• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.180-188
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• 2009

Purpose: We evaluate the short-term clinical outcome of arthroscopic rotator cuff tendon repair with suture-bridge technique in patients with full thickness rotator cuff tear. Materials and Methods: 29 (male:17, female:12) consecutive shoulders treated with this index procedure and early rehabilitation were enrolled. Mean age was 56.4 years (range, 34~73 years) and mean follow-up period was 13 months (range, 12-15 months). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) score, the Korean Shoulder Scoring System (KSS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Postoperative cuff integrity was evaluated through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and categorized by Sugaya classification. Results: Postoperative UCLA scores improved from 16.4 to 31.6 (p< 0.05) and KSS scores showed 88 at 6 months and 92 at last follow up. Preoperative VAS score was 8.6, which was decreased to 2.1 at 3 months and 1.4 at 6 months postoperatively. 28 patients (96.5%) had increase in range of motion. The follow up MRI was taken in 15 shoulders and the cuff integrity was type I in 6 cases, type II in 7, type III in 1 and type V in 1 by Sugaya classification. Conclusion: Arthroscopic suture-bridge technique resulted in good or excellent clinical outcome in 96.5% of the cases, so we think this technique is one of the reliable procedure for full-thicknes rotator cuff tear.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.211-219
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• 2006

The UET(ultrasound excited thermography) for the ,eat-time diagnostics of the object employs an infrared camera to image defects of the surface and subsurface which are locally heated using high-frequency putted ultrasonic excitation. The dissipation of high-power ultrasonic energy around the feces of the defects causes an increase In temperature. The defect's image appears as a hot spot (bright IR source) within a dark background field. The UET for nondestructive diagnostic and evaluation is based on the image analysis of the hot spot as a local response to ultrasonic excited heat deposition. In this paper the applicability of VET for fast imaging of defect is described. The ultrasonic energy is injected into the sample through a transducer in the vertical and horizontal directions respectively. The voltage applied to the transducer is measured by digital oscilloscope, and the waveform are compared. Measurements were performed on four kinds of materials: SUS fatigue crack specimen(thickness 14mm), PCB plate(1.8 mm), CFRP plate(3 mm) and Inconel 600 plate (1 mm). A high power ultrasonic energy with pulse durations of 250ms Is injected into the samples in the horizontal and vertical directions respectively The obtained experimental result reveals that the dissipation loss of the ultrasonic energy In the vertical injection is less than that in the horizontal direction. In the cafe or PCB, CFRP, the size of hot spot in the vortical injection if larger than that in horizontal direction. Duration time of the hot spot in the vertical direction is three times as long as that in the horizontal direction. In the case of Inconel 600 plate and SUS sample, the hot spot in the horizontal injection was detected faster than that in the vertical direction

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.180-187
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• 2010

Purpose: Rotator cuff tears involving the subscapularis are less common than those involving the superior and posterior rotator cuff. The purpose of the present study was to report the clinical results of repair of isolated traumatic tears of the subscapularis tendon. Materials and Methods: Fifteen patients (13 males, 2 females; mean age 46.2 years; range 35 to 52) with unilateral ruptures of the subscapularis tendon after trauma who underwent arthroscopic repair between February 2003 and October 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. All the cases were isolated tears of the subscapularis without the involvement of any other rotator cuff tendon and were followed for at least two years (mean 28 months). The entire subscapularis was involved in 9 cases and the tear was localized to the upper two thirds in 6 cases. The preoperative and postoperative status of patients with isolated subscapularis tears were analyzed using the Constant Score, American Shoulder and Elbow Society Index (ASES Index) and postoperative integrity was determined through magnetic resonance imaging. Results: The average clinical outcome scores and strength were all improved significantly at the time of the final follow-up. The constant shoulder score improved from 41.5 to 81.3 points (P<0.05) compared to before surgery and ASES index improved from 46.4 to 89.6 points (P<0.05) postoperatively. Thirteen patients (87%) were satisfied with the result of the treatment. The total tears were significantly more improved by surgery than the partial tears. In 12 of 15 patients (80%) were judged to reveal healed tendon on magnetic resonance imaging at a mean of 13 months postoperatively. The postoperative score was significantly lower for the patients with a failed repair than it was for those with an intact repair (P<0.05). Conclusion: Repair of traumatic isolated subscapularis tears through arthroscopic techniques effectively restores patient function with regard to pain, mobility, strength and postoperative tendon integrity. The postoperative integrity of the repair correlates with the functional results and the total tears were more improved by surgery than the partial tears, but future studies may be needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1210-1219
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• 2001

