• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.603-612
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• 2021

The effect of Advanced Modeled Iterative Reconstruction (ADMIRE) on the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of computed tomography was evaluated. Coronary artery calcium images (348 calcium, 6 groups, total of 2088 calcium) were acquired by 128-slice dual-source CT of 89 patients.Volume score and Agatston score were measured from images reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and ADMIRE (1-5). The difference between FBP and ADMIRE Strength (1-5) was confirmed through the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the post-hoc analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test based on FBP. Both volume score and Agatston score showed statistically significant differences between FBP and ADMIRE (1-5) (P=0.015, P=0.0.38). As a result of post hoc analysis, the volume score decreased to 9.5% in ADMIRE 4 (Z=-2.359, P=0.018) and 13.2% in ADMIRE 5 (Z=-3.113, P=0.002) based on FBP. Agatston score decreased to 10.4% in ADMIRE 4 (Z=-2.051, P=0.040) and 14.0% in ADMIRE 5 (Z=-2.718, P=0.007) based on FBP. High ADMIRE strength affected the volume score and Agatston score due to the decrease in calcium area. In addition, the change in the Density factor due to the decrease in Maximum HU may affect the calculation of the Agatston score.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.1065-1072
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• 2021

In Computed Tomography, abdominal examination showed the highest proportion of use, and effort of reducing the radiation dose is required. Recently introduced Iterative Reconstruction(IR) is repetitive reconstruction technique of Computed Tomography. SIEMENS' IR, ADMIRE and GE's IR, ASIR-V, were used in this examination. Noise, % Contrast, and High contrast resolution were measured by using ACR phantom for image quality evaluation. In addition, CTDI_vol and DLP displayed in the CT device were used for dose evaluation. When FBP and IR were compared, stage 2 to stage 5 of ADMIRE and 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90% of ASIR-V were applied, noise could be reduced from a minimum of 0.46 to a maximum of 2.38 in ADMIRE compared to FBP, and noise from a minimum of 0.51 to a maximum of 2.5 in ASIR-V compared to FBP. Also, % Contrast and High contrast resolution of FBP and IR were no statistical difference. When IR was used for abdominal CT examination, the radiation dose of ADMIRE is reduced by 25.39% compared to the radiation dose of FBP. Also, the radiation dose of ASIR-V is reduced by 16.61% compared to the radiation dose of FBP. In conclusion, it is believed that if IR is applied during abdominal CT examination, the radiation dose can be reduced without deteriorating the image quality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 2023

Pediatric Computed Tomography (CT) examinations can often result in exam failures or the need for frequent retests due to the difficulty of cooperation from young patients. Deep Learning Image Reconstruction (DLIR) methods offer the potential to obtain diagnostically valuable images while reducing the retest rate in CT examinations of pediatric patients with high radiation sensitivity. In this study, we investigated the possibility of applying DLIR to reduce artifacts caused by respiration or motion and obtain clinically useful images in pediatric chest CT examinations. Retrospective analysis was conducted on chest CT examination data of 43 children under the age of 7 from P Hospital in Gyeongsangnam-do. The images reconstructed using Filtered Back Projection (FBP), Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASIR-50), and the deep learning algorithm TrueFidelity-Middle (TF-M) were compared. Regions of interest (ROI) were drawn on the right ascending aorta (AA) and back muscle (BM) in contrast-enhanced chest images, and noise (standard deviation, SD) was measured using Hounsfield units (HU) in each image. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (ver. 22.0), analyzing the mean values of the three measurements with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the SD values for AA were FBP=25.65±3.75, ASIR-50=19.08±3.93, and TF-M=17.05±4.45 (F=66.72, p=0.00), while the SD values for BM were FBP=26.64±3.81, ASIR-50=19.19±3.37, and TF-M=19.87±4.25 (F=49.54, p=0.00). Post-hoc tests revealed significant differences among the three groups. DLIR using TF-M demonstrated significantly lower noise values compared to conventional reconstruction methods. Therefore, the application of the deep learning algorithm TrueFidelity-Middle (TF-M) is expected to be clinically valuable in pediatric chest CT examinations by reducing the degradation of image quality caused by respiration or motion.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Broadcast Engineers Conference
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• 2013.06a
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• pp.274-277
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• 2013

