Search

In this study we analyzed the influence of region of interest (ROI) selection on the uptake ratio of the liver to the liver plus heart at 15 min (LHL15) during (99m)Tc-galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) scintigraphy and determined the optimal ROI by evaluating the individual effects of different ROIs in the heart on LHL15. Twenty patients were randomly selected from those who had undergone (99m)Tc-GSA scintigraphy GSA between April 2008 and June 2009. The liver body (L/B) ratio, liver uptake 15 min (LU15), and LHL15 were analyzed and compared among the following ROIs: entire heart, both ventricles, right ventricle, and left ventricle. There were significant differences in the L/B ratio and LU15 values among the different ROIs. However, LHL15 showed a tendency to shift toward a normal value when the size of the ROI was small (only the right or left ventricle), resulting in a lack of distinction between normal and abnormal LHL15 values. Furthermore, setting the entire heart as the ROI was difficult and reproducibility was low. Our results suggest that the use of both ventricles as the ROI provides optimal LHL15 values during (99m)Tc-GSA scintigraphy.

Changing into slippers when entering the nuclear medicine management district prevented pollution expansion. Accidents involving patients falling occurred in university facilities. It was thought that changing slippers was the cause. The pollution situation was measured in three facilities by using the smear method and the direct technique to examine the effect of changing slippers. The current state was measured. After pollution prevention guidance was continuously done, pollution expansion was measured; three weeks of measurements were compared. Pollution was detected in the first period of weeks at a frequency of 19 times. For the latter period, it was detected 6 times. Half the pollution was in the restroom. Pollution was reduced by doing pollution prevention guidance for the restroom. Patients' falls occur even if they change slippers. Falling accidents can be decreased.

(123)I-MIBG Heart-to-Mediastinum activity ratio (H/M) is commonly used as an indicator of relative myocardial (123)I-MIBG uptake. H/M ratios reflect myocardial sympathetic nerve function, therefore it is a useful parameter to assess regional myocardial sympathetic denervation in various cardiac diseases. However, H/M ratio values differ by site, gamma camera system, position and size of region of interest (ROI), and collimator. In addition to these factors, 529 keV scatter component may also affect (123)I-MIBG H/M ratio. In this study, we examined whether the H/M ratio shows correlation between two different gamma camera systems and that sought for H/M ratio calculation formula. Moreover, we assessed the feasibility of (123)I Dual Window (IDW) method, which is a scatter correction method, and compared H/M ratios with and without IDW method. H/M ratio displayed a good correlation between two gamma camera systems. Additionally, we were able to create a new H/M calculation formula. These results indicated that the IDW method is a useful scatter correction method for calculating (123)I-MIBG H/M ratios.

The management of apparatus for diagnostic imaging is an important job for radiological technologists. In the last 10 years we have encountered 2227 malfunctions in 3652 days. We detected 163 cases at the initial check-up, which accounted for 7.3% of total cases. By performing an initial check-up, we detected one malfunction every 21 days and were able to keep the effects of mishaps to a minimum, prevent accidents, and obtain stable-quality images.