• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate clinical usefulness of facial soft tissue thickness measurement using 3D computed tomographic images. Materials and Methods : One cadaver that had sound facial soft tissues was chosen for the study. The cadaver was scanned with a Helical CT under following scanning protocols about slice thickness and table speed; 3 mm and 3 mm/sec, 5 mm and 5 mm/sec, 7 mm and 7 mm/sec. The acquired data were reconstructed 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 mm reconstruction interval respectively and the images were transferred to a personal computer. Using a program developed to measure facial soft tissue thickness in 3D image, the facial soft tissue thickness was measured. After the ten-time repeation of the measurement for ten times, repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) was adopted to compare and analyze the measurements using the three scanning protocols. Comparison according to the areas was analyzed by Mann-Whitney test. Results : There were no statistically significant intraobserver differences in the measurements of the facial soft tissue thickness using the three scanning protocols (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between measurements in the 3 mm slice thickness and those in the 5 mm, 7 mm slice thickness (p>0.05). There were statistical differences in the 14 of the total 30 measured points in the 5 mm slice thickness and 22 in the 7 mm slice thickness. Conclusion : The facial soft tissue thickness measurement using 3D images of 7 mm slice thickness is acceptable clinically, but those of 5 mm slice thickness is recommended for the more accurate measurement.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.18-23
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of degenerative mitral regurgitation (dMR) and preoperative planning for transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVr). TEE is an invasive modality requiring anesthesia and esophageal intubation. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic has limited the number of elective invasive procedures. Multi-detector computed tomographic angiography (MDCT) provides high-resolution images and 3D reconstructions to assess complex mitral anatomy. We hypothesized that MDCT would reveal similar information to TEE relevant to TMVr, thus deferring the need for a preoperative TEE in certain situations like during a pandemic. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data on patients who underwent or were evaluated for TMVr for dMR with preoperative MDCT and TEE between 2017 and 2019. Two TEE and 2 MDCT readers, blinded to patient outcome, analyzed: leaflet pathology (flail, degenerative, mixed), leaflet location, mitral valve area (MVA), flail width/gap, anterior-posterior (AP) and commissural diameters, posterior leaflet length, leaflet thickness, presence of mitral valve cleft and degree of mitral annular calcification (MAC). RESULTS: A total of 22 (out of 87) patients had preoperative MDCT. MDCT correctly identified the leaflet pathology in 77% (17/22), flail leaflet in 91% (10/11), MAC degree in 91% (10/11) and the dysfunctional leaflet location in 95% (21/22) of patients. There were no differences in the measurements for MVA, flail width, commissural or AP diameter, posterior leaflet length, and leaflet thickness. MDCT overestimated the measurements of flail gap. CONCLUSIONS: For preoperative TMVr planning, MDCT provided similar measurements to TEE in our study.

• Proceedings of the Korea Inteligent Information System Society Conference
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• 2001.01a
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• pp.378-382
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to develop an expert system supporting the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung disease by high resolution computed tomography. CLIPS(C language integrated production system) with rule-based reasoning was used to develop the system. Development of expert system had three stages knowledge acquisition, knowledge representation, and reasoning. Knowledge was obtained and integrated, from tables and figure legends of a representative textbook in the domain of this expert system, High-Resolution CT of the Lung, by Webb WR, Mueller NL, and Naidich DP. The acquired knowledge was analyzed to form a knowledge base. Overlapping knowledge was eliminated, similar pieces of knowledge were combined and professional terms were defined. The most important knowledge of findings was then selected for each disease. After groupings of combined findings were made, disease groups were analyzed sequentially to determine final diagnoses. The system was based upon the input of 69 diseases, 185 findings, 73 conditions, 387 status, and 62 rules. The system was set up to determine the diagnoses of diseases from the combination of findings using forward reasoning. In an empirical trial, the system was applied to support the diagnosis of 40 cases of diffuse interstitial lung diseases. The performance of two doctors with support of the system was compared to that of another two doctors without support of the system. The two doctors with the support of the system made more accurate diagnoses than the doctors without the support of the system. The system is believed to be useful for the diagnosis of rare diseases and for cases with many possible differential diagnoses. In conclusion, an expert system supporting the high resolution computed tomographic diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung disease was developed and the system is thought to be useful for medical practice.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.431-434
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• 2005

