• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.401-406
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• 2017

Breast cancer rates are increasing every year, biopsy for diagnosing breast cancer is increasing as well. Biopsy also invasive test, have bad side effects from patients anxiety, infection, bleeding. In this study, Conduct a survey of 69 patients who brest lesion patient, both B-mode ultrasound and elastography exam and B-mode ultrasound was classified according to the BI-RADS category, and the elastography exam was classified according to the Color overlay pattern that the value of the kPa expressed in relation to the propagation velocity of Transverse waves. The optimal cut off value of the highest sensitivity and specificity was 54.70 kPa. In the color overlay pattern, Dark Blue 42 people, Light blue ~ Red 27 people classified results and BI-RADS classification results, benign 40 people and malignant 29 people classified results showed similar results. Therefore, It is judged that the color overlay pattern is positive when classified into Dark Blue, and malignant when classified into Light blue ~ Red. In conclusion, breast elastography is expected to play a innovative role in reducing the number of breast cancer examinations and classify between benign and malignant tumor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.116-127
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• 2021

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of texture analysis of gray-scale ultrasound (US) images for staging of hepatic fibrosis. Materials and Methods Altogether, 167 patients who had undergone routine US and laboratory tests for a fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index were included. Texture parameters were measured using a dedicated in-house software. Regions of interest were placed in five different segments (3, 5, 6, 7, 8) for each patient. The FIB-4 index was used as the reference standard for hepatic fibrosis grade. Comparisons of the texture parameters between different fibrosis groups were performed with the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating curve analysis. Results The study population comprised of patients with no fibrosis (FIB-4 < 1.45, n = 50), mild fibrosis (1.45 ≤ FIB-4 ≤ 2.35, n = 37), moderate fibrosis (2.35 < FIB-4 ≤ 3.25, n = 27), and severe fibrosis (FIB-4 > 3.25, n = 53). Skewness in hepatic segment 5 showed a difference between patients with no fibrosis and mild fibrosis (0.2392 ± 0.3361, 0.4134 ± 0.3004, respectively, p = 0.0109). The area under the curve of skewness for discriminating patients with no fibrosis from those with mild fibrosis was 0.660 (95% confidence interval, 0.551-0.758), with an estimated accuracy, sensitivity, specificity of 64%, 87%, 48%, respectively. Conclusion A significant difference was observed regarding skewness in segment 5 between patients with no fibrosis and patients with mild fibrosis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.284-291
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• 2013

The importance of ultrasound examination in the field of medical imaging has been emphasized and the interest in sonographic image evaluation is growing. However image evaluations by the non-standardized criteria and methods, so establishment of legal provisions and objective evaluation criteria are needed. In this study, we used SNR to find out more quantitative way and supplement the limitations of the existing phantom image evaluation. The results of acquired 8 images using ATS-539 multipurpose phantom were compared in SNR of sensitivity and gray-scale dynamic range. In the result of the experiment, excellent equipment of existing phantom images are G1, S1 and G2 in regular sequence. In SNR of sensitivity, G1, S1 and G2 and in SNR of gray-scale dynamic range, S1 G1 and G2 in order. In the conclusion, all the experiment results did not show big difference and regular pattern neither. Therefore, the new evaluation measures should be used with the existing phantom image evaluation method for more objective and quantitative evaluation of the ultrasound imaging device.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.365-372
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• 2024

To analyze the image quality and disinfection effectiveness of alcohol gel application in ultrasound scans, we varied the application of alcohol gels with different alcohol content from ultrasound gels. The image quality analysis compared the Dead zone, axial and lateral resolution, sensitivity, and gray scale changes using the ATS-539 phantom, while the disinfection effectiveness analysis was performed by swabbing the three cover faces of convex probe used in clinical practice, collecting specimens and enrichment culture them for 24 hours before identification with Gram stain. image quality analysis showed that all items, regardless of the alcohol content, produced images that were not different from the ultrasonic gel application images, and pathogens such as staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus, and enterococcus were detected on all probes, and all were extinction by the application of alcohol gel. The application of alcohol gel during ultrasound examination was meaningful in terms of image quality maintenance and disinfection effect, and if the results of this study are further studied and commercialized, the application of alcohol gel as an alternative to ultrasound gel will be very useful in clinical examinations because it can consider not only image quality but also infection prevention.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.295-305
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• 2014

This study is to provide accurate information as medical imaging equipment to check for the presence of body disease US equipment. We investigated the status of medical US equipment performance in Daegu and criteria US phantom (ATS-539) for US equipment performance measurements. The results in this study, 1. US phantom measurement results: The test passed rate were 88.6% and the failed rate were 11.4%. 2. The difference between the group of mean and the pass/failed groups were statistically significant. Focal zone and 4 mm functional resolution in the two items that are not present the passing standard. 3. The difference was statistically significant number of years and used equipment and pass the failed equipment (4.13 vs 7.25 years). We investigated the performance status of US equipment used in the clinical area in Daegu. The basis for the two items are not present this proposed passing standard. Equipment performance was associated with the number of years of using US equipment. It is necessary to maintain the best performance of the equipment phantom measurements for performance testing of US equipment.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.504-508
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• 2010

In conventional diagnostic ultrasound strain imaging, when displaying strain image on a monitor, human visual characteristics are utilized such that hard regions are displayed as dark and soft regions are displayed as bright. Thus, hard regions representing tumor or cancer are displayed as dark, decreasing the contrast inside the lesion. Because the lesion area is stiff and thus displayed as dark, a method of inverting the image brightness and thereby increasing the contrast in the lesion for better diagnostic purposes is proposed wherein a postcompression signal is extended in the time domain by a factor corresponding to the reciprocal of the amount of the applied compression using a technique termed globally uniform stretching. Experiments were carried out to verify the proposed method on an ultrasound elasticity phantom with radio-frequency data acquired from a diagnostic ultrasound clinical scanner. It is found that the new method improves the contrast-to-noise ratio by a factor of up to about 1.8 compared to a conventional strain imaging method that employs a reversed gray color map without globally uniform stretching.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.463-472
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• 2021

