• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2024

Ultrasonography examination has limitations in quantifying hepatic fat quantification. Therefore, this study aimed to experimentally demonstrate whether changes in signal attenuation during ultrasound imaging can be quantified using simulated hepatic phantoms to assess hepatic fat content. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the potential of ultrasound imaging for diagnosing hepatic fatty liver by analyzing the relationship between hepatic fat content and signal intensity in ultrasound images. In this study, we developed a total of five stimulated hepatic phantoms by homogeneously mixing water and oil. We confirmed the fat content of the phantoms using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound imaging, and measured signal intensity according to distance in ultrasound images to analyze the correlation and mean comparison between fat content and signal intensity. We observed that as the fat content increased, the ultrasound penetration intensity decreased, confirming the potential for quantifying hepatic fat content using ultrasound. Additionally, the analysis of the correlation between the measured fat content using MRI and the signal intensity measured in ultrasound images showed a high correlation. Statistical analysis in our study confirmed that as the fat content increased, the slope representing signal during ultrasound imaging (US-GRE) decreased. In this study, it was statistically confirmed that the US-GRE value of ultrasound images gradually decreases as the fat content increases, and it is believed that US-GRE can serve as a biomarker expressing fatty liver content.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2017

Purpose: Evaluation of alveolar bone is important in the diagnosis of dental diseases. The periodontal ligament space is difficult to clearly depict in cone-beam computed tomography images because the reconstruction filter conditions during image processing cause image blurring, resulting in decreased spatial resolution. We examined different reconstruction filters to assess their ability to improve spatial resolution and allow for a clearer visualization of the periodontal ligament space. Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography projections of 2 skull phantoms were reconstructed using 6 reconstruction conditions and then compared using the Thurstone paired comparison method. Physical evaluations, including the modulation transfer function and the Wiener spectrum, as well as an assessment of space visibility, were undertaken using experimental phantoms. Results: Image reconstruction using a modified Shepp-Logan filter resulted in better sensory, physical, and quantitative evaluations. The reconstruction conditions substantially improved the spatial resolution and visualization of the periodontal ligament space. The difference in sensitivity was obtained by altering the reconstruction filter. Conclusion: Modifying the characteristics of a reconstruction filter can generate significant improvement in assessments of the periodontal ligament space. A high-frequency enhancement filter improves the visualization of thin structures and will be useful when accurate assessment of the periodontal ligament space is necessary.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2018

There are limits to check the lesion as inserting a breast implant patients. So the application of BSGI based on Nuclear Medicine examination has increased. In this study, therefore we confirmed the effect of the image applying to breast implants in Breast Specific Gamma Imaging. We utilized Dilon 6800 BSGI scanner and developed the phantom. The self-development phantom was a rectangular shape of $230{\times}190{\times}80mm$ size and had 5 spheres which consisted of diameters of 10, 13, 17, 22, 28 mm in central part. We injected $^{99m}TcO_4$ into the self-development phantom in the proportion of four to one and made each additional phantom filled with 0.9 % sodium chloride, silicon and paraffin. Each additional phantom was placed between detector and self-development phantom. Each image was acquired five times depending on the type and thickness of the additional phantom. Statistical analysis with SPSS ver.18 was applied. In the test of variation according to the thickness of all additional phantoms, as the phantoms which 0.9% sodium chloride, silicon and paraffin increased, the attenuation variation was higher(P<0.005). There was no significant difference in the attenuation variation and the quality of image for type of the additional phantom. Therefore, if the effect of the image applying to breast implants in Breast Specific Gamma Imaging is confirmed, the higher diagnostic value can be achieved.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.539-545
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• 2019