A 2-year-old castrated male, Cocker spaniel dog with a history of chronic productive cough for 2 to 3 months and with unsuccessful treatment was referred to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul National University. On thoracic radiographs, there were alveolar infiltrations at left cranial and right caudal lung fields, and soft-tissue opacity round to oval images at overall lung field. The bronchi were dilated, tortuous and not tapered. Abnormal air was accumulated focally in the caudodorsal lung fields. To scrutinize the soft-tissue opacity image and accumulated air, computed tomography (CT) was done. On CT images, severe cylindrical or tubular bronchiectasis was confirmed. And the soft-tissue opacity images were found in the dilated bilated and thought to complexes of mucous plugs, inflammatory cells, necrotic and fibrotic tissue. The dog was dead next day to the CT scan, so necropsy and histopathologic examination were perfermed. On the histopathology, there were cylindrical bronhiectasis and severe diffuse chronic fibrinous necropurulent bronchitis and bronchopneumonia. In this case, it was difficult to diagnose the bronchiectasis only with radiography due to the concurrent lesions, such as pulmonary infiltrations and mucous plugs, which was identified by computed tomography. Thus, computed tomography is considered as a useful modality to confirm tile bronchiectasis camouflaged by the concurrent lesion.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the location and the shape of the mandibular lingula in skeletal class I and III patients using panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography. Materials and Methods: The sample group included 190 skeletal class I patients and 157 class III patients. The location of the lingula in relation to the deepest point of the coronoid notch was classified into 3 types using panoramic radiographs. The shapes of the lingulae were classified into nodular, triangular, truncated, or assimilated types using cone-beam computed tomographic images. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test. Results: The tips of the lingulae were at the same level as the coronoid notch in 75.3% of skeletal class I patients and above the coronoid notch in 66.6% of class III patients. The positions of the lingulae in relation to the deepest point of the coronoid notch showed statistically significant differences between class I and class III patients. The most common shape was nodular, and the least common was the assimilated shape. Although this trend was not statistically significant, the triangular shape was more frequently observed in class III patients than in class I patients. Conclusion: The locations and the shapes of the mandibular lingulae were variable. Most of the lingulae were at the same level as the coronoid notch in skeletal class I patients and above the coronoid notch in skeletal class III patients. The nodular and assimilated-shaped lingulae were the most and the least prevalent, respectively.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.195-200
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• 2002

