• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2019

The gilt bronze statue, Seated Avalokiteshvara with a Thousand Hands, of the Goryeo dynasty, is the only one in Korea of its kind that has undergone a conservation process for the special exhibition entitled GORYEO: The Glory of Korea. For the conservation treatment, first, a component analysis (XRF) was conducted, and a manufacturing technique (CT) was analyzed. The results of the investigation revealed that the statue was alloyed with Cu, Sn, and Pb ternary bronze. Its surface, except for the detached plating layers, was originally plated using the mercury amalgam method. This statue was assembled after separately casting each part of the body, such as the left and right arms and the wrists, including the hands, with objects. In particular, each wrist was cast and fitted with a metal nail to express each object in the hands more precisely. Inside the statue, there were five iron cores: two for the head, one for the left elbow, one for the right flank, and one for the right waist. For the preservative treatment, natural adhesive agents, including vegetable gelatin and glue (20%), were mixed with alcohol to protect the base metal and adhere to the plating layers. Using synthetic resin (CDK 520+SN-sheet) for the damaged parts, the restored parts could be attached and detached to/from the statue. Eventually, the compositional analysis and conservation treatment left the statue in a stable condition and ready for exhibitions and future studies.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.384-394
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the image quality of novel dark-blood computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging combined with deep learning reconstruction (DLR) compared to delayed-phase CTA images with hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR), to visualize the cervical artery wall in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK). Materials and Methods: This prospective study continuously recruited 53 patients with TAK (mean age: 33.8 ± 10.2 years; 49 females) between January and July 2022 who underwent head-neck CTA scans. The arterial- and delayed-phase images were reconstructed using HIR and DLR. Subtracted images of the arterial-phase from the delayed-phase were then added to the original delayed-phase using a denoising filter to generate the final-dark-blood images. Qualitative image quality scores and quantitative parameters were obtained and compared among the three groups of images: Delayed-HIR, Dark-blood-HIR, and Dark-blood-DLR. Results: Compared to Delayed-HIR, Dark-blood-HIR images demonstrated higher qualitative scores in terms of vascular wall visualization and diagnostic confidence index (all P < 0.001). These qualitative scores further improved after applying DLR (Dark-blood-DLR compared to Dark-blood-HIR, all P < 0.001). Dark-blood DLR also showed higher scores for overall image noise than Dark-blood-HIR (P < 0.001). In the quantitative analysis, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values between the vessel wall and lumen for the bilateral common carotid arteries and brachiocephalic trunk were significantly higher on Dark-blood-HIR images than on Delayed-HIR images (all P < 0.05). The CNR values were significantly higher for Dark-blood-DLR than for Dark-blood-HIR in all cervical arteries (all P < 0.001). Conclusion: Compared with Delayed-HIR CTA, the dark-blood method combined with DLR improved CTA image quality and enhanced visualization of the cervical artery wall in patients with TAK.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.343-354
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• 2022

Objective: To develop and evaluate a deep learning-based artificial intelligence (AI) model for detecting skull fractures on plain radiographs in children. Materials and Methods: This retrospective multi-center study consisted of a development dataset acquired from two hospitals (n = 149 and 264) and an external test set (n = 95) from a third hospital. Datasets included children with head trauma who underwent both skull radiography and cranial computed tomography (CT). The development dataset was split into training, tuning, and internal test sets in a ratio of 7:1:2. The reference standard for skull fracture was cranial CT. Two radiology residents, a pediatric radiologist, and two emergency physicians participated in a two-session observer study on an external test set with and without AI assistance. We obtained the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, and specificity along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The AI model showed an AUROC of 0.922 (95% CI, 0.842-0.969) in the internal test set and 0.870 (95% CI, 0.785-0.930) in the external test set. The model had a sensitivity of 81.1% (95% CI, 64.8%-92.0%) and specificity of 91.3% (95% CI, 79.2%-97.6%) for the internal test set and 78.9% (95% CI, 54.4%-93.9%) and 88.2% (95% CI, 78.7%-94.4%), respectively, for the external test set. With the model's assistance, significant AUROC improvement was observed in radiology residents (pooled results) and emergency physicians (pooled results) with the difference from reading without AI assistance of 0.094 (95% CI, 0.020-0.168; p = 0.012) and 0.069 (95% CI, 0.002-0.136; p = 0.043), respectively, but not in the pediatric radiologist with the difference of 0.008 (95% CI, -0.074-0.090; p = 0.850). Conclusion: A deep learning-based AI model improved the performance of inexperienced radiologists and emergency physicians in diagnosing pediatric skull fractures on plain radiographs.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2014

