• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.284-292
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• 2019

To evaluate the usefulness of pediatric chest CT scans by comparing the dose, examination time, and image quality by applying Helical mode, High-pitch mode, and Volume Axial mode to minimize the radiation exposure and obtain high diagnostic value. Revolution (GE Healthcare, Wisconsin USA) was used to divide PBU-70 phantom into Helical mode, High-pitch mode, and Volume Axial mode. After acquiring images, ROI is set for each image, heart, bone, lung, and back-ground air, and the average value is obtained by measuring CT number (HU) and noise (SD). SNR and CNR were measured and compared with DLP values provided directly by the equipment. Determining statistical significance Statistical analysis was performed using ONE-WAY-ANAOVA using SPSS 21.0. In this experiment, it was possible to inspect at a short time without deterioration of image quality with the lowest dose when using volume axial mode. Although the detector coverage of 16 cm is limited to all pediatric chest CT scans, it is recommended to be actively used in pediatric patients, and further study is needed to apply other test sites in volume axial mode.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2012

Purpose: The objectives of this study are to classify chronic subdural hematomas based on brain computerized tomographic scan (CT scan) findings and to determine the mechanism of evolution and treatment methods. Methods: One hundred thirty-nine patients who were diagnosed with a chronic subdural hematoma and who available for follow up assessment 6 months post-surgery were analyzed retrospectively. The presence of trauma and past medical history were reviewed and evaluation criteria based on brain CT scan findings were examined. Results: Initial brain CT scans revealed a chronic subdural hematoma in 106 patients, a subdural hygroma in 24 patients, and an acute subdural hematoma in 9 patients. In all cases where the initial acute subdural hematoma had progressed to a chronic subdural hematoma, final was a hypo-density chronic subdural hematoma. In case where the initial subdural hygroma had progressed to a chronic subdural hematoma, the most cases of hematoma were hyper-density and mixed-density chronic subdural hematoma. In total, 173 surgeries were performed, and they consisted of 97 one burr-hole drainages, 70 two burr-hole drainages and 6 craniotomies. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that rebleeding and osmotic effects are mechanisms for enlarging of a chronic subdural hematoma. In most cases, one burr-hole drainage is a sufficient for treatment. However, in cases of mixed or acute-on-chronic subdural hematomas, other appropriate treatment strategies are required.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.469-476
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• 2012

Raw ginseng root of Panax ginseng is graded according to its shape and the quality of its internal tissue. A variety of grades are sold with prices according to grade. If an inferior raw ginseng is purchased, the consumer experience an economic loss. This research was conducted in order to explore the possibility of developing a noninvasive method for investigating raw ginseng's internal tissue. It has been determined that computed tomography (CT) scanner images agreed with actual cross-sections of raw ginseng. CT images were obtained to assess the internal portions of raw ginseng, and CT scans of raw ginseng were thoroughly measured using the Hounsfield unit (HU) system, since it allows for a more detailed analysis compared to nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. HU is a measure of attenuation used for CT images, with each pixel being assigned a value using a scale on which air is defined as -1000, water as 0 and compact bone as +1000. It takes about one second to process are slice and produce an image of the raw ginseng by a one channel CT scanner. An image good enough to discriminate the internal tissues can be obtained in 1/24 seconds with a one-channel CT scanner. Using this method, images of raw ginseng can be obtained and the characteristics of the internal tissues can be observed in a short time.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.603-615
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• 2016

In this study, in order to determine the validity and accuracy of MR imaging of 3D gradient dual echo 2-point DIXON technique for measuring abdominal adipose tissue volume and distribution, the measurements obtained by CT were set as a reference for comparison and their correlations were evaluated. CT and MRI scans were performed on each subject (17 healthy male volunteers who were fully informed about this study) to measure abdominal adipose tissue volume. Two skilled investigators individually observed the images acquired by CT and MRI in an independent environment, and directly separated the total volume using region-based thresholding segmentation method, and based on this, the total adipose tissue volume, subcutaneous adipose tissue volume and visceral adipose tissue volume were respectively measured. The correlation of the adipose tissue volume measurements with respect to the observer was examined using the Spearman test and the inter-observer agreement was evaluated using the intra-class correlation test. The correlation of the adipose tissue volume measurements by CT and MRI imaging methods was examined by simple regression analysis. In addition, using the Bland-Altman plot, the degree of agreement between the two imaging methods was evaluated. All of the statistical analysis results showed highly statistically significant correlation (p<0.05) respectively from the results of each adipose tissue volume measurements. In conclusion, MR abdominal adipose volumetry using the technique of 3D gradient dual echo 2-point DIXON showed a very high level of concordance even when compared with the adipose tissue measuring method using CT as reference.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2020

