• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• 제82권3호
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• pp.749-755
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• 2021

Congenital defects of the pericardium, which are generally asymptomatic, are rare disorders characterized by complete or partial absence of the pericardium. Here, we report a rare case of a 19-year-old male who was incidentally diagnosed with congenital absence of the left pericardium during examination for symptoms of pneumothorax. Chest radiography and CT revealed a collapsed left lung without any evidence of trauma, no unusual findings of free air spaces along the right side of the ascending aorta, heart shifted toward the left side of the thorax, and a shallow chest. Subsequent thoracoscopy confirmed the absence of the left pericardium and displacement of the heart toward the left thoracic cavity. We further discuss the correlation between radiologic images and surgical findings of a congenital pericardial defect associated with spontaneous pneumothorax.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• 제83권4호
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• pp.808-829
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• 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be diagnosed noninvasively on multiphasic CT and MRI based on its distinctive imaging findings. These features include arterial phase hyperenhancement and washout on portal or delayed phase images. However, radiologists face significant diagnostic challenges because some HCCs exhibit atypical imaging characteristics. In addition to many HCC-mimicking lesions, such as arterioportal shunts, combined HCC-cholangiocarcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and hemangioma present a challenge for radiologists in actual clinical practice. The ability to distinguish HCCs from mimickers on initial imaging examinations is crucial for appropriate management and treatment decisions. Therefore, this pictorial review presents the imaging findings of atypical HCCs and HCCs mimicking malignant and benign lesions and discusses important clues that may help narrow down the differential diagnosis.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.139-142
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to develop a system of clinical application of reconstructed dose that includes dose reconstruction, reconstructed dose registration between fractions of treatment, and dose-volume-histogram generation and to demonstrate the system on a deformable prostate phantom. To achieve this purpose, a deformable prostate phantom was embedded into a 20 cm-deep and 40 cm-wide water phantom. The phantom was CT scanned and the anatomical models of prostate, seminal vesicles, and rectum were contoured. A coplanar 4-field intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plan was used for this study. Organ deformation was simulated by inserting a "transrectal" balloon containing 20 ml of water. A new CT scan was obtained and the deformed structures were contoured. Dose responses in phantoms and electronic portal imaging device (EPID) were calculated by using the XVMC Monte Carlo code. The IMRT plan was delivered to the two phantoms and integrated EPID images were respectively acquired. Dose reconstruction was performed on these images using the calculated responses. The deformed phantom was registered to the original phantom using an in-house developed software based on the Demons algorithm. The transfer matrix for each voxel was obtained and used to correlate the two sets of the reconstructed dose to generate a cumulative reconstructed dose on the original phantom. Forwardly calculated planning dose in the original phantom was compared to the cumulative reconstructed dose from EPID in the original phantom. The prescribed 200 cGy isodose lines showed little difference with respect to the "prostate" and "seminal vesicles", but appreciable difference (3%) was observed at the dose level greater than 210 cGy. In the rectum, the reconstructed dose showed lower volume coverage by a few percent than the plan dose in the dose range of 150 to 200 cGy. Through this study, the system of clinical application of reconstructed dose was successfully developed and demonstrated. The organ deformation simulated in this study resulted in small but observable dose changes in the target and critical structure.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.131-136
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• 2013

