Message From President

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah wabaarakatuh

and Salam Sejantera

Alhamdulillah, first of all, I am pleased to have an opportunity tocommunicate to all of you through this first issue of MyCT electronicnewsletter. MyCT was legally registered by ROS in February 2013, andwould like to thank all members of the MyCT’s Board of Management,who have worked very hard so that our dream to become a legitimateassociation prevailed.Through the publication of this quarterly newsletter, I really hope thatall of our members would provide latest update on interestinginnovative developments and applications in the field of computedtomography and imaging technology. I would like to extend myinvitation to all members regardless where you are, to continuouslysupport the effort of developing and promoting these subjects for thebenefit of our nation. MyCT will act as a nucleation centre for bringingtogether students, researchers, scientists and practitioners fromdifferent backgrounds in the field of computed tomography andimaging technology to exchange ideas, to share experiences, toencourage skill development and to combine effort for many types ofcapacity building for the healthy growth of our country.Let me convey my heartiest gratitude to everyone who involveddirectly or indirectly to the production of this issue. I would like tocongratulate the editorial members of this electronic newsletter fortheir hardwork and I am hopeful that it will go a long way instrengthening information dissemination to all members.We will have a meeting of the MyCT’s Board of Management duringour 2nd colloquium/seminar at Universiti Teknologi Petronas in May2013 with an important agenda and opportunity to shape our plansfor the next two years.I look forward to seeing you in Sri Iskandar, Perak . Thank you

MyCT Board of Management 2013/2015

President : Dr. Jaafar Abdullah(Agensi Nuklear Malaysia)Deputy President : Prof. Dr. Ruzairi Abdul Rahim(UTM)Secretary : Engku Mohd Fahmi Engku Chik(Agensi Nuklear Malaysia)Deputy Secretary :Salzali Mohd (Agensi Nuklear Malaysia) Treasurer : Dr. Elmy Johana Mohamad (UTHM)

Committee Members :Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Sobri Takriff (UKM)Assoc. Prof Dr. Zainul Ahmad Rajion (USM)Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Idris Ismail UTP)Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sam’an Malik Masudi (USM)Dr. Mohd Hafiz Fazalul Rahiman(UniMAP)Dr. Mohd Hezri Fazalul Rahiman(UiTM)Yasmin Abdul Wahab(UMP)Suzanna Ridzuan Aw (TATIUC)Mohd Amirul Syafiq Mohd Yunos (Agensi Nuklear Malaysia)Roslan Yahya (Agensi Nuklear Malaysia)

A Brief History of CT

Computed Tomography (CT) has its roots in the early part of this century. In1917, the Austrian mathematician, Johann Radon (1887-1956) described amathematically rigorous inversion formula for reconstruction of an objectfrom its projections. Although Radon’s work fell into obscurity after the FirstWorld War, the problems of image reconstruction were tackled by Ronald N.Bracewell (1956) in the field of astronomy and William H. Oldendorf (1961), anAmerican neurologist frustrated by the inadequacy of X-ray images, devised anelectronic apparatus designed to overcome existing technical andcomputational difficulties. In the late 1950s, Allen McLeod Cormack (aphysicist) proposed that if sufficient X-ray views were taken at differentangles, a cross-sectional matrix of mathematical coefficients could becalculated. These coefficients could then each be given a value of intensity ona grey scale from which an image of the internal structure or anatomy of theobject or body being studied could be constructed. His early studies led to amathematically accurate way of quantitatively reconstructing cross-sectionalimages from x-ray projections.

In the late 1960s, the British scientist Godfrey Hounsfield wasindependently developing his ideas that mathematical techniques could beused to reconstruct the internal structure of the body from a number of x-raymeasurements. He concluded that quantitative tomographic techniques couldproduce up to 100 times more accurate measurements than conventionalradiographic methods. This realization motivated the construction and testingof several prototype scanners in the Central Research Laboratories of Elector-Musical Instruments Ltd. (EMI).