Introduction : The purpose of this study was to analyze the safety, pullout strength and radiographic characteristics of unicortical and bicortical screws of cervical facet within cadaveric specimens and evaluate the influence of level of training on the positioning of these screws. Methods : Twenty-one cadavers, mean 78.9 years of age, underwent bilateral placement of 3.5mm AO lateral mass screw from C3-C6(n=168) using a slight variation of the Magerl technique. Intraoperative imaging was not used. The right side(unicortical) utilized only 14mm screws(effective length of 11mm) while on the left side to determine the length of the screw after the ventral cortex had been drilled. Three spine surgeons(attending, fellow, chief resident) with varying levels of spine training performed the procedure on seven cadavers each. All spines were harvested and lateral radiographs were taken. Individual cervical vertebrae were carefully dissected and then axial radiographs were taken. The screws were evaluated clinically and radiographically for their safety. Screws were graded clinically for their safety with respect to the spinal cord, facet joint, nerve root and vertebral artery. The grades consisted of the following categories : "satisfactory", "at risk" and "direct injury". Each screw was also graded according to its zone placement. Screw position was quantified by measuring a sagittal angle from the lateral radiograph and an axial angle from the axial radiograph. Pull-out force was determined for all screws using a material testing machine. Results : Dissection revealed that fifteen screws on the left side actually had only unicortical and not bicortical purchase as intended. The majority of screws(92.8%) were satisfactory in terms of safety. There were no injuries to the spinal cord. On the right side(unicortical), 98.9% of the screws were "satisfactory" and on the left side(bicortical) 68.1% were "satisfactory". There was a 5.8% incidence of direct arterial injury and a 17.4% incidence of direct nerve root injury with the bicortical screws. There were no "direct injuries" with the unicortical screws for the nerve root or vertebral artery. The unicortical screws had a 21.4% incidence of direct injury of the facet joint, while the bicortical screws had a 21.7% incidence. The majority of "direct injury" of bicortical screws were placed by the surgeon with the least experience. The performance of the resident surgeon was significantly different from the attending or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the nerve root and vertebral artery. The attending's performance was significantly better than the resident or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the facet joint. There was no relationship between the safety of a screw and its zone placement. The axial deviation angle measured $23.5{\pm}6.6$ degrees and $19.8{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The resident surgeon had a significantly lower angle than the attending or fellow(p<0.05). The sagittal angle measured $66.3{\pm}7.0$ degrees and $62.3{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The attending had a significantly lower sagittal angle than the fellow or resident(p<0.05). Thirty-three screws that entered the facet joint were tested for pull-out strength but excluded from the data because they were not lateral mass screws per-se and had deviated substantially from the intended final trajectory. The mean pull-out force for all screws was $542.9{\pm}296.6N$. There was no statistically significant difference between the pull-out force for unicortical($519.9{\pm}286.9N$) and bicortical($565.2{\pm}306N$) screws. There was no significant difference in pull-out strengths with respect to zone placement. Conclusion : It is our belief that the risk associated with bicortical purchase mandates formal spine training if it is to be done safely and accurately. Unicortical screws are safer regardless of level of training. It is apparent that 14mm lateral mass screws placed in a supero-lateral trajectory in the adult cervical spine provide an equivalent strength with a much lower risk of injury than the longer bicortical screws placed in a similar orientation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2002

Purpose : 3D conformal radiotherapy, the optimum dose delivered to the tumor and provided the risk of normal tissue unless marginal miss, was restricted by organ motion. For tumors in the thorax and abdomen, the planning target volume (PTV) is decided including the margin for movement of tumor volumes during treatment due to patients breathing. We designed the respiratory gating radiotherapy device (RGRD) for using during CT simulation, dose planning and beam delivery at identical breathing period conditions. Using RGRD, reducing the treatment margin for organ (thorax or abdomen) motion due to breathing and improve dose distribution for 3D conformal radiotherapy. Materials and Methods : The internal organ motion data for lung cancer patients were obtained by examining the diaphragm in the supine position to find the position dependency. We made a respiratory gating radiotherapy device (RGRD) that is composed of a strip band, drug sensor, micro switch, and a connected on-off switch in a LINAC control box. During same breathing period by RGRD, spiral CT scan, virtual simulation, and 3D dose planing for lung cancer patients were peformed, without an extended PTV margin for free breathing, and then the dose was delivered at the same positions. We calculated effective volumes and normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) using dose volume histograms for normal lung, and analyzed changes in doses associated with selected NTCP levels and tumor control probabilities (TCP) at these new dose levels. The effects of 3D conformal radiotherapy by RGRD were evaluated with DVH (Dose Volume Histogram), TCP, NTCP and dose statistics. Results : The average movement of a diaphragm was 1.5 cm in the supine position when patients breathed freely. Depending on the location of the tumor, the magnitude of the PTV margin needs to be extended from 1 cm to 3 cm, which can greatly increase normal tissue irradiation, and hence, results in increase of the normal tissue complications probabiliy. Simple and precise RGRD is very easy to setup on patients and is sensitive to length variation (+2 mm), it also delivers on-off information to patients and the LINAC machine. We evaluated the treatment plans of patients who had received conformal partial organ lung irradiation for the treatment of thorax malignancies. Using RGRD, the PTV margin by free breathing can be reduced about 2 cm for moving organs by breathing. TCP values are almost the same values $(4\~5\%\;increased)$ for lung cancer regardless of increasing the PTV margin to 2.0 cm but NTCP values are rapidly increased $(50\~70\%\;increased)$ for upon extending PTV margins by 2.0 cm. Conclusion : Internal organ motion due to breathing can be reduced effectively using our simple RGRD. This method can be used in clinical treatments to reduce organ motion induced margin, thereby reducing normal tissue irradiation. Using treatment planning software, the dose to normal tissues was analyzed by comparing dose statistics with and without RGRD. Potential benefits of radiotherapy derived from reduction or elimination of planning target volume (PTV) margins associated with patient breathing through the evaluation of the lung cancer patients treated with 3D conformal radiotherapy.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2009