Purpose: Quantitative comparative evaluation of the difference in eye lens absorbed dose when measured by MVCT and kV-CBCT, though such a dose was not included in the original IMRT treatment plan for the nasopharyngeal cancer patient. Materials and Methods: We used CT (Lightspeed Ultra 16, General Electric, USA) against an Anderson rando phantom (Alderson Research Laboratories Inc, USA) and established the plan for tomotherapy treatment (Tomotherapy, Inc, USA) and linear accelerator treatment (Pinnacle 8.0, Philips Medicle System) for the achieved CT images on the same condition with the nasopharyngeal cancer patient treatment plan. Then, align the ther-moluminescence dosimeter (TLD100 Harshaw, USA) with the eye lens, shot the lens with Tomotherapy MVCT under 3 conditions (Fine, Normal, and Coarse), and shot both lenses with kV-CBCT under 2 conditions (Low Dose Head and Standard Dose Head) 3 times each. Results: When we analyzed the eye lens absorbed dose according to MVCT and kV-CBCT images by using both Tomotherapy and Pinacle 8.0, we achieved the following result; According to Tomotherapy MVCT, RT 0.8257 cGy in the Coarse mode, LT 0.8137 cGy, RT 1.089 cGy and LT 1.188 cGy in the Normal mode, and RT 2.154 cGy and LT 2.082 cGy in the Fine mode. According to Pinacle 8.0 kV-CBCT, RT 0.2875 cGy and LT 0.1676 cGy in the Standard Dose mode and RT 0.1648 cGy and LT 0.1212 cGy in the Low-Dose mode. In short, the MVCT result was significantly different from that of kV-CBCT, up to 20 times. Conclusion: We think kV-CBCT is more effective for reducing the amount of radiation which a patient is receiving during intensity modulated radiation treatment for other purposes than treatment than MVCT, when we consider the absorbed dose only from the viewpoint of image-guided radiation therapy. Besides, we understood the amount of radiation is too sensitive to the shooting condition, even when we use the same equipment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.145-149
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• 2010

Purpose: Recently, $^{18}F$-FDG Fusion PET which has a high sensitivity for diagnosing cancer is being used for purpose of health examination. This study is to demonstrate that $^{18}F$-FDG fusion PET study is useful for diagnosing an early stage cancer. Materials and Methods: This research has been conducted with 2790 patients visited Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System (SNUHHS) for $^{18}F$-FDG fusion PET study for a health examination from February, 2004 to December 2008. PET/CT images were acquired from skull base to femur after 1 hour from injecting $^{18}F$-FDG 0.14 mCi/kg to the patients. GEMINI GS (Philips, Netherlands) was used for scanning. Results: From February 2004 to December 2008, $^{18}F$-FDG Fusion PET study was performed for 99,009 patients among all patients who visited SNUHHS and 2,790 patients was performed. Diagnostic rate for malignant cancer was 0.95% for the patients who were not examined by $^{18}F$-FDG Fusion PET study. 1.94% was for the patients who were. The rate of malignant tumor was showed 10% and benign tumor was 90% among 542 patients who showed abnormality in the PET/CT images. Types and rates of malignant tumor showed thyroid cancer: 31.5%, lung cancer: 14.8%, stomach cancer: 9.3%, rectum cancer: 3.7%, breast cancer: 3.7%, metastasis cancer: 16.7%. Nonspecific lymph node in the mediastinum, physiologic uptake in the colon, diffuse mild hypermetabolism in bilateral thyroid gland were shown as a benign tumor. Conclusion: The diagnostic rate of malignant tumor with $^{18}F$-FDG Fusion PET for a purpose of health examination was relatively higher than general medical examination. Consequently, it is superior and useful for applying $^{18}F$-FDG Fusion PET study for health examination.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.25-29
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• 2008