These efforts eventually resulted in the construction of thefirst clinical X-ray CT scanner of the head, called the EMI brain scanner, whichwas installed at Atkinson Morleys Hospital, Wimbledon, England, in 1971.With the successful introduction of the EMI brain scanner into the clinicalarena, an explosive development and marketing of CT scanners started withan increasing accumulation of published data in the early 1980s. The potentialutilization of 3D imaging in biomedical research is now being explored.

During its 25-year history, CT has made great improvements inspeed, patient comfort, and resolution. As CT scan times have gotten faster,more anatomy can be scanned in less time. Faster scanning helps to eliminateartifacts from patient motion such as breathing or peristalsis. CT exams arenow quicker and more patient friendly than ever before. Tremendousresearch and development has been made to provide excellent image qualityfor diagnostic confidence at the lowest possible x-ray dose.

From the Chief Editor

Malaysian Society for Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology (MyCT)

In March 2013, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has organized regional training course hosted by Centrefor Applications of Nuclear Technique in Industry (CANTI), Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency (VAEA). This course is apart of the IAEA technical cooperation activities for knowledge and technology transfer to the ASEAN developingcountry on Industrial Process Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (INSPECT). The course took place atthe Best Western Dalat Hotel, Dalat, Vietnam, from 11-15 March 2013 and attended by 20 participants fromBangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, andVietnam. Mr. Mohd Amirul Syafiq Mohd Yunos and Mr. Roslan Yahya who is MyCT’s member from Malaysia waselected and has been invited to participate the course.

Malaysian Society for Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology (MyCT)

IAEA/RCA Regional Training Course on INSPECT at Vietnam.

1st MyCT Members Meeting at Sama Sama Hotel KLIA

1st CTiG Board Meeting in 2013 was held at Sama Sama Hotel, KLIA. The one day meeting took place on 15th January2013 and attended by top management of CTiG. This meeting was organized by Malaysian Nuclear Agency togetherwith University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). The main purpose of this meeting was to create a new society whichbased on Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology. This idea was proposed by our Chairman, Dr. JaafarAbdullah since CTiG was established from 2012, it was attracted many researchers, practitioners and expertise fromvarious organizations to participated. The new name proposed for this society is “Malaysia Society for ComputedTomography and Imaging Technology (MyCT)”. One of the main objective of this society is to organised and shall beexclusively operated for the purpose of advancing scientific, engineering and technical knowledge in the field ofcomputed tomography and imaging technology through education, R&D and the compilation and dissemination ofrelevant information useful to members and beneficial to the general public. Moreover it is also the purpose of thesociety to establish linkage with other technical and scientific organisations in the dissemination and exchange ofinformation in enhancing the promotion of the advancement and recognition of computed tomography and imagingtechnology practice in Malaysia. Under this society also will be create a new sub-committee such as committee ofTechnical & Training, Publication & Promotion, Research & Development (R&D) and Human Capital. The 2nd meetingin this year will be held in Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), Tronoh, Perak on 30th May 2013.

The introduction of open source software in computer imaging, with its source code made availableand licensed with an open source license, has given some light in medical imaging research . Open source software isnormally developed by the higher learning institutions or research centres which later shared their codes in theinternet for other researchers to use. Examples of open source software that are normally used to interpret CT imagesand published in academic journals are 3D Slicer (www.slicer.org), Osirix (www.osirix-viewer.com), and MITK(www.mitk.org) (Fig. 1 and 2). These open source software are freely available and could be downloaded from theinternet anytime and from anywhere. Not only this software could analyse CT images and produce results similar tocommercial software, their application or framework is flexible and extensible. In other word, the application could bemodified and tailored to the researchers’ needs by extending the available source code.

The question of validity and reliability of the open source software is essential in analysing CT imagesfor clinical investigation and assessment. The open source software has been tested in several studies and the authorssuggested that they are valid and reliable. Therefore, open source software is appropriate and relevant for processingand analysing CT images in clinical applications.

