• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.65.1-65.9
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• 2023

Background: Bone subtraction computed tomography angiography (BSCTA) is a useful alternative technique for improving visualization of vessels surrounded by skull bone. However, no studies have compared computed tomography angiography (CTA) and BSCTA for improving the visibility of canine cerebral blood vessels. Objectives: To evaluate the potential benefit of BSCTA for better delineation of brain arteries of the circle of Willis (CoW) in dogs by comparing BSCTA with non-subtraction computed tomography angiography (NSCTA). Methods: Brain CTA was performed for nine healthy beagle dogs using a bolus tracking method with saline flushing. A total dose of 600 mgI/kg of contrast agent with an iodine content of 370 mgI/mL was injected at a rate of 4 ml/s. Bone removal was achieved automatically by subtracting non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) data from contrast CT data. Five main intracranial arteries of the CoW were analyzed and graded on a scale of five for qualitative evaluation. Results: Scores of basilar artery, middle cerebral artery, and rostral cerebral artery in the BSCTA group were significantly higher than those in the NSCTA group (p = 0.001, p = 0.020, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Scores of rostral cerebellar artery (RcA) and caudal cerebral artery (CCA) did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, scores of RcA and CCA in the BSCTA group were higher than those in the NSCTA group. Conclusions: BSCTA improved visualization of intracranial arteries of the CoW with close contact to bone. Thus, it should be recommended as a routine scan method in dogs suspected of having brain vessel disease.

• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.967-976
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose an automatic lower extremity vessel extraction based on rigid registration and bone elimination techniques in CT and CT angiography images. First, automatic partitioning of the lower extremity based on the anatomy is proposed to consider the local movement of the bone. Second, rigid registration based on distance map is performed to estimate the movement of the bone between CT and CT angiography images. Third, bone elimination and vessel masking techniques are proposed to remove bones in CT angiography image and to prevent the vessel near to bone from eroding. Fourth, post-processing based on vessel tracking is proposed to reduce the effect of misalignment and noises like a cartilage. For the evaluation of our method, we performed the visual inspection, accuracy measures and processing time. For visual inspection, the results of applying general subtraction, registered subtraction and proposed method are compared using volume rendering and maximum intensity projection. For accuracy evaluation, intensity distributions of CT angiography image, subtraction based method and proposed method are analyzed. Experimental result shows that bones are accurately eliminated and vessels are robustly extracted without the loss of other structure. The total processing time of thirteen patient datasets was 40 seconds on average.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 2024

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), which generally presents as orthostatic headache, is increasingly being identified due to improved imaging technologies and heightened awareness. Many prior studies have reported the characteristic brain MRI findings of SIH. However, recently, focus has shifted to spinal MRI, as SIH is believed to be caused by leakage of cerebrospinal fluid from the spinal dural sac. Advanced techniques such as ultrafast CT myelography and digital subtraction myelography have emerged as useful technique to identify the site of cerebrospinal fluid leakage. In this review, we discuss the diagnosis, spinal MRI findings, imaging techniques, and treatment of SIH.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.961-968
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of cerebral angiography in each energy level by using dual energy technique in CT. Methods were performed on 15 DE images and SE images of CT angiography. For the analysis of images, mean value, standard deviation, SNR and CNR value were determined by setting ROI on MCA, brain parenchyma tissue, and back ground. As a result of concurrent visual evaluation with Likert 5 point scale, the clearest MCA image was confirmed at DE 40 keV and SE 120 kVp(p>0.05). The SNR value of the SE image was measured to be similar to the 40 keV energy level of the DE image. The low energy level image of 40 keV and 50 keV was measured with a high SNR and the contrast ratio was higher than that of the high energy image.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.139-149
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• 2022