Yttrium-90 is a useful therapeutic radioisotope for tumor treatment because of its high-energy-emitting beta rays. However, it has been difficult to select appropriate collimators and main energy windows for Y-90 Bremsstrahlung imaging using gamma cameras because of the broad energy spectra of Y-90. We used a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the effects of collimator selection and energy windows on Y-90 Bremsstrahlung imaging. We considered both MELP and HE collimators. Various phantoms were employed in the simulation to determine the main energy window using primary-to-scatter ratios (PSRs). Imaging performance was evaluated using spatial resolution indices, imaging counts, scatter fractions, and contrast-to-noise ratios. Collimator choice slightly affected energy spectrum shapes and improved PSRs. The HE collimator performed better than the MELP collimator on all imaging performance indices (except for imaging count). We observed minor differences in SR and SF values for the HE collimator among the five simulated energy windows. The combination of an HE collimator and improved-PSR energy window produced the best CNR value. In conclusion, appropriate collimator selection is an important component of Bremsstrahlung Y-90 photon imaging and main energy window determination. We found HE collimators to be more appropriate for improving the imaging performance of Bremsstrahlung Y-90 photons.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.476-486
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• 2019

Objective : The functional information of $^{11}C$-methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET) images can be applied for Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKR) and its image quality may affect defining the tumor. This study conducted the phantom-based evaluation for geometric accuracy and functional characteristic of diagnostic MET-PET image co-registered with stereotactic image in Leksell $GammaPlan^{(R)}$ (LGP) and also investigated clinical application of these images in metastatic brain tumors. Methods : Two types of cylindrical acrylic phantoms fabricated in-house were used for this study : the phantom with an array-shaped axial rod insert and the phantom with different sized tube indicators. The phantoms were mounted on the stereotactic frame and scanned using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and PET system. Three-dimensional coordinate values on co-registered MET-PET images were compared with those on stereotactic CT image in LGP. MET uptake values of different sized indicators inside phantom were evaluated. We also evaluated the CT and MRI co-registered stereotactic MET-PET images with MR-enhancing volume and PET-metabolic tumor volume (MTV) in 14 metastatic brain tumors. Results : Imaging distortion of MET-PET was maintained stable at less than approximately 3% on mean value. There was no statistical difference in the geometric accuracy according to co-registered reference stereotactic images. In functional characteristic study for MET-PET image, the indicator on the lateral side of the phantom exhibited higher uptake than that on the medial side. This effect decreased as the size of the object increased. In 14 metastatic tumors, the median matching percentage between MR-enhancing volume and PET-MTV was 36.8% on PET/MR fusion images and 39.9% on PET/CT fusion images. Conclusion : The geometric accuracy of the diagnostic MET-PET co-registered with stereotactic MR in LGP is acceptable on phantom-based study. However, the MET-PET images could the limitations in providing exact stereotactic information in clinical study.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.475-480
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to reconstruct diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) using stem of garlic and asparagus for in vitro phantom of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and to compare and evaluate the fractional anisotropy (FA) value and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value to determine whether it can be used as materials for in vitro phantoms. Among various plant fibers such as stem of garlic, palmae, cotton, asparagus, etc., stem of garlic and asparagus, which are considered to be the most suitable for making phantoms, and whose shape is considered to be the most suitable for making phantoms, were selected and tests were conducted. Holes were made in a plastic bucket at an angle of 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, and 120°, then tubes were inserted. In the tube, asparagus and stem of garlic were inserted as far in as possible, and the inserted tube was inserted into the center of the heat bathed gelatin to harden. We were able to reproduce DTT images in asparagus and stem of garlic. Fiber tissues of asparagus and stem of garlic did not show complete connectivity, but the reconstructed images of DTT showed good connectivity. The FA values of asparagus in the tubes were 0.198 at 0° (straight), 0.207 at 30°, 0.187 at 60°, 0.231 at 90°, and 0.204 at 120°. In addition, the FA values of stem of garlic in the tubes were 0.235 at 0°, 0.236 at 30°, 0.216 at 60°, 0.218 at 90°, and 0.257 at 120°. The ADC values of asparagus in the tubes were 1.545 at 0°, 1.677 at 30°, 1.629 at 60°, 1.535 at 90°, and 1.725 at 120°. In addition, the ADC values of stem of garlic in the tubes were 1.252 at 0°, 1.396 at 30°, 1.698 at 60°, 1.756 at 90°, and 1.466 at 120°. For the best expressed DTT reconstruction image, it showed the longest connectivity in the straight line as we hypothesized. In addition, when comparing the FA values and ADC values of fiber tissues of stem of garlic and asparagus, FA value was generally higher in stem of garlic and ADC value was slightly higher in asparagus.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.229-234
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• 2007