Purpose: To monitor the changes of location of prostate gland using DIPS and to examine the adjustment and proton beam therapy depending on the movement of prostate gland in proton beam therapy for prostate gland in which a fiducial gold marker was inserted. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in ten patients with prostate cancer who received proton beam therapy since April of 2008. To monitor the change of prostate location, three fiducial gold markers were inserted prior to the treatment. To minimize the movement of prostate gland, patients were recommended to urinate prior to the treatment, to intake a certain amount of water and to concomitantly undergo rectal balloon. In these patients, the set-up position was identical to that for a CT-simulation. The PA (posterior-anterior) and lateral images were obtained using both DIPS (digital image positioning system) and a plain radiography, and they were compared between the two imaging modalities. Thus, the changes of the location of fiducial gold marker were assessed based on three coordinates (x, y, z) and then adjusted. This was followed by proton beam therapy. Results: Images which were taken using a plain radiography were compared with those which were taken using DIPS. In ten patients, according to a reference bony marker, the mean changes of the location of fiducial gold marker based on an iso-center were X-axis: $\pm$0.116 cm, Y-axis: $\pm$0.19 cm and Z-axis: $\pm$0.176 cm. These ten patients showed a difference in the changes of location of prostate gland and it ranged between RT: 0.04 cm and RT: 0.24 cm on the X-axis; between Inf: 0.03 cm and Sup: 0.42 cm on the Y-axis; and Post: 0.05 cm and Ant: 0.35 cm on the Z-axis. Conclusion: To minimize the movement of prostate gland, as the pre-treatment prior to the treatment. In all the patients, however, three fiducial gold markers showed a daily variation which were inserted in the prostate gland. Based on the above data, Thus, the requirement of gold marker matching system depending on the daily variation in the proton beam therapy for which more accurate establishment of target was confirmed. It is assumed that an accurate effect of proton beam therapy would be enhanced by adjusting the target-center depending on the location change of prostate gland using DIPS which was used in the current study.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.507-517
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• 2008

There are considerable in vitro and in vivo evidences for remineralization and demineralization occurring simultaneously in incipient enamel caries. In order to "heal" the incipient dental caries, many experiments have been carried out to determine the optimal conditions for remineralization. It was shown that remineralization is affected by different pH, lactic acid concentrations, chemical composition of the enamel, fluoride concentrations, etc. Eighty specimens from sound permanent teeth without demineralization or cracks, 0.15 mm in thickness, were immersed in lactic acid buffered demineralization solutions for 3 days. Dental caries with a surface zone and subsurface lesion were artificially produced. Groups of 10 specimens were immersed for 10 or 12 days in lactic acid buffered remineralization solutions consisting of pH 4.3 or pH 6.0, and 100, 50, 25, or 10 mM lactic acid. After demineralization and remineralization, images were taken by polarizing microscopy (${\times}100$) and micro-computed tomography. The results were obtained by observing images of the specimens and the density of the caries lesions was determined. 1.As the lactic acid concentration of the remineralization solutions with pH 4.3 was higher, the surface zone of the carious enamel increased and an isotropic zone of the subsurface lesion was found. However, the total decalcification depth increased at the same time. 2.In the remineralization solutions with pH 6.0, only the surface zone increased slightly but there was no significant change in the total decalcification depth and subsurface zone. In the lactic acid buffer solutions with the lower pH and higher lactic acid concentration, there were dynamic changes at the deep area of the dental carious lesion.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.25-31
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• 2019

Purpose: Metals induce metal artifact during CT-image for therapy planning, and it occurs images distortion, which affects the volumetric measurement and radiation calculation. In the case of using megavoltage computed tomography(MVCT), the volume of metals can be measured as similar to true volume due to minimal metal artifact outcome. In this study, radiation assessment was conducted by comparing teeth volume from images of kVCT and MVCT of head and neck cancer patients, then assigning to kVCT image to calculate radiation after obtaining the similar volume of true teeth volume from MVCT. Also, formal IR image was able to verify the accuracy of radiation calculation. Material and method: 5 head and neck cancer patients who had intensity-modulated radiation therapy from Radixact^® Series were of the subject in this study. Calculations of radiation when constraining true teeth volume out of kVCT image(A-CT) and when designated specific HU after teeth assigned using MVCT image were compared with formal IR image. Treatment planning was devised at the same constraints and mean dose was measured at the radiation assess points. The points were anterior of the teeth, between PTV and the teeth, the interior of PTV near the teeth, and the teeth where 5cm distance from PTV. Result: A difference of metals volume from kVCT and MVCT image was mean 3.49±2.61cc, maximum 7.43cc. PTV was limited to where the internal teeth were fully contained. The results of PTV dose evaluation showed that the average CI value of the kVCT treatment planning without the artifact correction was 0.86, and the average CI value of the kVCT with the artifact correction using MVCT image was 0.9. Conclusion: When the Treatment Planning was made without correction of metal artifacts, the dose of PTV was underestimated, indicating that dose uncertainty occurred. When the computerized treatment plan was made without correction of metal artifacts, the dose of PTV was underestimated, indicating that dose uncertainty occurred.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.191-199
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• 2008