Demand for examinations using transvaginal transducer with high frequencies is increasing to observe pelvic organs in gynecological ultrasound tests. However, the quality control of the replacement probe in clinical trials is not properly implemented and the evaluation criteria have not been established. Therefore, 58 transvaginal transducers and 20 convex transducers were applied to the ATS-539 ultrasound phantom for 20 ultrasound devices currently in clinical use to obtain their respective images and measure them quantitatively and qualitatively. For quantitative measurements, vertical measurement, horizontal measurement, and focal zone and qualitative measurements, dead zone, axial·lateral resolution, sensitivity, functional resolution, gray scale·dynamic range were performed. Quantitative statistical analysis showed significant differences between the two transducers in the lateral measurement and local area (p<0.05). qualitative comparative analysis showed differences in sensitivity and functional resolution. This occurs due to the difference in frequency between transducers and the transducer's injection geometry. Based on the above experiments, the tolerance for horizontal measurement is raised to 10% (±8 mm), the tolerance for sensitivity is observed up to 6 cm deep, which is 12 cm deep,which is the level of the third quartile (75%). The permissible range of functional resolution is up to 6 (12 cm), 6 (12 cm), 11 (11 cm), 9 (9 cm), 6 (6 cm) target, which is the level of the third quartile (75%). It is considered reasonable to adjust the depth of targets in gray scale·dynamic range to measure at a depth of 2 cm, which is 50% of the depth of 4 cm. As above, the criteria for evaluating the quality of transvaginal transducer for use in the past have been proposed and it is expected that this study will be used as a basic data for the production of phantom exclusively for transvaginal transducer in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.176-189
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• 2020

Purpose To evaluate the clinical efficacy of real-time sonoelastography (RTS) for the follow-up of congenital muscular torticollis, based on measurements of muscle elasticity. Materials and Methods Thirty-four infants (23 male, 11 female) with congenital sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle torticollis underwent ultrasonography and elastography between November 2012 and December 2014. We evaluated the thickness, morphology (mass-like, fusiform, or overall thickened shape), and echogenicity of the SCM muscle on grayscale images and color patterns (homogeneous blue, mixed green < 50% and ≥ 50%, and green to red) on elastography. Strain ratios were measured using Q-lab software. A clinician classified the degree of neck rotation and side flexion deficits using a 5-point grade system based on angles of neck rotation and side flexion. Correlations between the ultrasonography and clinical findings were evaluated by statistical analysis. Results Twenty-two infants had right and 12 had left SCM torticollis, respectively. Linear regression analysis showed that involved/contralateral SCM thickness differences, morphology, elasticity color scores, and strain ratios of the affected SCM muscles were significantly correlated with neck rotation and side flexion deficit scores (p < 0.05). The elasticity color score of the affected SCM muscle was the most significant factor. Conclusion RTS might provide a reliable means for evaluating and monitoring congenital muscular torticollis.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-52
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• 2012

The Usuki Stone Buddha Statues in Oita are consisted of 60 Buddhas which represent of Japan carved on the rock-cliff in the 12 to 14th centuries. The basement rock of the statues is dark gray welded lapilli tuff that containing the Aso-4 pyroclastic rock group. Deterioration maps for the Hoki I and the Furuzono Buddha Statues group show multi-directional fissures on the Cakra, and sheeting-off zone at the margin of uprising water. Deterioration rate of the Hoki I group was calculated fissure about 121 in number, 19% of sheeting-off zone and 51% of biological weathering in surface of area. And the Furuzono group was also evaluated as about 48 of fissures in number, 24% of sheeting-off zone and 41% biological weathering. The slope stability assessment results, the Hoki I developed discontinuous planes has possibility of planar, toppling and wedge failures in all caves. Ultrasonic velocity of the Aizen-myooh (basement rock) ranges from 1,520 to 2,794 (average 2,298m/s). And pedestal of Amita-yeorae which has been replaced by new fresh rock is measured as 3,242 to 4,141 (average 3,813m/s). Therefore, we establish of planing conservation treatment and reinforcement methods to fissure, cavity, sheeting-off zone in the Buddha surface.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.975-984
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• 2022

Since a linear transducer has an area of interest equal to the length of the transducer, the area of interest can be expanded using the virtual convex function installed in the device.However, it was thought that the change in the direction of the ultrasonic sound velocity according to the change in the visual area of interest would affect the image quality, so this was objectively confirmed. For this study, image evaluation and SNR·CNR of the phantom for ultrasound quality control were measured. As a result, in the phantom image evaluation, both images were able to identify structures in functional resolution, grayscale, and dynamic range. However, it was confirmed that the standard image was excellent in the reproducibility of the size and shape of the structure. As a result of SNR·CNR evaluation, SNR·CNR of most trapezoidal images was low, except for structures at specific locations. In addition, through the statistical analysis graph, it was further confirmed that the SNR and CNR for each depth decreased as the size of the cystic structure decreased. Through this study, it was confirmed that the use of the function has the advantage of providing a wide visual area of interest, but it has an effect on the image quality. Therefore, when using the virtual convex function, it is judged that the examiner should use it in an appropriate situation and conduct various studies to acquire high-quality images and to improve the understanding and proficiency of the equipment.