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a relatively new medical imaging modality which uses near infrared light to image large-sized tissues noninvasively. We constructed a frequency-domain DOT system to measure the optical properties of optical phantoms and human tissues. The FD-DOT uses the intensity-modulated infrared light source that illuminates the biological tissues. The phase shift and modulation changes at each detector site are separately processed to measure the optical properties. The absorption and scattering coefficients are separately estimated using inverse algorithms.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2018

In MR, the iodine CT contrast medium reduces the T1 and T2 relaxation times of the substance, resulting in a change in signal intensity. This study aimed to measure the relaxation rate of MR contrast medium with or without diluting CT contrast medium and analyzed the effect of CT contrast medium. Undiluted Gadoteridol solution was diluted with saline to prepare MR contrast medium phantoms with various levels of Gadoteridol concentrations. Moreover, undiluted Iomeprol was mixed with the prepared MR contrast medium phantoms at 1:1 ratio to make MR contrast medium phantoms with containing CT contrast medium for the experiment. T1 and T2 mappings were conducted to quantitatively evaluate the relaxation time and relaxation rate of these phantoms. The results showed that the T1 and T2 relaxation time and relaxation rate of MR contrast medium diluted with CT contrast medium were significantly (p<0.05) shorter than those of MR contrast medium not diluted with CT contrast medium. The results of this study imply that, when MR contrast medium shall be used after injecting CT contrast medium, CT contrast medium should be discharged enough. Moreover, it would be desirable to conduct CT test after taking MRI test in order to reduce the effects of CT contrast medium on MR contrast medium.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the characteristics of (widely used) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Materials and Methods: Images were obtained with CT performance phantoms (The American Association of Physicists in Medicine; AAPM). CT phantom as the destination by using PSR $9000N^{TM}$ dental CT system (Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Ltd., Japan) and i-CAT CBCT (Imaging Science International Inc., USA) that have different kinds of detectors and field of view, and compared these images with the CT number for linear attenuation, contrast resolution, and spatial resolution. Results: CT number of both PSR $9000N^{TM}$ dental CT system and i-CAT CBCT did not conform to the base value of CT performance phantom. The contrast of i-CAT CBCT is higher than that of PSR $9000N^{TM}$ dental CT system. Both contrasts were increased according to thickness of cross section. Spatial resolution and shapes of reappearance was possible up to 0.6 mm in PSR $9000N^{TM}$ dental CT system and up to 1.0 mm in i-CAT CBCT. Low contrast resolution in region of low contrast sensitivity revealed low level at PSR $9000N^{TM}$ dental CT system and i-CAT CBCT. Conclusion: CBCT images revealed higher spatial resolution, however, contrast resolution in region of low contrast sensitivity was the inferiority of image characteristics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.96-99
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to assess attenuation correction algorithms utilized in a multipurpose whole-body GSO PET scanner. Four different types of phantoms were tested using different types of attenuation correction techniques. FOV (Field of View) of 256mm was used for brain PET imaging. For compensating attenuation, transmission data of a $^{137}$Cs point source were acquired after the F-18 emission source was infused to the phantoms. Scatter correction were peformed. Reconstructed images of the phantoms were assessed. In addition, reconstructed images of a normal subject were compared and assessed by nuclear medicine physicians. As a result, decreased intensity at the central portion of the attenuation map with cylindrical phantom was noticed during use of the measured attenuation correction. On the other hand, segmentation or remapping attenuation correction provided uniform phantom image. the images reconstructed from the clinical brain data explained the attenuation of a skull, at though reconstructed images of the phantoms couldn't explain it. in conclusion, the complicated and improved attenuation correction methods were required to obtain the better accuracy of the quantitative brain PET images. Our study will be useful in improving quantitative brain PET imaging modalities with attenuation correction of $^{137}$Cs transmission source.