Eun-Hoe Goo

Dose assessment according to changes in algorithm in cardiac CT

The principal objective of this study was to determine the effects of the application of the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) technique in combination with another two factors (body mass index (BMI) and tube potential) on radiation dose in cardiac computed tomography (CT). For quantitative analysis, regions of interest were positioned on the central region of the great coronary artery, the right coronary artery, and the left anterior descending artery, after which the means and standard deviations of measured CT numbers were obtained. For qualitative analysis, images taken from the major coronary arteries (right coronary, left anterior descending, and left circumflex) were graded on a scale of 1–5, with 5 indicating the best image quality. Effective dose, which was calculated by multiplying the value of the dose length product by a standard conversion factor of 0.017 for the chest, was employed as a measure of radiation exposure dose. In cardiac CT in patients with BMI of less than 25 kg/m2, the use of 40% ASIR in combination with a low tube potential of 100 kVp resulted in a significant reduction in the radiation dose without compromising diagnostic quality. Additionally, the combination of the 120 kVp protocol and the application of 40% ASIR application for patients with BMI higher than 25 kg/m2 yielded similar results.

Evaluation of the radiation dose to a phantom for various X-ray exposure factors performed using the dose area product in digital radiography

The aim of this study is to measure the dose area product (DAP) in digital radiography by using a DAP meter to determine the X-ray exposure. Pediatric X-ray examinations can be obtained for any radiographic examinations using the selected radiographic examination parameters (kVp and mAs), the DAP information recorded. The best peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) at a fixed tube voltage of 70 kVp was obtained at tube currents of 20 and 32 mA, whereas the best PSNR at a fixed tube current of 25 mA was obtained at a tube voltage of 73 kVp. The fixed tube voltage of 70 kVp and the fixed tube current of 25 mA could help to obtain the best image quality and depict the spatial resolution of an anthropomorphic torso phantom radiographic examination. The normalized data over the DAP were provided to determine the patient dose from radiography.

Five-year follow-up study on individual doses of Korean radiation workers based on ICRP 103 (2006–2010)

This study examined individual doses of Korean radiation workers divided into deep and surface doses based on the dose limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) or ICRP 103 (approved on March 2007) for 5 years from 2006 to 2010. In addition, the exposure doses were compared according to occupation, departments and scale of the medical institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary) as well as between dental hospitals and hospitals, which is currently an issue, using 116,220 sets of data on the quarterly and yearly exposure doses of 5811 Korean radiation workers measured over a 5-year period (January 2006 to December 2010). For the mean exposure doses according to occupation, both deep and surface doses were higher in radiological technicians than in the other occupations and there was a significant difference between radiological technicians and others (researchers and assistants) (p<0.05). The results showed that none of the Korean radiation workers were exposed to radiation doses exceeding the maximum tolerant dose or 20 mSv/year recommended by the ICRP. When the mean exposure doses were compared according to the departments, both deep and surface doses were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the department of nuclear medicine than in the other departments (the department of biomedical engineering and the management team). For the mean exposure doses according to the scale of the medical institutions, the doses were highest in tertiary medical institutions followed in order by secondary and primary medical institutions (p<0.05). A comparison of the mean exposure doses in dental hospitals and hospitals revealed both deep and surface doses to be higher in hospitals than in dental hospitals (p<0.05). This study is considered to be used as basic data to establish a system for exposure dose management of radiation workers and more accurate studies on the radiation exposure are necessary in the future.

The Qualitative Analysis of Single Shot Fast Spin Echo (SSFSE) and Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP) on Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography

3-dimensional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) images reconstructed using the maximum intensity projection technique were analyzed qualitatively in patients diagnosed with pancreatobiliary diseases to determine their diagnostic utility. Single shot fast spin echo (SSFSE), fast spin echo (FSE) and 3-dimensional reconstructive images were acquired from 20 patients diagnosed histologically with pancreatobiliary diseases using a 3.0T MR scanner. According to qualitative analysis, the fast spin echo images and 3-dimensional reconstructed images of the hepatic duct, gall bladder and common bile duct had a higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) than the single shot fast spin echo images. Fast spin echo images and 3-dimensional reconstructed images did not show any differences. The contrast to noise ratio of the hepatic duct, gallbladder and common bile duct on the fast spin echo images and 3-dimensional reconstructed images was higher than that of the single shot fast spin echo images. The fast spin echo images and 3-dimensional reconstructed images showed similar quality.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation on the Sedation of Pediatric Patients Undergoing MRI Examinations

