In June 2016, our hospital initiated image interpretation assistance. As part of the procedure, image interpretation discussions were conducted by a radiologist for 30 minutes each week for 2 years to improve the ability of interpreting images. I decided to include comments on image interpretation observations in the Radiology Information System (RIS). The overall concordance rate of observations with a radiologist was approximately 88% based on the results of the accuracy verification of images and interpretation observation comments six months since starting image interpretation assistance. In addition, no statistically significant difference was observed between the concordance rate and the years of experience of the radiological technologists. In the questionnaire provided to doctors, evaluation for image interpretation assistance by the radiological technologists was high.

Purpose: Building of a hybrid operating room (Hybrid OR) to perform minimally invasive cardiac and aortic surgeries is currently increasing in Japan; however, it is not effectively used for other types of surgeries. This paper reports cases of Hybrid OR utilization for spinal fusion surgery. Clinical experience: Our Hybrid system uses the Angio system “Allura Clarity (Philips)” and operating table “Magnus (Maquet).” We encountered 39 cases of spinal surgeries at the Hybrid OR from April 2014 to March 2016: 33 spinal fusion surgeries (including a preoperative transcatheter embolization case) and 6 without spinal fusion surgery (such as arteriovenous fistula). Experiences related to the radiological technology used in 32 cases of spinal fusion surgeries, excluding the preoperative arterial embolization case, were retrospectively evaluated. The fluoroscopy time was 2.8 ± 2.5 min, single shot was 5.3 ± 3.5, kerma area product was 27.6 ± 37.2 Gy cm², and the number of shot on C-arm computed tomography (CT) was 2.3 ± 1.5 times. This study showed that using the Hybrid OR system has advantages. The angiography system has a flat panel detector with large imaging field and no distortion. The C-arm CT is used to obtain a clear volume image in clinical cases that require detailed visualization of the pedicle screw and bone structures. Conclusion: The Hybrid OR is a useful system for various spinal fusion surgeries.

Radiographic imaging is one of the conventional imaging methods that is widely used to diagnose diseases and evaluate patients’ response to treatment. Therefore, proper patient and equipment positioning should be established during an X-ray examination, which could otherwise produce inadequate X-ray images. Hence, we developed a fixation device to improve positioning. This report aims to explain the specifications and techniques of using a self-made fixation device.

The fixation device is made of closed-cell polyethylene foam that has an L-shaped convex part at the vertical portion and a 2.7 kg Pb block placed at the bottom portion for more stability.

The effect of using the fixation device was dramatical as proper positioning was easily achieved and maintained during X-ray examination. Thus, the fixation device should be used while performing radiographic imaging procedures.

We examined the effect of reducing radiation exposure in 86 patients who underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention before and after the introduction of an angiography system equipped with a noise reduction technique (NRT) based on an algorithm for noise reduction processing. Additionally, we examined the reduction in the occupational exposure dose over the past 5 years for 50 cardiologists. Using NRT, the incident imaging dose per frame (nGy/f) and fluoroscopic dose per pulse (nGy/p) of the flat panel detector were reduced from 120 nGy/f and 40 nGy/p to 70 nGy/f and 30 nGy/p, respectively. The dose area product (DAP) and air kerma (AK) per unit time and unit frame were calculated and compared before and after the introduction of the NRT. Significant effects of reducing the fluoroscopic dose by 26% and the imaging dose by 40% for the DAP were confirmed (P < 0.001). AK also showed a significant decrease of 28% (P < 0.001). Using the NRT, there were significant decreases in the exposure dose of cardiologists: decrease of 43% in the effective dose (P < 0.05) and 48% in the equivalent dose to lens of the eye (P < 0.05).

In the Philippines, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women, and is the main cause of death from cancer in women. Despite this, the rate of mammogram-based breast cancer screening is low. It is likely that the rate of breast cancer screening would increase if women were more aware of its importance.

In the present study, we conducted a survey of hospital staff in the Philippines to identify the reasons for not participating in any breast cancer screening. Additionally, the staff was asked to suggest approaches to increase the screening rate, to raise public awareness about breast cancer screening using mammography, and to make breast cancer screening a regular part of medical care.

