• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.477-486
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of reconstruction filters, X-ray source trajectories and intervals in the quality of digital tomosynthesis (DT) images, and the results was clinically validated. The filtered back-projection was implemented by using Ramp, Shepp-Logan, Cosine, Hamming, Hann and Blackman filters, and the X-ray source trajectories were simulated with 1 × 36, 2 × 18, 3 × 12, 4 × 9 and 6 × 6 arrays. The X-ray source intervals were 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mm. The depth resolution, spatial resolution and noise of DT image were evaluated by measuring artifact spread function (ASF), full width at half maximum (FWHM) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), respectively. The results showed that the spatial resolution and noise properties of DT images were maximized by the Ramp and Blackman filters, respectively, and the depth resolution and noise properties of the DT images obtained with a 1 × 36 X-ray source trajectory were superior to the other trajectories. The depth resolution and noise properties of DT images improved with an increase of X-ray source intervals, and the high X-ray source intervals degraded the spatial resolution of DT images. Therefore, the characteristics of DT images are highly dependent on reconstruction filters, X-ray source trajectories and intervals, and it is necessary to use optimal imaging parameters in accordance with diagnostic purpose.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.55-60
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine both patient exposure dose during mammography and the utility status of mammograpy equipments. The data of this study were collected through questionnaire survey for 278 medical facilities registered at Korean Hospital Association and finally 161 medical facilities's data were analyzed. According to data analysis, medical facilities of 14.9% used the average glandular dose of less than 0.5 mGy, $0.51{\sim}1.0\;mGy$ 8.6%, $1.01{\sim}1.5\;mGy$ 14.9%, $1.51{\sim}2.0\;mGy$ 11.1%, $2.01{\sim}2.5\;mGy$ 9.8%, $2.51{\sim}3.0\;mGy$ 33.3%, and 7.4% more than 3.01 mGy. It was found that medical facilities of 92.6% used less than 3 mGy, showing that this figure is similar to the limit value of 3 mGy recommended by Korea Food & Drug Administration(KFDA). Recently, international organizations such as ICRP associated with radiation protection suggests that less than 3 mGy of average mammary gland dose be used during mammography in case of using Mo target+Mo filter, film/screen system and craniocaudal projection with the breast pressed to 4.2 cm. The standard dose is being strictly observed and that of the limits is going down to 2 mGy or 1.5 mGy. The major results of this study indicate that interests and a counterplan to reduce patient dose during mammography should be considered. Based on this study, the authors of this study will continue to measure exposure dose to set a new standard for patient exposure dose during mammography.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.163-173
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• 1998

Nuclear medicine emission computed tomography(ECT) can be very useful to diagnose early stage of neuronal diseases and to measure theraputic results objectively, if we can quantitate energy metabolism, blood flow, biochemical processes, or dopamine receptor and transporter using ECT. However, physical factors including attenuation, scatter, partial volume effect, noise, and reconstruction algorithm make it very difficult to quantitate independent of type of SPECT. In this study, we quantitated the effects of attenuation and scatter using brain SPECT and three-dimensional brain phantom with and without applying their correction methods. Dual energy window method was applied for scatter correction. The photopeak energy window and scatter energy window were set to 140ke${\pm}$10% and 119ke${\pm}$6% and 100% of scatter window data were subtracted from the photopeak window prior to reconstruction. The projection data were reconstructed using Butterworth filter with cutoff frequency of 0.95cycles/cm and order of 10. Attenuation correction was done by Chang's method with attenuation coefficients of 0.12/cm and 0.15/cm for the reconstruction data without scatter correction and with scatter correction, respectively. For quantitation, regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn on the three slices selected at the level of the basal ganglia. Without scatter correction, the ratios of ROI average values between basal ganglia and background with attenuation correction and without attenuation correction were 2.2 and 2.1, respectively. However, the ratios between basal ganglia and background were very similar for with and without attenuation correction. With scatter correction, the ratios of ROI average values between basal ganglia and background with attenuation correction and without attenuation correction were 2.69 and 2.64, respectively. These results indicate that the attenuation correction is necessary for the quantitation. When true ratios between basal ganglia and background were 6.58, 4.68, 1.86, the measured ratios with scatter and attenuation correction were 76%, 80%, 82% of their true ratios, respectively. The approximate 20% underestimation could be partially due to the effect of partial volume and reconstruction algorithm which we have not investigated in this study, and partially due to imperfect scatter and attenuation correction methods that we have applied in consideration of clinical applications.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2011

Purpose: Basal/Acetazolamide-challenged brain perfusion SPECT is very useful to assess cerebral perfusion and vascular reserve. However, as there is a trade off between sensitivity and spatial resolution in the selection of collimator, the selection of optimal collimator is crucial. In this study, we examined three collimators to select optimal one for 1-day brain perfusion SPECT. Materials and Methods: Three collimators, low energy high resolution-parallel beam (LEHR-par), ultra resolution-fan beam (LEUR-fan) and super fine-fan beam (LESFR-fan), were tested for 1-day imaging using Triad XLT 9 (TRIONIX). The SPECT images of Hoffman 3D brain phantom filled with 99mTc of 170 MBq and a normal volunteer were acquired with a protocol of 50 kcts/frame and detector rotation of 3 degree. Filterd backprojection (FBP) reconstruction with Butterworth filter (cut off frequencies, 0.3 to 0.5) was performed. The quantitative and qualitative assessments for three collimators were performed. Results: The blind tests showed that LESFR-fan provided the best image quality for Hoffman brain phantom and the volunteer. However, images for all the collimator were evaluated as 'acceptable'. On the other hand, in order to meet the equivalent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), total acquisition time or radioactivity dose for LESFR-fan must have been increased up to almost twice of that for LEUR-fan and LEHR-par. The volunteer test indicated that total acquisition time could be reduced approximately by 10 to 14 min in clinical practice using LEUR-fan and LEHR-par without significant loss on image quality, in comparison with LESFR-fan. Conclusion: Although LESFR-fan provides the best image quality, it requires significantly more acquisition time than LEUR-fan and LEHR-par to provide reasonable SNR. Since there is no significant clinical difference between three collimators, LEUR-fan and LEHR-par can be recommended as optimal collimators for 1-day brain perfusion imaging with respect to image quality and SNR.