• Journal of KIISE
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.910-918
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• 2015

This paper presents a parameter visualization technique to overcome the limitation of the naked eye in contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. A method is also proposed to compensate for the distortion and noise in ultrasound image sequences. Meaningful parameters for diagnosing liver disease can be extracted from the dynamic patterns of the contrast enhancement in ultrasound images. The visualization technique can provide more accurate information by generating a parametric image from the dynamic data. Respiratory motions and noise from micro-bubble in ultrasound data may cause a degradation of the reliability of the diagnostic parameters. A multi-stage algorithm for respiratory motion tracking and an image enhancement technique based on the Markov Random Field are proposed. The usefulness of the proposed methods is empirically discussed through experiments by using a set of clinical data.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 2014

Purpose : Intramedullary spinal lesions in the conus medullaris (CM), including tumors and vascular lesion, are rarely reported. We reported various MR features of intramedullary spinal cord lesions involving the CM including ependymoma, hemangioblastomas, dermoid cyst, ventriculus terminalis and spinal AVF and tried to discuss them for differential diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Six patients (male: female = 4:2, mean age = 44.3 year old) were enrolled from the clinical database of our institute from 2004 to 2010 and their radiological images and clinical symptoms were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had taken initial and postoperative MRI with contrast enhancement using gadopentate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA). These images were analyzed by tumor size, location, signal intensity relative to the spinal cord, vascular flow voids, syrinx or cyst, edema and enhancement pattern. Results: Contrast enhancement was seen in all intramedullary masses. An eccentric enhancing nodule was noted in two hemangioblastomas and unusual peripheral rim enhancement with septation was seen in ventriculus terminalis. Patchy enhancement of the CM was observed in spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Extensive cord edema adjacent to the intramedullary lesions was seen in four cases and syrinx was noted in three cases. Vascular signal voids were found in two hemangioblastomas and one spinal AVF. Conclusion: In evaluation of intramedullary spinal lesions in the CM, it is necessary to consider these unusual MR findings and discriminate various pathologies with prudence and caution.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2014.11a
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• pp.211-212
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• 2014

단일에너지 복부 검사에서 사용했던 조영제 양 대비 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%로 각각 설정하여 영상을 획득한 후 대동맥, 하대정맥, 간문맥, 간실질에 관심영역을 설정하여 조영증강정도(houns -field unit; HU)를 구하여 단일에너지에서 측정된 부위와의 값을 비교 분석하였다. 그 결과 기존대비 60%로 조영제를 설정한 군에서는 대동맥 HU : $210.80{\pm}13.609$, 하대정맥 HU : $190.40{\pm}25.215$, 간문맥 $198.40{\pm}21.232$, 간실질 HU : $119.20{\pm}7.98$로 각각 측정되었으며. 단일에너지 복부 CT 검사는 대동맥 HU : $205.40{\pm}16.426$, 하대정맥 HU : $188.20{\pm}21.476$, 간문맥 HU : $195.40{\pm}22.744$, 간실질 HU : $121.00{\pm}6.595$ 이었다. 따라서 이중에너지를 이용하여 복부 조영 CT검사를 시행할 때 조영제의 양을 60%로 설정한 후 검사하는 것이 각 장기에서의 단일에너지 조영검사시와 비슷한 조영증강정도를 획득할 수 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to find an optimized imaging technique and evaluate its usefulness by comparing and analyzing the difference in contrast enhancement of lower extremity artery according to the patient's heart rate during lower extremity Computed Tomography Angiography examination. From January 2022 to August 22nd, 139 outpatients who visited Ajou University Hospital and underwent lower extremity angio CT examination were targeted. According to the heart rate, the groups were divided into four groups: A(HR ≤65), B(65 < HR < 80), C(80≤ HR). In addition, among patients with a heart rate of 65 or less, the heart rate was considered, and the scan was divided into D, E, F group with a delay time. The time of arrival of contrast medium and the average value of contrast enhancement were compared and analyzed. As a result of quantitative evaluation, B and C groups with a heart rate of more than 65 times had better HU values in the popliteal artery than A group (HR ≤ 65), and D group showed better HU improvement effects compared to A group (p<0.001). The comparative analysis with other groups was insignificant. The difference in heart rate affected the angiographic intensity of the lower extremities artery. Therefore, it is effective to apply the appropriate test timing for each patient by using the heart rate during the lower extremity angio CT Scan.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2015.04a
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• pp.862-863
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• 2015