ABSTRACT Sedation is an essential factor for pediatric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure. A long-term failure of sedation has a detrimental effect on a 1 day test plan. Given this background, this study examined the effects of sedation using a sleep deprivation method in pediatric patients scheduled to undergo an MRI examination. The current study examined 54 patients (36 boys and 18 girls) with diseases, such as epilepsy, brain tumor, development delay, mental retardation, and cerebral infarction, who were treated at our medical institution from December 2009 to March 2010. The patients were classified into two groups: group A (n = 27) with sleep deprivation, and group B (n = 27) without sleep deprivation. The mean age of these patients was 4.2 years. Comparative analysis of groups A and B was performed to assess the success rate of pediatric sedation, the time elapsed until complete sedation had been achieved, and the frequency at which patients took Pocral syrup (chloral hydrate). In group A, patients were allowed to start sleep 1 hr later and were woken 1 hr earlier than their mean sleep time. According to this pretreatment, the rate of successful sedation, frequency of the administration of Pocral syrup, and the time elapsed until deep sedation had been achieved were measured. In group A, the rate of successful sedation was 100%, the mean time elapsed until deep sedation had been achieved was 23 min, and the mean frequency of Pocral syrup administration was 1.2 times. In addition, the proportions of patients who had achieved successful sedation after one-time use and two-time use of Pocral syrup were 77.8% and 22.2%, respectively. In group B, successful sedation was achieved in 89%, and the mean time elapsed until deep sedation was 39 min. The mean frequency of Pocral syrup administration was 1.5 times. The proportions of patients who had achieved successful sedation after one-time use and two-time use of Pocral syrup were 51.9% and 48.12%, respectively. The statistical significance was tested using a nonparametric analysis, Mann–Whitney U Test (p < 0.05). Other studies have reported that sleep deprivation had no significant effects. An actual comparison of the sleep-deprived and other patients showed that sleep deprivation affected the rate of successful sedation, the frequency of Pocral syrup administration, and the time elapsed until the patients were sedated. The rate of successful sedation was significantly higher in group A than in group B. The time elapsed until deep sedation had been achieved was also significantly shorter in group A than in group B. In addition, the frequency of Pocral syrup administration (administration dose) was significantly lower in group A than in group B. In conclusion, sleep deprivation increases the effectiveness of pediatric sedation in an MRI examination of pediatric patients and might assist in performing an MRI examination more efficiently in pediatric patients.

An Efficient Correction Process of CT-Simulator Couch with Current Diagnostic CT Scanners

This study suggested that the table of CT-simulator and the laser alignment system using diagnostic CT scanner have an efficient method for improvement in alignment between the planned target center of traverse image with CT scanner. It was conducted on the daily QA when presented in the AAPM TG66 with correcting the laser alignment system using geometric trigonometric functions and investigated the effectiveness of correction methods as compared with those before and after correction. Before correction error was 3.82mm between the planned target center of image, the table longitudinal axis was twisted with 0.436o. The laser alignment system using geometric trigonometric functions in after correction was satisfied with tolerance limits of when occurred about 0.7mm in errors between the planned target center. The table correction to satisfy the geometric accuracy is very inefficient over against the time and economic loss as well as technical limits in the case of application as only radiation therapy associated with CT-simulator with diagnostic CT scanner in use. But, the method which corrects the laser alignment system is economic and relatively simple with possibility of getting well geometric accuracy and we suppose that it is efficient method for applying in the clinic.

A Phantom study of Displacement of Three Dimensional Volume Rendering for Clinical Application in Radiation Treatment Planning

This study is to design and produce a detailed model for volume variety of three dimensional reconstruction images and to evaluate the changes of volume, area and the length of the model in the process of the reconstruction of RTP system. CT simulation was operated at the thickness of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10mm and average, standard deviation of scan direction(X), thickness(Y), table movement direction(Z), area(A), and volume(V) of the three dimensional volume rendering, were measured according to the shape and thickness of the phantoms. As a result, at the thickness of 1.25, 2.5min, the phantom`s shape decreased maximum 0.13cm(p, which led to an approximate image of the phantoms. However, at the thickness of 5, 10mm, the phantom of the original form decreased maximum 0.58cm(p, . Volume varieties according to the thickness and shape of the phantoms have occurred diversely, when CT simulation was operated, and it is considered that a clinically appropriate volume rendering can be obtained only when the thickness is below 3mm.

Usefulness of High-B-value Diffusion - Weighted MR Imaging for the Pre-operative Detection of Rectal Cancers

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of high-b-values diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the preoperative detection of focal rectum cancers. 60patients with diffusion weighted imaging were evaluated for the presence of rectal cancers. Forty were male and twenty were female, and their ages ranged from 38 to 71 (mean, 56) years. Used equipment was 1.5Tesla MRI((GE, General Electric Medical System, Excite HD). Examination protocols were used the fast spin echo T2, T1 weighted imaging. All examination protocols were performed by the same location with diffusion weighted imaging for accuracy detection. The b-values used in DWI were 250, 500, 750, 1000. 1500, 2000. The rectum, bladder to tumor contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of MR images were quantitativlely analyzed using GE software Functool tool, four experienced radiologists and three radiotechnologists qualitatively evaluated image quality in terms of image artifacts, lesion conspicuity and rectal wall. These data were analysed by using ANOVA and Freedman test with each b-value(p. As a qualitative analysis, the conspicuity and discrimination from the rectal wall of lesions were high results as , on b-value 1000(p on b-value 2000(p

Cerebral Activation Area Following Oxygen Administration using a 3 Tesla Functional MR Imaging

This study aim to investigate the effects of supply of oxygen enhances cerebral activation through increased activation in the brain and using a 3 Tesla fMRI system. Five volunteers (right handed, average age of 21.3) were selected as subjects for this study. Oxygen supply equipment that provides 30% oxygen at a constant rate of 15L/min was given using face mask. A 3 Tesla fMRI system using the EPI BOLD technique, and three-pulse sequence technique get of the true axial planes scanned brain images. The author can get the perfusion images of the brain by oxygen inhalation with susceptibility contrast EPI sequence at the volunteers. Complex movement consisted of a finger task in which subjects flexed and extended all fingers repeatedly in union, without the fingers touching each other. Both task consisted of 96 phases including 6 activations and rests contents. Post-processing was done on MRDx software program by using cross-correlation method. The result shows that there was an improvement in performance and also increased activation in several areas in the oxygen method. These finding demonstrates that while performing cognitive tasks, oxygen administration was due to increase of cerebral activation.