MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is quantitative research with a true experimental approach. Actual bleeding volume was simulated by an acrylic phantom containing Iodine contrast media (5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml, and 20 ml). The phantom was scanned using routine CT protocol using the helical and sequence technique. Bleeding volume from each technique was measured manually using the Broderick formula and automatic software (ROI based). Accuracy was assessed by comparing the volume measurement result to the actual bleeding volume. Data was analysed using the Friedman test and by Wilcoxon.
RESULTS: The standard deviation of measured bleeding volume from the manual and automatic measurements compared to the actual bleeding volume were (0.220; 0.236; 0.351; 0.057) and (0.139; 0.270; 0.315; 0.329) in helical technique, and (0.333; 0.376; 0.447; 0.476) and (0.139; 0.242; 0.288; 0,376) in sequence technique. There are differences in the measurement results from the helical and sequence techniques (p <0.05) and using manual and automatic methods (p <0.05).
CONCLUSION: The measurement of bleeding volume that has a standard deviation value compared to the actual volume is more accurate in the helical technique using the automatic method, while the sequence technique is the manual method.
METHODS: The imaging performance of the camera system was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively at different source depths, source to collimator distances (SCD), activity levels, acquisition times and source separations, utilising bespoke phantoms.
RESULTS: The system sensitivity and spatial resolution of the HGC for 125I were 0.41 cps/MBq (at SCD 48 mm) and 1.53 ± 0.23 mm (at SCD 10 mm) respectively. The camera was able to detect the 125I seed at a SCD of 63 mm (with no scattering material in place) in images recorded within a 1-min acquisition time. The detection of the seeds beneath scattering material (simulating deep-seated tumours) was limited to depths of less than 20 mm beneath the skin surface with a SCD of 63 mm and seed activity of 2.43 MBq. Subjective assessments of the hybrid images acquired showed the capability of the HGC for localising the 125I seeds.
CONCLUSION: This preliminary ex vivo study demonstrates that the HGC is capable of detecting 125I seeds and could be a useful tool in radioactive seed localisation with the added benefit of providing hybrid optical γ images for guiding breast conserving surgery.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The SFOV HGC could provide high resolution fused optical-gamma images of 125I radioactive seeds indicating the potential use in intraoperative surgical procedure such as RSL.
METHODS: A ball phantom was scanned using panoramic mode of the Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid CBCT unit (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) with standard exposure settings used in clinical practice (60 kV, 2 mA, and maximum FOV). An automated calculator algorithm was developed in MATLAB platform. Two parameters associated with panoramic image distortion such as balls diameter and distance between middle and tenth balls were measured. These automated measurements were compared with manual measurement using the Planmeca Romexis and ImageJ software.
RESULTS: The findings showed smaller deviation in distance difference measurements by proposed automated calculator (ranged 3.83 mm) as compared to manual measurements (ranged 5.00 for Romexis and 5.12 mm for ImageJ software). There was a significant difference (p