Objective: To compare the effects of bone suppression imaging using deep learning (BSp-DL) based on a generative adversarial network (GAN) and bone subtraction imaging using a dual energy technique (BSt-DE) on radiologists' performance for pulmonary nodule detection on chest radiographs (CXRs). Materials and Methods: A total of 111 adults, including 49 patients with 83 pulmonary nodules, who underwent both CXR using the dual energy technique and chest CT, were enrolled. Using CT as a reference, two independent radiologists evaluated CXR images for the presence or absence of pulmonary nodules in three reading sessions (standard CXR, BSt-DE CXR, and BSp-DL CXR). Person-wise and nodule-wise performances were assessed using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) and alternative free-response ROC (AFROC) curve analyses, respectively. Subgroup analyses based on nodule size, location, and the presence of overlapping bones were performed. Results: BSt-DE with an area under the AFROC curve (AUAFROC) of 0.996 and 0.976 for readers 1 and 2, respectively, and BSp-DL with AUAFROC of 0.981 and 0.958, respectively, showed better nodule-wise performance than standard CXR (AUAFROC of 0.907 and 0.808, respectively; p ≤ 0.005). In the person-wise analysis, BSp-DL with an area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of 0.984 and 0.931 for readers 1 and 2, respectively, showed better performance than standard CXR (AUROC of 0.915 and 0.798, respectively; p ≤ 0.011) and comparable performance to BSt-DE (AUROC of 0.988 and 0.974; p ≥ 0.064). BSt-DE and BSp-DL were superior to standard CXR for detecting nodules overlapping with bones (p < 0.017) or in the upper/middle lung zone (p < 0.017). BSt-DE was superior (p < 0.017) to BSp-DL in detecting peripheral and sub-centimeter nodules. Conclusion: BSp-DL (GAN-based bone suppression) showed comparable performance to BSt-DE and can improve radiologists' performance in detecting pulmonary nodules on CXRs. Nevertheless, for better delineation of small and peripheral nodules, further technical improvements are required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.270-296
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• 2024

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is recognized for its role as a gatekeeper for invasive coronary angiography in patients suspected of coronary artery disease because it can detect significant coronary stenosis with high accuracy. However, heavy plaque in the coronary artery makes it difficult to visualize the lumen, which can lead to errors in the interpretation of the CCTA results. This is primarily due to the limited spatial resolution of CT scanners, resulting in blooming artifacts caused by calcium. However, coronary stenosis with high calcium scores often requires evaluation using CCTA. Technological methods to overcome these limitations include the introduction of high-resolution CT scanners, the development of reconstruction techniques, and the subtraction technique. Methods to improve reading ability, such as the setting of appropriate window width and height, and evaluation of the position of calcified plaque and residual visibility of the lumen in cross-sectional images, are also recommended.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.541-546
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• 2012

Objective : The prefabrication of customized cranioplastic implants has been introduced to overcome the difficulties of intra-operative implant molding. The authors present a new technique, which consists of the prefabrication of implant molds using three-dimensional (3D) printers and polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) casting. Methods : A total of 16 patients with large skull defects (>100 $cm^2$) underwent cranioplasty between November 2009 and April 2011. For unilateral cranial defects, 3D images of the skull were obtained from preoperative axial 1-mm spiral computed tomography (CT) scans. The image of the implant was generated by a digital subtraction mirror-imaging process using the normal side of the cranium as a model. For bilateral cranial defects, precraniectomy routine spiral CT scan data were merged with postcraniectomy 3D CT images following a smoothing process. Prefabrication of the mold was performed by the 3D printer. Intraoperatively, the PMMA implant was created with the prefabricated mold, and fit into the cranial defect. Results : The median operation time was $184.36{\pm}26.07$ minutes. Postoperative CT scans showed excellent restoration of the symmetrical contours and curvature of the cranium in all cases. The median follow-up period was 23 months (range, 14-28 months). Postoperative infection was developed in one case (6.2%) who had an open wound defect previously. Conclusion : Customized cranioplasty PMMA implants using 3D printer may be a useful technique for the reconstruction of various cranial defects.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.83-92
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• 1988