Fig. 1. Visualisation of brain tumour from CT images applying open source MITK software indicating the location and size of

the tumour with 3D reconstruction

Fig. 2. Delineation of intracranial volume in 2D (left) and 3D reconstruction (right) applying open source MITK software

Computed tomography and open source softwareBy Johari Yap & Azlan Jaafar, Craniofacial Science Cluster, School of Dental Sciences, USM.

Computed tomography (CT) scan is a procedure used tocapture images of the inside of the human body. Theseimages are used in diagnostics, as teaching tools, and inroutine healthcare for a variety of conditions. With thegrowth of computers and imaging technologies, medicalimaging has greatly influenced the medical field. It ispossible to extract quantifiable information from slicestaken through different parts of the ‘living’ human body.Structures in the CT slices are directly comparable tophysical slices, which may be quantified to extract usefulthree-dimensional (3D) information.

Analyze (Mayo Clinic, USA) and Mimics(Materiliase NV, Belgium) are two examples ofcommercial software that are widely used for medicalimage analyses. The software is comprehensive andrenowned among medical practitioners and researchers.However, they are expensive to purchase and maintain,which may be a limitation for small research institutionplanning to start up an imaging department facility.

Malaysian Society for Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology (MyCT)

26-28 Dec 2012, a Workshop oneScience Proposal Preparation hasbeen organized by the Protom Iresearch group at the Mahkota HotelMelaka, Melaka. This workshop wasfully sponsored by the INFOCOMMResearch Alliance (ICRA), UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia and the event wasofficiated by the Dean of ICRA, Prof. Ir.Dr. Abu Bakar Muhamed. Prof. Dr.Ruzairi Abdul Rahim (Head of RG) asthe main speaker through out the 3day s workshop has successfullyfacilitated 11 participants from theresearch group in eScience Proposalpreparation and application. There

There are 14 research members in the Protom-I RG led by Prof. Dr.Ruzairi Abdul Rahim in 2012. Two new members, Dr. Mohd Amri MdZain and Dr. Mohamed Sultan bin Mohamed Ali have joined thegroup in March and Oct 2012 respectively. The RG members currentresearch control, sensors, instrumentations and applications relatedenvironmental, agricultural and industry process. In 2012, Protom-Imembers have successfully participated in various competitions andexhibitions. A total of 7 awards have the team members with a totalof RM 803,000.00 been won by grant awarded to the research groupmembers. A total of 42 papers (CIF: 29 papers with CIF - 28.42 andSCOPUS: 13) have been published by the research group members.

Malaysian Society for Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology (MyCT)

Proposal Workshop at Mahkota Hotel Melaka

are 11 prospective proposals proposed by the participants. Comments and improvements have been done duringthe workshop to ensure all proposals complied with the eScience funding requirements before submission. Besidesthat, during the workshop, Prof. Dr. Ruzairi has motivated the team members to create research proposal bank tostore their research ideas for other funding offers in the future. All participants have gained a lot of informationrelated to eScience proposal writing during these 3 days workshop. Protom-I RG aims to apply for more externalgrants in the year of 2013.

2012 PROTOM-I RG Updates and Achievements

Malaysian Society for Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology (MyCT)

MyCT Next Event

Previous CTiG Newsletter

Event Venue Date

3rd Seminar of Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology 2013

Universiti TeknologiPetronas, Tronoh

30 May 2013

2nd Meeting Board of Management MyCT 2013 Universiti TeknologiPetronas, Tronoh

30 May 2013

Malaysia International NDT Conference and Exhibition 2013 (MINDTCE’13)

Sunway Putra Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

16 – 18 June 2013

6th International Workshop on Process Tomography Malaysia In 2017

Malaysian Society of Computed Tomography and Imaging Technology (MyCT)c/o Suite 29T026, Industrial Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency,

Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MalaysiaTel: 03-89250510 Fax: 03-89250907 E-mail: jaafar@nuclearmalaysia.gov.my