Purpose: We investigated quantification of dopaminergic transporter (DAT) and serotonergic transporter (SERT) on $^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT for differentiating between multiple systemic atrophy (MSA) and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Materials and Methods: N-fluoropropyl-$2{\beta}$-carbomethoxy-$3{\beta}$-4-[$^{123}I$]-iodophenylnortropane SPECT ($^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT) was performed in 8 patients with MSA (mean age: $64.0{\pm}4.5yrs$, m:f=6:2), 13 with early IPD (mean age: $65.5{\pm}5.3yrs$, m:f=9:4), and 12 healthy controls (mean age: $63.3{\pm}5.7yrs$, m:f=8:4). Standard regions of interests (ROls) of striatum to evaluate DAT, and hypothalamus and midbrain for SERT were drawn on standard template images and applied to each image taken 4 hours after radiotracer injection. Striatal specific binding for DAT and hypothalamic and midbrain specific binding for SERT were calculated using region/reference ratio based on the transient equilibrium method. Group differences were tested using ANOVA with the postHoc analysis. Results: DAT in the whole striatum and striatal subregions were significantly decreased in both patient groups with MSA and early IPD, compared with healthy control (p<0.05 in all). In early IPD, a significant increase in the uptake ratio in anterior and posterior putamen and a trend of increase in caudate to putamen ratio was observed. In MSA, the decrease of DAT was accompanied with no difference in the striatal uptake pattern compared with healthy controls. Regarding the brain regions where $^{123}I$-FP-CIT binding was predominant by SERT, MSA patients showed a decrease in the binding of $^{123}I$-FP-CIT in the pons compared with controls as well as early IPD patients (MSA: $0.22{\pm}0.1$ healthy controls: $0.33{\pm}0.19$, IPD: $0.29{\pm}0.19$), however, it did not reach the statistical significance. Conclusion: In this study, the differential patterns in the reduction of DAT in the striatum and the reduction of pontine $^{123}I$-FP-CIT binding predominant by SERT could be observed in MSA patients on $^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT. We suggest that the quantification of SERT as well as DAT using $^{123}I$-FP-CIT SPECT is helpful to differentiate parkinsonian disorders in early stage.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.355-362
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• 2014

Purpose : When head&neck cancer radiation therapy, thermoplastic mask is applied for patients with fixed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate usefulness of thermoplastic mask for SRS in tomotherapy by conparison with the conventional mask. Materials and Methods : Typical mask(conventional mask, C-mask) and mask for SRS are used to fix body phantom(rando phantom) on the same iso centerline, then simulation is performed. Tomotherapy plan for orbit and salivary glands is made by treatment planning system(TPS). A thick portion and a thin portion located near the treatment target relative to the mask S-mask are defined as region of interest for surface dose dosimetry. Surface dose variation depending on the type of mask was analyzed by measuring the TPS and EBT film. Results : Surface dose variation due to the type of mask from the TPS is showed in orbit and salivary glands 0.65~2.53 Gy, 0.85~1.84 Gy, respectively. In case of EBT film, -0.2~3.46 Gy, 1.04~3.02 Gy. When applied to the S-mask, in TPS and Gafchromic EBT3 film, substrantially 4.26%, 5.82% showed maximum changing trend, respectively. Conclusion : To apply S-mask for tomotherapy, surface dose is changed, but the amount is insignificant and be useful when treatment target is close critical organs because decrease inter and intra fractional variation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.81-85
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usability of applied Low dose Computed Tomography(LDCT) protocol in examining urinary calculus using computed tomography. The subjects of this study were urological patients who visited a medical institution located in Busan from June to December 2016 and the protocol used in this study was Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction: low-dose CT with 50% Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASIR). As results of quantitative analysis, the mean pixel value and standard deviation within kidney region of image(ROI)of the axial image were $26.21{\pm}7.08$ in abdomen CT pre scan and $20.03{\pm}8.16$ in low-dose CT. Also the mean pixel value and standard deviation within kidney ROI of the coronal image were $22.07{\pm}7.35$ in abdomen CT pre scan and $21.67{\pm}6.11$ in low dose CT. The results of qualitative analysis showed that four raters' mean values of observed kidney artifacts were $19.14{\pm}0.36$ when using abdomen CT protocol and $19.17{\pm}0.43$ in low-dose CT, and the mean value of resolution and contrast was $19.35{\pm}0.70$ when using abdomen CT protocol and $19.29{\pm}0.58$ in low-dose CT. Also the results of a exposure dose analysis showed that the mean values of CTDIvol and DLP in abdomen CT pre scan were 18.02 mGy and $887.51mGy{\cdot}cm$ respectively and the mean values of CTDIvol and DLP when using low-dose CT protocol were 7.412 mGy and $361.22mGy{\cdot}cm$ respectively. The resulting dose reduction rate was 58.82% and 59.29%, respectively.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2010

