• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 2012

Purpose : In myocardial perfusion SPECT, the type of orbit (circular vs. body contouring) that affect the image quality is still on the debate. Presently in the nuclear medicine field, the body contouring orbit acquisition is widely used to improve the image quality on the myocardial perfusion SPECT. But in case of body contouring acquisition using the vertical method with dual detect machine, there is a tendency of increasing the radius. In this research, we compared body contouring orbit acquisition with circular orbit acquisition, so we suggest ideal method that reduces the radius for improving image quality. Materials and Methods : Phantom and clinical studies were performed. The anthropomorphic torso phantom was made on equally with counts from patient's body. The study was performed under six different conditions. To compare image quality according to the radius, we increased radius sequentially per step during circular orbit acquisition. On the other hand, sensors that protect a collision and reduce the radius automatically were used to acquire image during body contouring orbit acquisition. So we compared FWHM value of apex. In clinical studies, we analyzed the 40 patients who were examined by Tl-201 gated myocardial perfusion SPECT in department of nuclear medicine at Asan Medical Center in August 2011. To acknowledge the differences according to the radius, we acquired the results two times using circular orbit acquisition and body contouring orbit acquisition. Results : In phantom study, we analyzed that increase of radius resulted in changes of FWHM value. It was 5.41, 6.24, 6.33, 6.42, 6.93 mm. On the other hand, using the body contouring orbit acquisition, FWHM value was 6.23 mm. In clinical study, difference of average radius between two methods was 2.5 cm (circular orbit acquisition was more close to patients). Conclusion : Through the experiments using Anthropomorphic torso phantom and patients data, we found that FWHM value of circular orbit acquisition was lower than body contouring orbit acquisition. As a result, if the difference of average radius exists approximately 3 cm, circular orbit type acquisition is better than body contouring type acquisition. But clinical investigation is only aimed to average radius, so it needs more investigation in comparison of patient's image.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 1996

Objective: Standard stress/rest Tc-99m MIBI and T1-201 myocardial perfusion study have some limitations such as stress/rest image overlap for Tc-99m-MIBI, low energy for T1-201 and long period of study time for two separate studies. Separate acquisition rest T1-201/stress Tc-99m MIBI dual isotope study is a potentially efficient myocardial perfusion imaging protocol that combines the high resolution of Tc-99m for stress perfusion assessment and T1-201 for viability assessment. This study assessed the usefulness and diagnostic accuracy for this new approach. Methods: We tried to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of dual isotope separate acquisition protocol in 67 patients. Immediately after resting T1-201 SPECT data was acquired, dipyridamole stress Tc-99m MIBI myocardial perfusion study was performed. Visual analysis was carried out qualitatively with 0 to 3 scoring system for 17 segments of left ventricle in the reconstructed horizontal long axis and short axis slices. Results: Total study was completed within 3 hours. In angiographic correlation, dual isotope SPECT demonstrated high sensitivity(85%) and in a small group of patients, high specificity was also observed (100%). Conclusion: Combined thallium-201/stress Tc-99m MIBI SPECT displayed similiar diagnostic accuracy to protocol using stress/rest Tc-99m MIBI SPECT. This protocol was completed in shorter period than the previous protocols and therefore enhance laboratory throughput and patients convenience.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.323-334
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• 2005

Background: Gene therapy is a new and promising option for the treatment of severe myocardial ischemia by therapeutic angiogenesis. The goal of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of therapeutic angiogenesis by using VEGF165 in large animals. Material and Method: Twenty-one pigs that underwent ligation of the distal left anterior descending coronary artery were randomly allocated to one of two treatments: intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF (VEGF) or intramyocardial injection of pCK-Null (Control). Injections were administered 30 days after ligation. Seven pigs died during the trial, but eight pigs from VEGF and six from Control survived. Echo-cardiography was performed on day 0 (preoperative) and on days 30 and 60 following coronary ligation. Gated myocardial single photon emission computed tomography imaging (SPECT) with $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi was performed on days 30 and 60. Myocardial perfusion was assessed from the uptake of $^{99m}Tc-labeled$ sestamibi at rest. Global and regional myocardial function as well as post-infarction left ventricular remodeling were assessed from segmental wall thickening; left ventricular ejection fraction (EF); end systolic volume (ESV); and end diastolic volume (EDV) using gated SPECT and echocardiography. Myocardium of the ischemic border zone into which pCK plasmid vector had been injected was also sampled to assess micro-capillary density. Result: Micro-capillary density was significantly higher in the VEGF than in Control ($386\pm110/mm^{2}\;vs.\;291\pm127/mm^{2};\;p<0.001$). Segmental perfusion increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 after intramyocardial injection of plasmid vector in VEGF ($48.4\pm15.2\%\;vs.\;53.8\pm19.6\%;\;p<0.001$), while no significant change was observed in the Control ($45.1\pm17.0\%\;vs.\;43.4\pm17.7\%;\;p=0.186$). This resulted in a significant difference in the percentage changes between the two groups ($11.4\pm27.0\%\;increase\;vs.\;2.7\pm19.0\%\;decrease;\;p=0.003$). Segmental wall thickening increased significantly from day 30 to day 60 in both groups; the increments did not differ between groups. ESV measured using echocardiography increased significantly from day 0 to day 30 in VEGF ($22.9\pm9.9\;mL\;vs.\;32.3\pm9.1\;mL;\; p=0.006$) and in Control ($26.3\pm12.0\;mL\;vs.\;36.8\pm9.7\;mL;\;p=0.046$). EF decreased significantly in VEGF ($52.0\pm7.7\%\;vs.\;46.5\pm7.4\%;\;p=0.004$) and in Control ($48.2\pm9.2\%\;vs.\;41.6\pm10.0\%;\;p=0.028$). There was no significant change in EDV. The interval changes (days $30\~60$) of EF, ESV, and EDV did not differ significantly between groups both by gated SPECT and by echocardiography. Conclusion: Intramyocardial injection of pCK-VEGF165 induced therapeutic angiogenesis and improved myocardial perfusion. However, post-infarction remodeling and global myocardial function were not improved.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2017