We discovered that the staff had a limited knowledge regarding breast cancer screening using mammography. Breast cancer screening is also not widely known throughout the country and most women are unaware that this examination is readily available.

In recent years, many institutions have adopted 4-year programs for the education of radiological technologists. We conducted a questionnaire survey of these professionals regarding their perceptions of a higher degree and accreditation/professional qualifications. Our results indicated that 18.9% of participants wanted to obtain a higher degree. On average, 3.9 ± 2.3 years (median: 2 years) and 166.7 ± 143.4 million yen (median: 500,000 yen) were required to obtain a degree. In the questionnaire, we asked whether the participants “would like to emphasize either a degree or certification/professional qualifications.” Notably, 21.6%, 1.4%, and 58.1% responded that they would like to emphasize both, the acquisition of an upper-level degree, and the acquisition of certification/professional qualifications, respectively. We conclude that radiological technologists place greater emphasis on obtaining certification/professional qualifications than on acquiring a higher degree.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a general-purpose semiconductor detector (Unfors Raysafe Xi, Unfors Raysafe AB) in the X-ray measurements of diagnostic areas and compare its accuracy with that of an ionization chamber dosimeter. The parameters investigated included energy, dose, dose-rate responses, directional responses, and reproducibility of the Unfors Raysafe Xi. The relative error of the Unfors Raysafe Xi with respect to energy, dose, and dose-rate responses was within 5% of the maximum. Its reproducibility was better than that of the ionization chamber dosimeter, and its direction dependance was within －2% of the measured value from the 0° to ± 20° direction. We conclude that the Unfors Raysafe Xi is a viable and highly accurate dosimeter that can be used for X-ray measurements of diagnostic areas.

A questionnaire survey was conducted to medical staffs working with first graduates of the Coordinated Continuing Medical Staff Education Program (CoMSEP). The target occupations were radiological technologist, medical technologist and physical therapist. Future necessity of cooperation of three job type was 81%. However, the comprehension level of job content by job type was 43% on average, and the opportunities involved with other occupations in business was 5% on average. X-ray photography, CT, and MRI were recognized by 90% of staffs in other occupations, as the specialization of radiological technologists. Moreover, they wanted to learn how to interpret these medical images. The necessity of cooperation and the requirement among professions were clarifi ed. We were able to obtain useful information for promotion of future interprofessional cooperation.

The department of radiological technology of our university promotes volunteer work for first-year students. We conducted a survey of volunteer awareness to evaluate the usefulness of the volunteer work to students. The students indicated their reason for volunteering and their grasp of the necessary abilities of medical personnel. Some students expressed the thought that communication was difficult as a result of their volunteer experience. In this research, it was possible to analyze the students’ understanding of the significance of volunteer work and their grasp of the abilities needed by medical staff. In addition, our results suggest that this volunteer program is beneficial to students.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to investigate if there were differences between the measured values obtained with 2-dimensional (2D-system) versus 3-dimensional acquisition system (3D-system) in positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the normal brain and brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS. PET scanning with ¹¹C-methionine (MET-PET) or ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) was performed using two scanners which were equipped with 2D-system and 3D-system. In 121 patients with various types of brain tumors, Regions of interest were placed in the normal brain structures and the standard uptake values (SUVs) were measured. In 35 patients with diffuse astrocytoma and 18 patients with meningioma, the tumor/normal brain ratio (T/N ratio) was calculated using the maximum SUV of the tumors and the mean SUV of the normal frontal cortex. RESULTS. The mean SUV of the normal brain structure acquired on the 3D-system was significantly lower than those on 2D-system for both MET and FDG-PET. The mean T/N ratio of diffuse astrocytoma from 3D-system was significantly lower than that from 2D-system with MET-PET, but there was no significant difference in the T/N ratio with FDG-PET in both brain tumors. CONCLUSION. This study suggest that with tumors in which the SUV was higher than that of the normal brain, which resulted in a lower T/N ratio obtained with 3D-system than that with 2D-system. With tumors in which the SUV was equal to or lower than that of the normal brain, which resulted in a T/N ratio obtained with 3D-system was approximately equal to that with 2D-system.