CT(Computed Tomography)영상에서 선량과 화질은 중요한 요소이다. 선량은 환자에게 직접적으로 악영향을 끼치는 요소이며, 화질은 환자의 병변을 판단하는데 매우 중요하게 작용한다. 반복적 재구성 알고리즘을 이용하면 저선량 영상에서도 고화질의 영상을 얻을 수 있는지 FBP와 정량적, 정성적으로 비교하였다. 촬영 프로토콜은 관전압 80, 100, 120kVp에서 관전류를 동일하게 200mA로 촬영하여 획득하였으며, 정량적 평가를 위해 SD(Standard Deviation), SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio), MTF(Modulation Transfer Function)를 측정하여 분석하였다. 선량은 80kVp일 때 가장 낮았으며, 120kVp일 때 가장 높았다. 80kVp의 영상을 Toshiba 사(社)의 AIDR 3D(Adaptive Iterative Reduction integrated into $^{SURE}Exposure$)로 재구성하고, 120kVp의 영상에 FBP로 재구성한 다음 정량적 비교를 한 결과 AIDR 3D를 적용한 영상의 SD가 낮게 나왔으며, SNR이 높게 나타났고, MTF 곡선은 유사하게 나타났다. 그리고 FWHM(Full Width at Half Maximum) 값의 오차가 거의 없었다. 결론적으로 AIDR 3D는 저선량에서도 높은 화질을 나타냄을 확인하였다.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.261-267
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• 2017

The study has attempted to evaluate and compare the image evaluation and exposure dose by respectively applying filter back projection (FBP), the existing test method, and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) with different values of tube voltage during the low dose computed tomography (LDCT). With the image reconstruction method as basis, chest phantom was utilized with the FBP and ASIR set at 10%, 20% respectively, and the change of tube voltage (100 kVp, 120 kVp). For image evaluation, back ground noise, signal-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-noise ratio (CNR) were measured, and, for dose assessment, CTDIvol and DLP were measured respectively. In terms of image evaluation, there was significant difference in ascending aorta (AA) SNR and inpraspinatus muscle (IM) SNR with the different amount of tube voltage (p < 0.05). In terms of CTDIvol, the measured values with the same tube voltage of 120 kVp were 2.6 mGy with no-ASIR and 2.17 mGy with 20%-ASIR respectively, decreased by 0.43 mGy, and the values with 100 kVp were 1.61 mGy with no-ASIR and 1.34 mGy with 20%-ASIR, decreased by 0.27 mGy. In terms of DLP, the measured values with 120 kVp were $103.21mGy{\cdot}cm$ with no-ASIR and $85.94mGy{\cdot}cm$ with 20%-ASIR, decreased by $17.27mGy{\cdot}cm$ (about 16.7%), and the values with 100 kVp were $63.84mGy{\cdot}cm$ with no-ASIR and $53.25mGy{\cdot}cm$ with 20%-ASIR, a decrease by $10.62mGy{\cdot}cm$ (about 16.7%). At lower tube voltage, the rate of dose significantly decreased, but the negative effects on image evaluation was shown due to the increase of noise.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.92-98
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• 2021

