870.18{\pm}12.56$), ICA(SNR:$1116.87{\pm}08.34$, CNR:$2979.37{\pm}14.69$) and MCA(SNR:$848.66{\pm}15.25$, CNR:$2199.25{\pm}13.48$) were obtained with the high signal intensity at $25^{\circ}$(p<0.05). The values of a1, a2, a3, p1, p2, p3, m1, m2 and m3 were also the same (p<0.05). Post-hoc analysis results, There was a statistically significant difference (p=0.000) between $10^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$ on the $25^{\circ}$ reference for the flip angle, but no significant results were obtained with $30^{\circ}$(p<0.05). In concision, because the signal intensity decreased at $30^{\circ}$, this study revealed that the optimal flip angles were $25^{\circ}$ in cerebrovascular MR angiography.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.225-237
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• 1998

Purpose: We investigated the statistical methods to compose the functional brain map of human working memory and the principal factors that have an effect on the methods for localization. Materials and Methods: Repeated PET scans with successive four tasks, which consist of one control and three different activation tasks, were performed on six right-handed normal volunteers for 2 minutes after bolus injections of 925 MBq $H_2^{15}O$ at the intervals of 30 minutes. Image data were analyzed using SPM96 (Statistical Parametric Mapping) implemented with Matlab (Mathworks Inc., U.S.A.). Images from the same subject were spatially registered and were normalized using linear and nonlinear transformation methods. Significant difference between control and each activation state was estimated at every voxel based on the general linear model. Differences of global counts were removed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with global activity as covariate. Using the mean and variance for each condition which was adjusted using ANCOVA, t-statistics was performed on every voxel To interpret the results more easily, t-values were transformed to the standard Gaussian distribution (Z-score). Results: All the subjects carried out the activation and control tests successfully. Average rate of correct answers was 95%. The numbers of activated blobs were 4 for verbal memory I, 9 for verbal memory II, 9 for visual memory, and 6 for conjunctive activation of these three tasks. The verbal working memory activates predominantly left-sided structures, and the visual memory activates the right hemisphere. Conclusion: We conclude that rCBF PET imaging and statistical parametric mapping method were useful in the localization of the brain regions for verbal and visual working memory.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.473-479
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• 2005

Background : A pulmonary embolism often presents with nonspecific symptoms and signs. However, a delayed diagnosis can result in catastrophic outcome. The majority of preventable deaths associated with a pulmonary embolism can be ascribed to a missed diagnosis rather than to the failure of existing treatments. Therefore, accurate and rapid diagnostic methods are essential for the management of a pulmonary embolism. The recent generation of multidetector-row spiral CT scanners appears to outperform other imaging modalities in detecting a central and peripheral pulmonary embolism. However, there are some variations in the interpretations of the findings between observers. This study examined the inter-observer differences of the diagnoses in patients with a pulmonary embolism. Method : 64 patients who were diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism either clinically or with spiral chest CT from 2002 to 2004, were included. Two thoracic radiologists interpreted the multidetector-row spiral CT in terms of the diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism and the location of the thrombus independently. Among 64 patients, 14 patients were excluded because there was no evidence of a pulmonary embolism or there was different interpretation of the pulmonary embolism between radiologists. A clinical diagnosis was based on "Rules for predicting the probability of embolism". Results : The mean score of the patients according to the Wells method was $3.91{\pm}0.30$ (0-9). The accordance of the radiologists was 95% in the main, 85% in the lobar, 91.2% in the segmental, and 96% in the sub-segmental pulmonary arteries. After excluding the negative interpretation from both radiologists, their agreement was 76.2%(${\kappa}.$ 0.83) in the main, 57.6%(${\kappa}.$ 0.63) in the lobar, 51.5%(${\kappa}.$ 0.63) in the segmental, and 34.6%(${\kappa}.$ 0.49) in the sub-segmental pulmonary arteries. Conclusion : Chest CT has been recently applied to patients suspected of having a pulmonary embolism. It was found that spiral CT is a rapid test for diagnosing a thrombus, and there was reliable accordance between the observers from the area of the large pulmonary arteries. However, there was a lack of agreement between the observers in diagnosing thrombi located distal to the sub-segmental arteries.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.30 no.1_2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2018