In case of all patients who receive radiation therapy, a treatment plan is established and all steps of treatment are planned in the same geometrical condition. In case of head and neck cancer patients who undergo simulated treatment through computed tomography (CT), patients are fixed onto a table for planning, but laid on the top of the treatment table in the radiation therapy room. This study excogitated and fabricated an adjustable holder for head and neck cancer patients to fix patient's position and geometrical discrepancies when performing radiation therapy on head and neck cancer patients, and compared the error before and after adjusting the position of patients due to difference in weight to evaluate the correlation between patients' weight and range of error. Computed tomography system(High Advantage, GE, USA) is used for phantom to maintain the supine position to acquire the images of the therapy site for IMRT. IMRT 4MV X-rays was used by applying the LINAC(21EX, Varian, U.S.A). Treatment planning system (Pinnacle, ver. 9.1h, Philips, Madison, USA) was used. The setup accuracy was compared with each measurement was repeated five times for each weight (0, 15, and 30Kg) and CBCT was performed 30 times to find the mean and standard deviation of errors before and after the adjustment of each weight. SPSS ver.19.0(SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL,USA) statistics program was used to perform the Wilcoxon Rank test for significance evaluation and the Spearman analysis was used as the tool to analyze the significance evaluation of the correlation of weight. As a result of measuring the error values from CBCT before and after adjusting the position due to the weight difference, X,Y,Z axis was $0.4{\pm}0.8mm$, $0.8{\pm}0.4mm$, 0 for 0Kg before the adjustment. In 15Kg CBCT before and after adjusting the position due to the weight difference, X,Y,Z axis was $0.2{\pm}0.8mm$, $1.2{\pm}0.4mm$, $2.0{\pm}0.4mm$. After adjusting position was X,Y,Z axis was $0.2{\pm}0.4mm$, $0.4{\pm}0.5mm$, $0.4{\pm}0.5mm$. In 30Kg CBCT before and after adjusting the position due to the weight difference, X,Y,Z axis was $0.8{\pm}0.4mm$, $2.4{\pm}0.5mm$, $4.4{\pm}0.8mm$. After adjusting position was X,Y,Z axis was $0.6{\pm}0.5mm$, $1.0{\pm}0mm$, $0.6{\pm}0.5mm$. When the holder for the head and neck cancer was used to adjust the ab.0ove error value, the error values from CBCT were $0.2{\pm}0.8mm$ for the X axis, $0.40{\pm}0.54mm$ for Y axis, and 0 for Z axis. As a result of statistically analyzing each value before and after the adjustment the value was significant with p<0.034 at the Z axis with 15Kg of weight and with p<0.038 and p<0.041 at the Y and Z axes respectively with 30Kg of weight. There was a significant difference with p<0.008 when the analysis was performed through Kruscal-Wallis in terms of the difference in the adjusted values of the three weight groups. As it could reduce the errors, patients' reproduction could be improved for more precise and accurate radiation therapy. Development of an adjustable device for head and neck cancer patients is significant because it improves the reproduction of existing equipment by reducing the errors in patients' position.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-32
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• 2006

Background: The location of parotid gland tumors can influence the duration and the difficulty of the operation. If the information about tumor location was available preoperatively, it would allow accurate operative planning and counseling of patients in terms of the length of the operation and the potential morbidity. Methods: This study was based on a retrospective review of 100 patients with parotid gland tumors underwent parotidectomy from January 2000 to October 2005 at Yong-Dong Severance Hospital. Based on computed tomographic(CT) scan findings, 4 landmarks such as facial nerve(FN) line, Utrecht(U) line, Conn's are(CA), and retromandibular vein (RV) were drawn on the scans in same plane. The location of tumors were determined by the landmarks and confirmed by the operative findings. The accuracy of each landmarks was evaluated. To find out the accuracies according to tumor size, the tumors were divided into 2 groups; less than 2 cm and larger than 2 cm in diameter. Results: U line was the most accurate(94%), sensitive(89.3%) and specific(97.7%) in predicting tumor location of the parotid gland. However, in small tumors less than 2cm, FN line (p=0.022) and RV criteria (p=0.028) were more reliable in accuracy. Conclusion: CA, FN line, U line, and RV are all useful landmarks in preoperative prediction for the location of parotid gland tumors. However, U line was the most accurate, but we must consider that proper landmark should be used in prediction according to the size of tumor because the accuracy of landmark may change.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2010