본 연구에서는 조영증강 초음파 진단에서 혈류의 패턴을 효과적으로 판단할 수 있게 하기 위하여 조영제의 확산패턴을 영상으로 표현하는 방법론을 제안한다. 초음파 영상에서 조영제의 전이 시간에 대한 파라미터의 가시화 기법과, 단계별 전이패턴을 단일 영상으로 표현하는 방법을 제시함으로써, 병변의 진단 및 분석과정에서 대상 영역 내 혈류의 형태와 속도를 효과적으로 판별할 수 있게 한다. 분석과정의 필요에 따라 영상에서 정밀도를 선택적으로 적용할 수 있도록 하였으며, 노이즈 제거를 위한 필터링 과정과 단계별 전이 시점의 위치에 대한 영역 분할 과정을 거쳐 영상 생성결과를 개선할 수 있도록 하였다.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.21-21
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• 1997

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.211-216
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• 2017

This paper proposes image processing techniques that improve usability and performance in a diagnostic system of the contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. For a methodology for visualizing diagnostic parameter data in an ultrasonic medical image, an expression of transition time data with successive pixel values and a method of generating a lesion diagnostic parameter image with four categorized values are presented. We also introduce a MRF-based image enhancement technique to eliminate noises from generated parametric images. Such parametric image generation technique can overcome the difficulty of discriminating dynamic change in patterns in the ultrasonography. The technique clarifies the contour of the region in the original image and facilitates visual determination of the characteristics of the lesion through four colors. With regard to this MRF-based image enhancement, we define the energy function of consecutive pixel values and develop a technique to optimize it, and the usability of the proposed theory is examined through experiments with medical images.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.80-91
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• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this study is to discriminate the vestibular schwannoma misdiagnosed as Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Methods : A 46-year-old female patient who was suffering left sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL), visited after diagnosed as Idiopathic SSNHL by previous hospital. For diagnosing the vestibular schwannoma, we conducted the Puretone audiometry, auditory brainstem response threshold test and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) for temporal bone with enhancement. Result : Auditory Brainstem Response threshold test was abnormal and in enhanced MRI, the vestibular schwannoma in left side was detected. The patient was discharged from the hospital for tertiary hospital care. Conclusions : When the patient with SSNHL visits a hospital even if after diagnosed as Idiopathic SSNHL by previous hospital, a doctor should keep in mind the possibility of vestibular schwannoma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1334-1340
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• 2021

Amyloidosis has been reported to be associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Amyloidosis and lymphoma can be related in two ways: lymphoma-associated systemic amyloidosis and peritumoral amyloidosis with lymphoma. We report a rare case of peritumoral amyloidosis in a patient with head and neck mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. On CT, the oropharyngeal mass showed an irregularly shaped soft-tissue density with multifocal amorphous calcifications and heterogeneous enhancement. On MRI, the mass showed heterogeneous low signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. On contrast-enhanced MR images, the mass showed good enhancement with several inner non-enhancing foci. Concurrent pathologies, such as peritumoral amyloidosis, should be considered when calcifications are noted in patients with pre-treatment lymphoma.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.134-141
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• 2015

The purpose on this research is quantitatively comparing and analyzing signal intensity of 1.0mol and 0.5mol contrast agent. For this study, two MR phantoms were produced. One of them is used with 1.0mol Gadobutrol. The other is used with 0.5mol Gadoteridol. These two phantoms respectively have been scanned by SE T1 sequence which is used to get a general contrast-enhanced image in 1.5T MRI and 3D FLASH sequence which is used as enhanced angio MRI. Signal intensity was measured by scanned images as per contrast agent dilution ratio. The results were as follow: RSP(Reaction Starting Point) of the two sequences(2D SE, 3D FLASH) was respectively 6.0%, 60.0% in 0.5mol contrast and 2.0%, 20.0% in 1.0mol contrast, which means in 0.5mol contrast, RSP was formed faster than the one in 1.0mol contrast. MPSI was respectively 1358.8[a.u], 1573[a.u] in 0.5mol contrast and 1374[a.u], 1642.4[a.u] in 1.0mol contrast, which means 0.5mol contrast's MPP (0.4%, 10.0%) was formed faster than 1.0mol contrast's MPP (0.16%, 1.8%). Lastly, RA as per contrast agent dilution ratio was 27.4%, 11.8% wider in 0.5mol contrast(20747.4[a.u], 23204.6[a.u]) than in 1.0mol contrast(12691.9[a.u], 20747.4[a.u]). According to the study, we are able to assure that signal reaction time of 1.0mol contrast is slower than the one of 0.5mol contrast in contrast-enhanced MRI at two different sequences(2D SE, 3D FLASH). Furthermore, owing to the fact that there are not any signal intensity differences between 1.0mol and 0.5mol contrast, it is not true that high concentration gadolinium MR contrast agent does not always mean high signal intensity in MRI.