• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.391-395
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was performed evaluate optimal dose for disimpaction, efficacy and safety of PEG 4000 in children with chronic functional constipation. Methods : Eighty six children with chronic functional constipation were enrolled in this prospective study at Konkuk university hospital March, 2003 through August, 2006. Success in disimpaction with PEG 4000 was defined as meeting at least two out of three criteria; resolution of chief complaint, getting easiness of defecation with respect to frequency of bowel movement and hardness of stool based on defecation diary, and decrease in fecal impaction on simple abdominal X-ray test. Adverse effects of PEG 4000 were monitored clinically and biochemically. Results : Eighty three out of 86 children completed the study, and success rate of disimpaction was 99% (82/83). The mean dose of PEG 4000 for disimpaction was $0.93{\pm}0.28g/kg/day$ (0.4-2.0 g/kg/day, Max.: 30 g/day). Frequency of bowel movement increased ($5.02{\pm}2.71/wk$ vs. $11.25{\pm}5.43/wk$) in most children (79/83). Fecal impaction on simple abdominal X-ray test improved with statistical significance in 25 children (P=0.0007). Because of adverse effect of PEG 4000, 3 children did not complete the study; urticaria, severe diarrhea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. One 6-year-old girl who completed the study complained tingling sensation in the hand and foot without laboratory abnormality (4/86, 4.7%). Laboratory test revealed hyperosmolality without clinical symptom in 1 child, and eosinophilia in 6 children. Conclusion : The average safe and effective dose of PEG 4000 for disimpaction was $0.93{\pm}0.28g/kg/day$ (0.4-2.0 g/kg/day, Max : 30 g/day) in children with chronic functional constipation.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.368-380
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• 2002

Purpose: Liver transplantation (LT), one of the therapeutic options of primary liver cancer has been suffering from recurrence caused by metastasis in 8-54% of patients. This study was performed to investigate whether FDG-PET is useful for detecting hidden metastasis in LT candidates. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six patients (male:female=23:3, mean age 55.7 years) underwent FDG-PET. Their previous conventional diagnostic studies (CDS) like abdomen US and CT, chest x-ray and CT, and bone scan were negative (n=22) or equivocal (n=4) for metastasis. Positive FDG-PET findings were confirmed by biopsy or clinical follow-up. Results: Among 4 patients with equivocal metastatic lesions on CDS, 3 had 6 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as metastasis and subsequently LTs were cancelled. Of these, 5 lesions were initially negative on CDS. Remained 1 patient underwent LT with a negative FDG-PET result. Among 22 patients without metastasis on CDS, 5 had 7 hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET. One of these patients proved to have 2 metastatic lesions, and LT was cancelled. The other 4 patients had S hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET, which were confirmed as benign lesions, and 3 patients of them underwent LT. In summary, FDG-PET was useful in avoiding 4 unwarranted LT by detecting unsuspected metastatic lesions on CDS. A total of 17 patients underwent LT. In comparison with pathology, the sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for detecting viable primary liver cancer were 55.6% (5/9) and 87.5% (7/8), respectively. Conclusion: FDG-PET can detect additional hidden metastasis and contribute to reducing unwarranted LT in the patients with primary liver cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.455-464
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• 2012

This study suggested evaluation of approximately exposure to low-dose ionization radiation from medical images using a computed radiography (CR) system in standard X-ray examination and experimental model can compare diagnostic reference level (DRL) will suggest on optimization condition of guard about medical radiation of low dose space. Entrance surface dose (ESD) cross-measuring by standard dosimeter and optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) in experiment condition about tube voltage and current of X-ray generator. Also, Hounsfield unit (HU) scale measured about each experiment condition in CR system and after character relationship table and graph tabulate about ESD and HU scale, approximately radiation dose about head, neck, thoracic, abdomen, and pelvis draw a measurement. In result measuring head, neck, thoracic, abdomen, and pelvis, average of ESD is 2.10, 2.01, 1.13, 2.97, and 1.95 mGy, respectively. HU scale is $3,276{\pm}3.72$, $3,217{\pm}2.93$, $2,768{\pm}3.13$, $3,782{\pm}5.19$, and $2,318{\pm}4.64$, respectively, in CR image. At this moment, using characteristic relationship table and graph, ESD measured approximately 2.16, 2.06, 1.19, 3.05, and 2.07 mGy, respectively. Average error of measuring value and ESD measured approximately smaller than 3%, this have credibility cover all the bases radiology area of measurement 5%. In its final analysis, this study suggest new experimental model approximately can assess radiation dose of patient in standard X-ray examination and can apply to CR examination, digital radiography and even film-cassette system.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 2002

Purpose: We designed this retrospective study to establish the incidence of diagnosic delay in children diagnosed with acute appendicitis and to identify associated factors with delayed diagnosis and its impact on the clinical course. Methods: All cases of children under 15 years of age who underwent appendectomy from 1996 to 2001 at Gangneung Asan Hospital were reviewed. We reviewed signs and symptoms, type of health professional first contacted, the advice given by the health professional and a history of appendicitis in first degree relatives. Diagnostic period is the time elapsed between first complaints and definitive diagnosis. Delay was defined as diagnostic period exceeded the 48 hours. Postoperative course and complications were also reviewed. Results: Incidence of diagnostic delay differed by whether diarrhea and fecalith on X-ray were present. Also children whose parents were advised to observe them at home were more likely to have a diagnostic delay. In almost half of the cases in delayed group, initial diagnosis was not acute appendicitis but gastroenteritis. The perforation rate in non-delayed group was 22%, whereas 87% in delayed group. The delayed group showed a higher number of postoperative complication and a longer hospitalization period. Conclusions: Diarrhea with abdominal pain and fever in children should not be dismissed as gastroenteritis, respiratory infections or other common disorders. Our study suggests that physicians have a responsibility to prevent diagnostic delay and resultant perforation of acute appendicitis in children by having a high index of suspicion about acute appendicitis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.99-106
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• 2017

This study focused on the issue that when a diagnostic detector is found to have a defect, a patient would be exposed to radiation and image quality would be degraded. Though dose analysis, an experiment was conducted to evaluate detector performance as Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Contrast to Noise Ratio (CNR). Absorbed dose, SNR and CNR were measured using a dosimeter and a tissue equivalent phantom. The experiment was conducted to compare whether the dose value shown after being attached to the back side of the phantom matches the dose value attached behind the detector, where in the conditions of skull, chest and abdomen were set at 75 kVp, 25 mAs, 110 kVp, 8 mAs, and 80 kVp, 20 mAs, respectively. As a result, there was a difference in that the dose values attached to the back side of the detector were 0.004 mGy, 0.006 mGy, 0.003 mGy, whereas those of the back side of the phantom were 0.006 mGy, 0.016 mGy, 0.017 mGy. In order to match both values, the condition was increased and SNR and CNR also increased from 88.32, 88.10, 4.09, 1.63, 87.94, 79.97 to 93.87, 93.75, 4.91, 4.03, 92.02, 84.92. Though this study, we found that when a detector is found to have a aging, it shortens the life of equipment and increases the dose of a patient, also the improvement effect of image quality is inadequate.