Purpose: To evaluate the computed tomographic appearances of post-operative maxillary sinuses. Materials and Methods: 33 asymptomatic cases of post-operative maxillary sinus without evidence of any pathologic changes and clinical symptoms were selected. CT images were classified as opacification, soft tissue shadow, anterior wall depression, naso-antral communication, and compartmentalization. The relationships between the CT image and the age of patients at the time of operatation, and between the CT image and the duration of time elapsed since the surgical procedure were evaluated. Results: The most commonly presented radiological characteristics that occurred after the Caldwell-Luc procedure were opacification and soft tissue shadow. Anterior wall depression and naso-antral communication were radiographic indications that a Caldwell-Luc operation had been carried out. The age of patients when they had been first operated on, and the duration between the surgical procedure and the time of evaluation had no effect on the CT appearances of normal changes. In cases involving a longer time interval between the antral surgery and evaluation, the anterior wall depression with bony healing was more commonly observed than soft tissue healing. Conclusion: The radiographic information regarding the normal healing state using computed tomography can distinguish post-operative changes from inflammatory and cystic disease in patients who have undergone a Caldwell-Luc type of radical maxillary antrostomy.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence rate and types of C-shaped roots and C-shaped canal in maxillary molars by analyzing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in a Korean population. Materials and Methods: Total of 357 CBCT images of maxillary molars (186 first molar, 171 second molar) were evaluated by two Endodontic specialists. Results: Eight types of C-shaped roots and 5 types of C-shaped canals were founded, the prevalence rate of C-shaped roots and canals were 21.0% and 5.3% respectively. Conclusion: These anatomical variations were more frequent in second molars than the first molars. Clinicians should have anatomical knowledge about various types of C-shaped root and root canal for successful root canal therapy.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate mandibular canal displacement in patients with ameloblastoma using a 3-dimensional mirrored-model analysis. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of computed tomographic scans of patients with ameloblastoma (n=10) and healthy controls (n=20). The amount of mandibular canal asymmetry was recorded as a continuous variable, while the buccolingual (yaw) and supero-inferior (pitch) directions of displacement were classified as categorical variables. The t-test for independent samples and the Fisher exact test were used to compare groups in terms of differences between sides and the presence of asymmetric inclinations, respectively (P<0.05). Results: The length of the mandibular canal was similar on both sides in both groups. The ameloblastoma group presented more lateral (2.40±4.16 mm) and inferior (-1.97±1.92 mm) positions of the mental foramen, and a more buccal (1.09±2.75 mm) position of the middle canal point on the lesion side. Displacement of the mandibular canal tended to be found in the anterior region in patients with ameloblastoma, occurring toward the buccal and inferior directions in 60% and 70% of ameloblastoma patients, respectively. Conclusion: Mandibular canal displacement due to ameloblastoma could be detected by this superimposed mirrored method, and displacement was more prevalent toward the inferior and buccal directions. This displacement affected the mental foramen position, but did not lead to a change in the length of the mandibular canal. The control group presented no mandibular canal displacement.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.345-353
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• 2023

Purpose: The objective of this study was to propose a method for developing a clinical phantom to reproduce various diseases that are clinically prevalent in the field of dentistry. This could facilitate diverse clinical research without unnecessarily exposing patients to radiation. Materials and Methods: This study utilized a single dry skull, which was visually and radiographically examined to evaluate its condition. Existing lesions on the dry skull were preserved, and other relevant lesions were artificially created as necessary. These lesions were then documented using intraoral radiography and cone-beam computed tomography. Once all pre-existing and reproduced lesions were confirmed by the consensus of 2 oral and maxillofacial radiologists, the skull was embedded in a soft tissue substitute. To validate the process, cone-beam computed tomography scans and panoramic radiographs were obtained of the fabricated phantom. All acquired images were subsequently evaluated. Results: Most lesions could be identified on panoramic radiographs, although some sialoliths and cracked teeth were confirmed only through cone-beam computed tomographic images. A small gap was observed between the epoxy resin and the bone structures. However, 2 oral and maxillofacial radiologists agreed that this space did not meaningfully impact the interpretation process. Conclusion: The newly developed phantom has potential for use as a standardized phantom within the dental field. It may be utilized for a variety of imaging studies, not only for optimization purposes, but also for addressing other experimental issues related to both 2- and 3-dimensional diagnostic radiography.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.58 no.9
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• pp.556-562
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• 2020

Neurofibroma is a benign, heterogenous peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from the connective tissue of peripheral nerve sheaths, especially the endoneurium. Its intraoral occurrence is uncommon and its occurrence within mandible is extremely rare. A case of solitary intraosseous neurofibroma of the mandible involving masticator space in a 8-year-old male is reported. He was referred from a private local clinic with a chief complaint of limitation in opening of the mouth. Panoramic and cone-beam computed tomographic images showed unilocular radiolucent lesion with scalloped border at the right mandibular ramus, connected posteriorly to the enlarged mandibular foramen and anteriorly to the mandibular canal. T1-weighted magnetic resonance images showed soft tissue mass of isointensity compared with muscles. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed peripheral enhancement and T2-weighted images showed the heterogeneous hyperintense mass with extension between lateral and medial pterygoid muscles. The tumor was surgically removed under general anesthesia and diagnosed to be neurofibroma at the biopsy.