Purpose: The diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis requires a comprehensive knowledge of the signs and symptoms of the disease and an accurate radiographic assessment. Computed tomography (CT) is the superior imaging modality for diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis. However, considering the lower dose and higher resolution of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) compared to CT, this study aimed to assess the agreement between the findings of CBCT and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Materials and Methods: This descriptive prospective study evaluated 49 patients with treatment-resistant chronic rhinosinusitis who were candidates for FESS. Preoperative CBCT scans were obtained before patients underwent FESS. The agreement between the CBCT findings and those of FESS was determined using the kappa correlation coefficient. The frequency of anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses was also evaluated on CBCT scans. Results: Significant agreement existed between pathological findings on CBCT scans and those of FESS, such that the kappa correlation coefficient was 1 for mucosal thickening, 0.644 for nasal deviation, 0.750 for concha bullosa, 0.918 for nasal polyp, 0.935 for ostiomeatal complex (OMC) obstruction, and 0.552 for infundibulum thickening. Furthermore, 95.9% of patients had 1 or more and 79.6% had 2 or more anatomical variations, of which nasal deviation was the most common (67.3%). Conclusion: Considering the significant agreement between the findings of CBCT and FESS for the detection of pathological changes in the paranasal sinuses, CBCT can be used prior to FESS to detect chronic rhinosinusitis and to assess anatomical variations of the OMC.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2011

Purpose: Major trauma patients should be transferred to a definitive care facility as early as possible because prompt management will prevent death. This study was designed to discover the obstacles leading to delayed transfers under the current emergency medical system in Korea and whether there are any negative outcomes associated with conducting procedures at primary care hospitals prior to transferring patients to higher levels of care. Methods: The medical records of major trauma patients with an Injury Severity Score above 15 within the past year were reviewed. Patients were divided three groups as follows: (A) came directly to our emergency center, (B) were transferred without CT or MRI scan at the primary care hospital and (C) transferred with CT or MRI scans. The transfer time of each group were compared and analyzed statistically. Additionally, the number and type of imaging performed at the primary care hospital were analyzed. Results: All qualified patients (n=276) were enrolled in this study: 121 patients in group A; 104 in group B; 51 in group C. There was a statistically significant difference in the transfer time between the three groups (p-value<0.001), and 79 (28.6%) were transferred to an emergency medical center within one hour. In group C, CT or MRI scans were performed an average of 1.86 times at the primary care hospital, and the median transfer time was 4 hours 5 minutes. Conclusion: Only 28.6% of the cases in the study arrived within the golden hour at a definitive care facility. Such delays are in part the result of prolonged times at the primary care hospital for radiologic examinations, such as CT or MRI scans. Major multiple trauma patients should be transferred to a definitive care facility directly or as soon as the primary survey and the resuscitation of Advanced Trauma Life Support guideline are completed at the primary care hospital.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1493-1504
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• 2021

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the 16-cm axial volume scan technique for calculating the coronary artery calcium score (CACS) using non-enhanced chest CT. Materials and Methods This study prospectively enrolled 20 participants who underwent both, non-enhanced chest CT (16-cm-coverage axial volume scan technique) and calcium-score CT, with the same parameters, differing only in slice thickness (in non-enhanced chest CT = 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 mm; in calcium score CT = 2.5 mm). The CACS was calculated using the conventional Agatston method. The difference between the CACS obtained from the two CT scans was compared, and the degree of agreement for the clinical significance of the CACS was confirmed through sectional analysis. Each calcified lesion was classified by location and size, and a one-to-one comparison of non-contrast-enhanced chest CT and calcium score CT was performed. Results The correlation coefficients of the CACS obtained from the two CT scans for slice thickness of 2.5, 1.25, and 0.625 mm were 0.9850, 0.9688, and 0.9834, respectively. The mean differences between the CACS were -21.4% at 0.625 mm, -39.4% at 1.25 mm, and -76.2% at 2.5 mm slice thicknesses. Sectional analysis revealed that 16 (80%), 16 (80%), and 13 (65%) patients showed agreement for the degree of coronary artery disease at each slice interval, respectively. Inter-reader agreement was high for each slice interval. The 0.625 mm CT showed the highest sensitivity for detecting calcified lesions. Conclusion The values in the non-contrast-enhanced chest CT, using the 16-cm axial volume scan technique, were similar to those obtained using the CACS in the calcium score CT, at 0.625 mm slice thickness without electrocardiogram gating. This can ultimately help predict cardiovascular risk without additional radiation exposure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.886-890
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• 2000