Purpose Radiation exposure management has been strictly regulated for the radiation workers, but there are only a few studies on potential risk of radiation exposure to non-radiation workers, especially nurses in a general ward. The present study aimed to estimate the exact total exposure of the nurse in a general ward by close contact with the patient undergoing nuclear medicine examinations. Materials and Methods Radiation exposure rate was determined by using thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) and optical simulated luminescence (OSL) in 14 nurses in a general ward from October 2015 to June 2016. External radiation rate was measured immediately after injection and examination at skin surface, and 50 cm and 1 m distance from 50 patients (PET/CT 20 pts; Bone scan 20 pts; Myocardial SPECT 10 pts). After measurement, effective half-life, and total radiation exposure expected in nurses were calculated. Then, expected total exposure was compared with total exposures actually measured in nurses by TLD and OSL. Results Mean and maximum amount of radiation exposure of 14 nurses in a general ward were 0.01 and 0.02 mSv, respectively in each measuring period. External radiation rate after injection at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was as following; $376.0{\pm}25.2$, $88.1{\pm}8.2$ and $29.0{\pm}5.8{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $206.7{\pm}56.6$, $23.1{\pm}4.4$ and $10.1{\pm}1.4{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in bone scan; $22.5{\pm}2.6$, $2.4{\pm}0.7$ and $0.9{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. After examination, external radiation rate at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients was decreased as following; $165.3{\pm}22.1$, $38.7{\pm}5.9$ and $12.4{\pm}2.5{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in PET/CT; $32.1{\pm}8.7$, $6.2{\pm}1.1$, $2.8{\pm}0.6$, respectively in bone scan; $14.0{\pm}1.2$, $2.1{\pm}0.3$, $0.8{\pm}0.2{\mu}Sv/hr$, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Based upon the results, an effective half-life was calculated, and at 30 minutes after examination the time to reach normal dose limit in 'Nuclear Safety Act' was calculated conservatively without considering a half-life. In oder of distance (at skin surface, 0.5 m and 1 m distance from patients), it was 7.9, 34.1 and 106.8 hr, respectively in PET/CT; 40.4, 199.5 and 451.1 hr, respectively in bone scan, 62.5, 519.3 and 1313.6 hr, respectively in myocardial SPECT. Conclusion Radiation exposure rate may differ slightly depending on the work process and the environment in a general ward. Exposure rate was measured at step in the general examination procedure and it made our results more reliable. Our results clearly showed that total amount of radiation exposure caused by residual radioactive isotope in the patient body was neglectable, even comparing with the natural radiation exposure. In conclusion, nurses in a general ward were much less exposed than the normal dose limit, and the effects of exposure by contacting patients undergoing nuclear medicine examination was ignorable.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.509-515
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• 1998