The cocktails of two $^{131}I$ labeled Monoclonal antibody (MCAB) (Anti CA 19-9 F$(ab')_2$ + Anti CEA $F(ab')_2$ fragment), which react specially, with human gastrointestinal cancers, were administered to 10 patients with colorectal (7), stomach(2) and pancreas(1) cancer for scintigraphic detection. All patients were known or postoperatively recurrent cases, and serum tumor markers, CA 19-9 and CEA, were measured with immunoradiometric assay, just before immunoscintigraphy (ISG). The tumor marker's level in serum is not correlated with positive tumor uptake in ISG. The sensitivity and specificity of ISG in detection of 21 tumor sites, based on surgery, CT, ultrasonography and pathology, were 90.5% and 100% One case of colon cancer showed gall bladder metastasis, which was neglected on CT study. Tumor/non tumor uptake ratio of radiolabelled antibody were progressively increased from day 3 to day 7 during study. We summerized as follows 1) The use of cocktails of CEA and CA 19-9 MCAB $F(at')_2$ increased sensitivity and specificity in ISG. 2) Delayed imaging (later than 5 days) increases sensitivitv and specificity due to exclusion of nonspecific iodine accumulation in stomach and lung. 3) Second tracer technique is essential for anatomical landmark by use of a double isotope scan, but subtraction technique, a possible source of artifacts, is no longer necessory when delayed imaging is performed. 4) It may be possible to use two MCAB cocktails of CA 19-9 and CEA in Radioimmunodetection of stomach and pancreas cancer. In conclusion, ISG using MCAB cocktails, $F(ab')_2$ fragment of anti CA 19-9 and Anti CEA, provide additional opportunity for tumor localization and detection of colorectal and other G-I cancer, such as stomach and pancreas.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 1990

Most of the diagnostic methods currently used for the detection of neoplastic masses provide indirect evidence. To obtain greater specificity in the interpretation of neoplasias by in vivo methods, the immunological approach appears to be most promising. Two problems that interfered with progress in this field were the lack of tumor specific antigen and the lack of well-defined and reproducible antibodies. To improve the sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoscintigraphy as a technique for tumor localization, the use of monoclonal antibodies, fragments of antibodies and single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) are reasonable. The obvious advantages of monoclonal antibodies are their homogeneity, their specificity for the immunizing antigen and the reaction with a single determinant-thus no large immunecomplexes with antigen are formed. Monoclonal antibody technique has recently provided an opportunity to reevaluate the role of nuclear medicine for the diagnosis of malignant diseases by using the immunological approach. Out first results by means of radioimmunoscintigraphy of CEA and CA 19-9 producing tumors using a cocktail of fragments F $(ab')_2$, of mocolonal antibodies to CA 19-9 and CEA labeled with $^{131}I$ (IMACIS-1) are reported. The aims of this investigation was to evaluate the role of immunoscintigraphy in patients with colorectal and other cancers for diagnosis of local recurrences and metastasis. This report contains results of the first 8 colorectal and pancreas cancer patients with the elevation of the level of serum CEA and/or CA 19-9. IMACIS-1 was injected intravenously during 30 minutes in 100 ml saline solution after skin test. Planar scintigrams were recorded 3, 5 and 7 days after the injection of the IMACIS-1. Anterior, lateral and posterior views of the liver as well as anterior and posterior views of the pelvis were obtained in each patients as an $^{131}I-antibody$ image. We were able to localize exactly the malignant process with the double-nuclide double-compound $^{99m}Tc\;^{131}I$ (Tc+l) scintigrams. In Tc & I double-nuclide scintigraphy, computer subtraction display provided more clear localization of the tumor. We compared the results of radioimmunoscintigraphy with CT, ultrasonograms, conventional scintigrams. The results were as follows: 1) The sensitivity and specificity of radioimmunoscintigraphy using the fragments $F(ab')_2$ of the cocktails of CEA and CA 19-9 monoclonal antibodies were 80% and 100% respectively. 2) Tumor detection rate was not proportionated to the level of serum tumor markets. 3) Second tracer technique was essential for tumor localization as an anatomic landmark using double-nuclide scintigraphy. 4) A slow infusion of the antibodies was necessary to prevent the formation of large immune complexes. 5) Tumor/non-tumor radioactivity was most elevated at 7 days delayed imaging. 6) Using planar scintigraphic technique of $^{131}I$ labeled monoclonal antibodies are possible for imaging most of the tumors.