To acquire good image quality and to minimize unnecessary radiation dose to patients, it is important to ensure that the radiopharmaceutical administered is accurately measured. Quality control of radionuclide calibrators should be performed to achieve these goals. The purpose of this study is to support the quality control of radionuclide calibrators in nuclear medicine centers and to investigate the level of measurement accuracy of the radionuclide calibrators. 58 radionuclide calibrators from 45 nuclear medicine centers, 74 radionuclide calibrators from 58 nuclear medicine centers, and 60 radionuclide calibrators from 45 nuclear medicine centers were tested with I-131, Tc-99m and I-123, respectively. The results showed that 81% of calibrators for I-131, 61% of calibrators for Tc-99m and 67% of calibrators for I-123 were within ${\pm}5%$. 17% of calibrators for I-131, 20% of calibrators for Tc-99m and 15% of calibrators for I-123 had a deviation in the range 5%< $|{\Delta}|{\leq}10%$. 2% of calibrators for I-131, 19% of calibrators for Tc-99m and 18% of calibrators for I-123 had a deviation of $|{\Delta}|$ >10%. Follow-up measurements were performed on the calibrators whose error exceeded the ${\pm}10%$ limit. As a result, some of the calibrator showed an improvement and their deviation decreased below the ${\pm}10%$ limit. The results have shown that such comparisons are necessary to improve the accuracy of the measurement and to identify malfunctioning radionuclide calibrators.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2010

Purpose: In radiotherapy that takes into account respiration using a RPM (Real time Position Management, Varian, USA) system, which can treat in consideration of the movement of tumor, infrared reflective markers supplied by manufacturers cannot obtain respiratory signal if the couch rotates at a certain angle or larger. In order to solve this problem, the author developed the 3D infrared reflective marker named 'Kw-marker' that can obtain respiratory signal at any angle, and evaluate its usefulness. Materials and Methods: In order to measure the stability of respiratory signal, we put the infrared reflective marker on the 3D moving phantom that can reproduce respiratory movement and acquired respiratory signal for 3 minutes under each of 3 conditions (A: $couch\;0^{\circ}$, a manufacturer's infrared reflective marker B: $couch\;0^{\circ}$, Kw-marker C: $couch\;90^{\circ}$, Kw-marker). By analyzing the respiratory signal using a breath analysis program (Labview Ver. 7.0), we obtained the peak value, valley value, standard deviation, variation value, and amplitude value. In order to examine the rotation error and moving range of the target, we placed a B.B phantom on the 3D moving phantom, and obtained images at a couch angle of $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ using OBI, and then acquired the X, Y and Z values (mm) of the ball bearing at the center of the B.B phantom. Results: According to the results of analyzing the respiratory signal, the standard deviation at the peak value was A: 0.002, B: 0.002 and C: 0.003, and the stability of respiration for amplitude was A: 0.15%, B: 0.14% and C:0.13%, showing that we could get respiratory signal stably by using the Kw-marker. When the couch rotated $couch\;90^{\circ}$, the mean rotation error of the ball bearing, namely, the target was X: -1.25 mm, Y: -0.45 mm and Z: +0.1 mm, which were within 1.3 mm on the average in all directions, and the difference in the moving range of the target was within 0.3 mm. Conclusion: When we obtained respiratory signal using the Kw-marker in non-coplanar treatment where the couch rotated, we could acquire respiratory signal stably and the Kw-marker was effective enough to substitute for the manufacturer's infrared reflective marker. When the rotation error and moving range of the target were measured, there was little difference, indicating that the displacement of the reflector movement in couch rotation is the cause of change in the scale and amplitude of respiratory signal. If the converted value of amplitude height according to couch angle is studied further and applied, it may be possible to perform non-coplanar phase-based gating treatment.