Purpose : Proton Therapy using Bragg-peak, because it has distinct characteristics in providing maximum dosage for tumor and minimal dosage for normal tissue, a medical imaging system that can quantify changes in patient position or treatment area is of paramount importance to the treatment of protons. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the usefulness of the algorithm by comparing the image matching through the set-up and in-house code through the existing dips program by producing a Matlab-based in-house registration code to determine the error value between dips and DRR to evaluate the accuracy of the existing treatment. Materials and Methods : Thirteen patients with brain tumors and head and neck cancer who received proton therapy were included in this study and used the DIPS Program System (Version 2.4.3, IBA, Belgium) for image comparison and the Eclipse Proton Planning System (Version 13.7, Varian, USA) for patient treatment planning. For Validation of the Registration method, a test image was artificially rotated and moved to match the existing image, and the initial set up image of DIPS program of existing set up process was image-matched with plan DRR, and the error value was obtained, and the usefulness of the algorithm was evaluated. Results : When the test image was moved 0.5, 1, and 10 cm in the left and right directions, the average error was 0.018 cm. When the test image was rotated counterclockwise by 1 and $10^{\circ}$, the error was $0.0011^{\circ}$. When the initial images of four patients were imaged, the mean error was 0.056, 0.044, and 0.053 cm in the order of x, y, and z, and 0.190 and $0.206^{\circ}$ in the order of rotation and pitch. When the final images of 13 patients were imaged, the mean differences were 0.062, 0.085, and 0.074 cm in the order of x, y, and z, and 0.120 cm as the vector value. Rotation and pitch were 0.171 and $0.174^{\circ}$, respectively. Conclusion : The Matlab-based In-house Registration code produced through this study showed accurate Image matching based on Intensity as well as the simple image as well as anatomical structure. Also, the Set-up error through the DIPS program of the existing treatment method showed a very slight difference, confirming the accuracy of the proton therapy. Future development of additional programs and future Intensity-based Matlab In-house code research will be necessary for future clinical applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to establish a new QC method that can simultaneously evaluate the resolution of the x/y plane and the z-axis by producing a phantom that can reflect exposure and reconstruction parameter of MDCT system. It was used with Aquilion ONE(Cannon Medical System, Otawara, Japan), and the examination was scanned using of 120 kV, 260 mA, and the D-FOV of 300 mm². It produced new SSP phantom modules in which two aluminum plates inclined at 45° to a vertical axis and a transverse axis to evaluate high contrast resolution of x/y plane and z axis. And it changed factors such as the algorithm, distance from gantry iso-center. All images were reconstructed in five steps from 0.6 mm to 10.0 mm slice thickness to measure resolution of x/y plane and z-axis. The image data measured FWHM and FWTM using Profile tool of Aquarius iNtusion Edition ver. 4.4.13 P6 software(Terarecon, California, USA), and analysed SPQI and signal intensity by ImageJ program(v1.53n, National Institutes of Health, USA). It decreased by 4.09~11.99%, 4.12~35.52%, and 4.70~37.64% in slice thickness of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm for evaluating the high contrast resolution of x/y plane according to distance from gantry iso-center. Therefore, the high contrast resolution of the x/y plane decreased when the distance from the iso-center increased or the slice thickness increased. Additionally, the slice thicknesses of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, and 10.0 mm with a high algorithm increased 74.83, 15.18 and 81.25%. The FWHM was almost constant on the measured SSP graph for evaluating the accuracy of slice thickness which represents the resolution of x/y plane and z-axis, but it was measured to be higher than the nominal slice thickness set by user. The FWHM and FWTM of z-axis with axial scan mode tended to increase significantly as the distance increased from gantry iso-center than the helical mode. Particularly, the thinner slice thickness that increased error range compare with the nominal slice thickness. The SPQI increased with thick slice thickness, and that was closer to 90% in the helical scan than the axial scan. In conclusion, by producing a phantom suitable for MDCT detectors and capable of quantitative resolution evaluation, it can be used as a specific method in the management of research quality and management of outdated equipment. Thus, it is expected to contribute greatly to the discrimination of lesions in the field of CT imaging.