PTV considered for the energy, dose distribution exposed to lung and spinal cord, and the characteristic of DVH(Dose Volume Histogram) were compared and investigated by planning the intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using the photon energies of 6 MV and 10 MV according to tumor location like as the anterior, middle, and posterior regions of lung, and the mediastinum region in lung cancer patients. Our institution installed the linear accelerator (Varian 21 EX-s, USA) equipped with 120 multileaf collimator for lung cancer patients, which is producing the photon energies of 6 MV and 10 MV, and radiation therapy planning was performed with ECLIPSE system (Varian, SomaVision 6.5, USA), which support inverse treatment planning. The tomographic images of 3 mm slice thickness for lung cancer patients were acquired using planning CT, and acquired tomographic images were sent to the Varis system, and then treatment planning was performed in the ECLIPSE system. The radiation treatment planning of the IMRT was processed from various angles according to the regions of the tumor, and using various beam lines according to the size and location of the tumor. The investigation of the characteristic of dose distributions for the energy of 6 MV and 10 MV according to tumor locations in lung cancer patients resulted that the maximum dose of 10 MV energy was 1.2% less than that of 6 MV energy without depending on the tumor location of lung cancer, and the reduction effects of MU were occurred from 10 to 25 MU. Radiation dose exposed to the lung satisfied the less 30% of V20, however radiation dose in 6 MV energy was from 0.1% to 0.5% less than that in 10 MV energy. Radiation dose exposed to the spinal cord for 6 MV energy was from 0.6% to 2.1% less than that for 6 MV energy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.74-79
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• 2017

Purpose Proton therapy can deliver an optimal dose to tumor while reducing unnecessary dose to normal tissue as compared the conventional photon therapy. As proton beams are irradiated into tissue, various positron emitters are produced via nuclear fragmentation reactions. These positron emitters could be used for the dose verification by using PET. However, the short half-life of the radioisotopes makes it hard to obtain the enough amounts of events. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of off-line PET imaging scan time on the PET image quality. Materials and Methods The various diameters of spheres (D=37, 28, 22 mm) filled with distilled water were inserted in a 2001 IEC body phantom. Then proton beams (100 MU) were irradiated into the center of the each sphere using the wobbling technique with the gantry angle of $0^{\circ}$. The modulation widths of the spread out bragg peak were 16.4, 14.7 and 9.3 cm for the spheres of 37, 28 and 22 mm in diameters respectively. After 5 min of the proton irradiation, the PET images of the IEC body phantom were obtained for 50 min. The PET images with different time courses (0-10 min, 11-20 min, 21-30 min, 31-40 min and 41-50 min) were obtained by dividing the frame with a duration of 10 min. In order to evaluate the off-line PET image quality with the different time courses, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the PET image calculated for each sphere. Results The CNRs of the sphere (D=37 mm) were 0.43, 0.42, 0.40, 0.31 and 0.21 for the time courses of 0-10 min, 11-20 min, 21-30 min, 31-40 min and 41-50 min respectively. The CNRs of the sphere (D=28 mm) were 0.36, 0.32, 0.27, 0.19 and 0.09 for the time courses of 0-10 min, 11-20 min, 21-30 min, 31-40 min and 41-50 min respectively. The CNR of 37 mm sphere was decreased rapidly after 30 min of the proton irradiation. In case of the spheres of 28 mm and 22 mm, the CNR was decreased drastically after 20 min of the irradiation. Conclusion The off-line PET imaging time is an important factor for the monitoring of the proton therapy. In case of the lesion diameter of 22 mm, the off-line PET image should be obtained within 25 min after the proton irradiation. When it comes to small size of tumor, the long PET imaging time will be beneficial for the proton therapy treatment monitoring.