Objective : placement of ventricular catheter is important to achieve long-term patency of the shunt system. We describe a method of calculating the insertion site, trajectory, and the length of the ventricular catheter using CT parameters in shunt surgery. Patients and Methods : These can be rapidly obtained using a caliper from a scout cut and two axial scans at lateral ventricular and upper 3rd ventricular level. To compare this technique with traditional one, we analyzed 40 consecutive patients who underwent shunt surgery. Results : Of 20 patients undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion using this technique, none had poor location of the proximal catheter. In the counterpart, 9 patients had poor location(p＝0.001). The number of patients who required revision surgery were also lower in the group using this technique, but it was not statistically significant (4 versus 2, p＝0.422). Mean follow-up period was shorter in this technique group. Conclusion : This technique provides an accurate placement of the proximal catheter without special instrument or additional expenses.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.68-80
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• 2012

Purpose : More recently, combined PET/MR scanners have been developed in which the MR data can be used for both anatometabolic image formation and attenuation correction of the PET data. For quantitative PET information, correction of tissue photon attenuation is mandatory. The attenuation map is obtained from the CT scan in the PET/CT. In the case of PET/MR, the attenuation map can be calculated from the MR image. The purpose of this study was to assess the quantitative differences between MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images. Materials and Methods : Using the uniform cylinder phantom of distilled water which has 199.8 MBq of $^{18}F$-FDG put into the phantom, we studied the effect of MR-based and CT-based attenuation corrected PET images, of the PET-CT using time of flight (TOF) and non-TOF iterative reconstruction. The images were acquired from 60 minutes at 15-minute intervals. Region of interests were drawn over 70% from the center of the image, and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. These data were analyzed by one way-anova test and Bland-Altman analysis. MR images are segmented into three classes(not including bone), and each class is assigned to each region based on the expected average attenuation of each region. For clinical diagnostic purpose, PET/MR and PET/CT images were acquired in 23 patients (Ingenuity TF PET/MR, Gemini TF64). PET/CT scans were performed approximately 33.8 minutes after the beginnig of the PET/MR scans. Region of interests were drawn over 9 regions of interest(lung, liver, spleen, bone), and the Scanners' analysis software tools calculated both maximum and mean SUV. The SUVs from 9 regions of interest in MR-based PET images and in CT-based PET images were compared. These data were analyzed by paired t test and Bland-Altman analysis. Results : In phantom study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower -0.36~-0.15 SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (p<0.05). In clinical study, MR-based attenuation corrected PET images generally showed slightly lower SUVs than CT-based attenuation corrected PET images (excepting left middle lung and transverse Lumbar) (p<0.05). And percent differences were -8.01.79% lower for the PET/MR images than for the PET/CT images. (excepting lung) Based on the Bland-Altman method, the agreement between the two methods was considered good. Conclusion : PET/MR confirms generally lower SUVs than PET/CT. But, there were no difference in the clinical interpretations made by the quantitative comparisons with both type of attenuation map.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2019

This study examines the changes that $^{99m}Tc$ causes to CT(Computed Tomography) images quantitatively when CT scans were continuously performed using $^{99m}Tc$. With the use of the CT, $^{99m}Tc$ 740MBq was injected into the Resolution Phantom and Water Phantom, and the tube voltage was changed with 80 kVp and 120 kVp, scanning before and after the injection. The result indicate, by comparing the Signal Intensity according to the presence or absence of the $^{99m}Tc$ injection with the tube voltage of 120 kVp and 80 kVp, a decrease of 0.173 and 0.241 was observed respectively and the spatial resolution increase of 0.090 and 0.109 was observed respectively. The order of the test should be considered because the gamma rays of the radiopharmaceutical used in the nuclear medicine test do not affect the CT while the effective half-life of the radiopharmaceuticals should be considered for the CT scan to reduce the influence of the gamma rays emitted after the nuclear medicine test, with the possibility to reduce the difference of the results.