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether T1-201 reinjection distinguishes viable from non-viable myocardium in patients with reverse redistribution after acute myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods: We studied 42 patients with acute myocardial infarction (age, $55{\pm}12$ years). Eighteen (43%) out of 42 showed reverse redistribution on dipyridamole stress-4 hour redistribution T1-201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). T1-201 reinjection was performed at 24 hours. Reverse redistribution was defined as worsening of perfusion defect at 4 hour delayed scan. All patients underwent follow-up echocardiography in 4 months to assess regional wall motion improvement. T1-201 uptake on reinjection images were analyzed for the prediction of myocardial wall motion improvement. Results: Of 36 segments with reverse redistribution, 17 segments showed normal wall motion on echocardiography, while 19 segments showed wall motion abnormalities. Of 19 the segments with reverse redistribution, 11 (58%) showed enhanced uptake after 24 hour reinjection. Myocardial wall motion was improved in 10 of 11 segments (90%) with enhanced uptake on reinjection. Wall motion improvement was not seen in 5 of 8 segments (63%) without enhanced thallium uptake. When myocardial viability was assessed by the uptake on reinjection image, nine of 10 segments (90%) with normal or mildly decreased uptake showed improved wall motion. Wall motion was not improved in 5 of 9 segments (16%) with severely decreased uptake. Conclusion: In patients with acute myocardial infarction, T1-201 reinjection imaging on myocardial segments with reverse redistribution has a high positive predictive value in the assessment of myocardial viability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.128-128
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• 1999

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.05a
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• pp.152-152
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• 1997

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2001

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of scatter correction on the assessment of myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function by gated Tc-99m myocardial SPECT. Materials and Methods: Subjects were 11 normal volunteers, 20 patients with non-cardiac chest pain and 13 patients with coronary artery diseases. We classified above 3 groups into normal and diseased groups. Scatter correction was done using dual-energy-window scatter correction method (DEW-SC). We compared acquired counts, image contrast, corrected maximum relative counts, indices of left ventricular function, extent and severity of perfusion defects calculated by 'CEqual program' between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Results: Scatter corrected studios was lower in counts by $18{\pm}3%$ than uncorrected studies, but image contrast were improved in all cases. Scatter correction using DEW-SC took 3 minutes to complete, and 512 kB memory to store. There were no significant differences among indices of left ventricular function between scatter non-corrected and corrected images. Although extents of perfusion defects were not significantly different, severity was severer in scatter corrected images. Conclusion: Scatter correction using DEW-SC is simple to do, and improves image contrast without changing other indices of myocardial perfusion and function.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.32-35
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• 2016

Purpose The goal for this study is to figure out that medical staff except Nuclear Medicine Department could be exposed to radiation from the patients who take Nuclear Medicine examination. Materials and Methods Total 250 patients (Bone scan 100, Myocardial SPECT 100, PET/CT 50) were involved from July to October in 2015, and we measured patient dose rate two times for every patients. First, we checked radiation dose rate right after injecting an isotope (radiopharmaceutical). Secondly, we measured radiation dose rate after each examination. Results In the case of Bone scan, dose rate were $0.0278{\pm}0.0036mSv/h$ after injection and $0.0060{\pm}0.0018mSv/h$ after examination (3 hrs 52 minutes after injection on average). For Myocardial SPECT, dose rate were $0.0245{\pm}0.0027mSv/h$ after injection and $0.0123{\pm}0.0041mSv/h$ after examination (2 hrs 09 minutes after injection on average). Lastly, for PET/CT, dose rate were $0.0439{\pm}0.0087mSv/h$ after examination (68 minutes after injection on average). Conclusion Compared to Nuclear Safety Commission Act, there was no significant harmful effect of the exposure from patients who have been administered radiopharmaceuticals. However, we should strive to keep ALARA(as low as reasonably achievable) principle for radiation protection.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.519-525
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• 2009

Purpose: F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake of myocardium is influenced by various factors. Increased glycolysis, and subsequent increased F-18 FDG uptake has been reported in ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, clinical significance of incidentally found myocardial F-18 FDG uptake has not been clarified. We retrospectively reviewed the degree and pattern of myocardial uptake in patients without history of ischemic heart disease who underwent torso F-18 FDG PET/CT for evaluation of neoplastic disease. Materials and Methods: From January 2005 to June 2009, 77 patients who underwent F-18 FDG PET/CT and Tc-99m sestamibi stress/rest SPECT within 3 months were enrolled. Results: Of 77 patients, 55 (71.4%) showed increased F-18 FDG uptake in the myocardium. In this population, 40 showed uniform uptake pattern, while 15 showed focal uptake. In patients with uniform uptake, 17 showed decreased uptake in the septum without perfusion defect on myocardial SPECT. Remaining 23 patients showed uniform uptake, with 1 reversible perfusion defect and 1 fixed perfusion defect. In 15 patients with focal uptake, 9 showed increased F-18 FDG uptake in the base, and only 1 of them showed reversible perfusion defect on myocardial SPECT. In the remaining 6 focal uptake group, 4 had reversible perfusion defect in the corresponding wall, and 1 had apical hypertrophy. Conclusion: We demonstrated that septal defect pattern and basal uptake pattern in the myocardium may represent normal variants. Focal myocardial uptake other than normal variants on oncologic torso F-18 FDG PET/CT with routine fasting protocol may suggest ischemic heart disease, thus further evaluation is warranted.