Purpose: This study automatically discriminates homogeneous and structure edge regions on computed tomography (CT) images, and it evaluates the noise level and edge preservation ratio (EPR) according to the different types of iterative reconstruction (IR). Methods: The dataset consisted of CT scans of 10 patients reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP), statistical IR (iDose⁴), and iterative model-based reconstruction (IMR). Using the 10th and 85th percentiles of the structure coherence feature, homogeneous and structure edge regions were localized. The noise level was estimated using the averages of the standard deviations for five regions of interests (ROIs), and the EPR was calculated as the ratio of standard deviations between homogeneous and structural edge regions on subtraction CT between the FBP and IR. Results: The noise levels were 20.86±1.77 Hounsfield unit (HU), 13.50±1.14 HU, and 7.70±0.46 HU for FBP, iDose⁴, and IMR, respectively, which indicates that iDose⁴ and IMR could achieve noise reductions of approximately 35.17% and 62.97%, respectively. The EPR had values of 1.14±0.48 and 1.22±0.51 for iDose⁴ and IMR, respectively. Conclusions: The iDose⁴ and IMR algorithms can effectively reduce noise levels while maintaining the anatomical structure. This study suggested automated evaluation measurements of noise levels and EPRs, which are important aspects in CT image quality with patients' cases of FBP, iDose⁴, and IMR. We expect that the inclusion of other important image quality indices with a greater number of patients' cases will enable the establishment of integrated platforms for monitoring both CT image quality and radiation dose.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.558-568
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate whether computed tomography (CT) reconstruction algorithms affect the CT texture features of the liver parenchyma. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study comprised 58 patients (normal liver, n = 34; chronic liver disease [CLD], n = 24) who underwent liver CT scans using a single CT scanner. All CT images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP), hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) (iDOSE⁴), and model-based IR (IMR). On arterial phase (AP) and portal venous phase (PVP) CT imaging, quantitative texture analysis of the liver parenchyma using a single-slice region of interest was performed at the level of the hepatic hilum using a filtration-histogram statistic-based method with different filter values. Texture features were compared among the three reconstruction methods and between normal livers and those from CLD patients. Additionally, we evaluated the inter- and intra-observer reliability of the CT texture analysis by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: IR techniques affect various CT texture features of the liver parenchyma. In particular, model-based IR frequently showed significant differences compared to FBP or hybrid IR on both AP and PVP CT imaging. Significant variation in entropy was observed between the three reconstruction algorithms on PVP imaging (p < 0.05). Comparison between normal livers and those from CLD patients revealed that AP images depend more strongly on the reconstruction method used than PVP images. For both inter- and intra-observer reliability, ICCs were acceptable (> 0.75) for CT imaging without filtration. Conclusion: CT texture features of the liver parenchyma evaluated using the filtration-histogram method were significantly affected by the CT reconstruction algorithm used.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1044-1054
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether a deep learning reconstruction (DLR) method improves the image quality, stent evaluation, and visibility of the valve apparatus in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) when compared with filtered back projection (FBP) and hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) methods. Materials and Methods: CCTA images of 51 patients (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 63.9 ± 9.8 years, 36 male) who underwent examination at a single institution were reconstructed using DLR, FBP, and hybrid IR methods and reviewed. CT attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and stent evaluation, including 10%-90% edge rise slope (ERS) and 10%-90% edge rise distance (ERD), were measured. Quantitative data are summarized as the mean ± SD. The subjective visual scores (1 for worst -5 for best) of the images were obtained for the following: overall image quality, image noise, and appearance of stent, vessel, and aortic and tricuspid valve apparatus (annulus, leaflets, papillary muscles, and chordae tendineae). These parameters were compared between the DLR, FBP, and hybrid IR methods. Results: DLR provided higher Hounsfield unit (HU) values in the aorta and similar attenuation in the fat and muscle compared with FBP and hybrid IR. The image noise in HU was significantly lower in DLR (12.6 ± 2.2) than in hybrid IR (24.2 ± 3.0) and FBP (54.2 ± 9.5) (p < 0.001). The SNR and CNR were significantly higher in the DLR group than in the FBP and hybrid IR groups (p < 0.001). In the coronary stent, the mean value of ERS was significantly higher in DLR (1260.4 ± 242.5 HU/mm) than that of FBP (801.9 ± 170.7 HU/mm) and hybrid IR (641.9 ± 112.0 HU/mm). The mean value of ERD was measured as 0.8 ± 0.1 mm for DLR while it was 1.1 ± 0.2 mm for FBP and 1.1 ± 0.2 mm for hybrid IR. The subjective visual scores were higher in the DLR than in the images reconstructed with FBP and hybrid IR. Conclusion: DLR reconstruction provided better images than FBP and hybrid IR reconstruction.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the effects of an iterative reconstruction algorithm and an automatic exposure control (AEC) technique on image quality and radiation dose through phantom experiments with coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography protocols. We scanned the AAPM CT performance phantom using 320 multi-detector-row CT. At the tube voltages of 80, 100, and 120 kVp, the scanning was repeated with two settings of the AEC technique, i.e., with the target standard deviations (SD) values of 33 (the higher tube current) and 44 (the lower tube current). The scanned projection data were reconstructed also in two ways, with the filtered back projection (FBP) and with the iterative reconstruction technique (AIDR-3D). The image quality was evaluated quantitatively with the noise standard deviation, modulation transfer function, and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR). More specifically, we analyzed the influences of selection of a tube voltage and a reconstruction algorithm on tube current modulation and consequently on radiation dose. Reduction of image noise by the iterative reconstruction algorithm compared with the FBP was revealed eminently, especially with the lower tube current protocols, i.e., it was decreased by 46% and 38%, when the AEC was established with the lower dose (the target SD=44) and the higher dose (the target SD=33), respectively. As a side effect of iterative reconstruction, the spatial resolution was decreased by a degree that could not mar the remarkable gains in terms of noise reduction. Consequently, if coronary CT angiogprahy is scanned and reconstructed using both the automatic exposure control and iterative reconstruction techniques, it is anticipated that, in comparison with a conventional acquisition method, image noise can be reduced significantly with slight decrease in spatial resolution, implying clinical advantages of radiation dose reduction, still being faithful to the ALARA principle.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5 s.133
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• pp.21-28
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• 2005

For the proper conservation of wooden cultural properties, non-destructive evaluation (NDE) method, which can be used to quantitatively evaluate the internal state of wood members, are needed. In this study, an ultrasonic CT system composed of portable devices was attempted, and the capacity of this system was verified by reconstructing the CT images for two phantoms and two artificially defected specimens. Results from this study showed that the sizes of detected defects were enlarged and the shapes were distorted on the CT images. Also, the positions were shifted somewhat toward the surface of specimen, which is regarded due to the anisotropic property of wood. Compared to the filtered back-projection method, SIRT (simultaneous iterative reconstruction technique) method was determined to be more efficient as the algorithm of image reconstruction for wood. A new ultrasonic CT system is thought to be used as a NDE method for wood. However wood characteristics and wave diffraction within wood made it difficult to accurately evaluate the size, shape and position of defects. To improve the quality of CT image of wood, more research including the relationship between wood and ultrasound is needed, and wood properties should be taken into consideration on the image reconstruction algorithm.