연구목적 : 비인두암 환자들을 대상으로 방사선치료 시 삼차원입체조형치료기법과 용적세기조절회전치료기법을 비교하고 이하선을 포함한 정상조직 보호에 있어 그 차이점을 알아 보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 비인두암 환자 5명을 대상으로 치료계획용 CT(computed tomography)를 시행 후 삼차원입체조형방사선치료계획 과 용적세기조절회전치료계획을 시행하였다. 이를 바탕으로 얻은 선량분포, conformity index(CI) 그리고 선량체적 히스토그램을 통해 손상위험장기(organ at risk)와 계획용표적체적(planning target volume)을 비교 분석하였다. 결 과 : 분석결과 이하선에 조사되는 평균선량이 용적세기조절회전치료계획에서는 43.9%로 삼차원입체조형치료계획에서의 89.4% 보다 유의하게(p=0.043) 감소하였다. 계획용표적체적 conformity index의 경우 용적세기조절회전치료계획 (CI=1.06)에서 삼차원입체조형치료계획(CI=2.55) 보다 유의하게(p=0.043) 향상된 결과를 보였다. 결 론 : 비인두암 환자에서 용적세기조절회전 치료계획 시 삼차원입체조형치료계획 보다 유의하게 이하선에 평균선량이 줄었고 계획용 표적체적에 대한 conformity도 유의하게 향상되는 결과를 보였다. 본 연구가 적은 수의 환자를 대상으로 하였으나 용적세기조절회전치료기법을 시행 시 구강건조증의 발생을 줄일 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 향후 더 많은 환자군을 대상으로 한 임상연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was the clinical implementation of IGRT using KV CBCT for setup correction in radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: We selected 9 patients (3 patient for each region; head, body, pelvis)and acquired 135 CBCT images with CLINAC iX (Varian medical system, USA). During the scan, the required time was measured. We analyzed the result in 3 direction; vertical, longitudinal, lateral. Results: The mean setup errors at the couch position of vertical, lateral, and longitudinal direction were 0.07, 0.12, and 0.1 cm in the head region, 0.3, 0.26, and 0.22 cm in the body region, 0.21, 0.18, and 0.15 cm in the pelvis region respectively. The mean time required for CBCT was $6{\sim}7$ minute. Conclusion: The CBCT on the LINAC provides the capacity for soft tissue imaging in the treatment position and real time monitoring during treatment delivery. With presented workflow, the setup correction within reasonable time for more accurate radiation therapy is possible. And it's image can be very useful for adaptive radiation therapy(ART) in the future with improved image quality.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.477-484
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• 2016

This study was carried out to determine the factors affecting the trend and usage of Magnetic Resonance Imaging before and after the implementation of National Health Insurance. The research materials were the MRI Execution Data, Health Insurance Review Data, and Medical Expenses in the Health Insurance Data from a General Hospital located in Dae-jeon Metropolitan City from 2004 to 2013. The subjects of analysis were 3,754 people in 2004 (prior to the implementation of Health Insurance), and 4,107-8,603 people from 2005-2013(after the implementation of Health Insurance). In terms of analysis, a comparison of the use of MRI before and after implementation of the Health Insurance of User Characteristics and Provider Characteristics were taken as $X^2$, while factor analysis for the elements that affect MRI usage was carried out by Hierarchical Multiple Regression Analysis. According to the results of this study, the level of use decreased temporarily in the initial application stages of the national health insurance, but it soon increased. In particular, the inspection rates for women, the head and neck, those not subject to the application of the national health insurance, internal medicine, and the inpatients increased. The application of the national health insurance for MRI influenced the increasing inspection rates (P<.0001). As the inspection rate for the MRI increased, it is important to expand the application of the national health insurance to reduce the national health expenditure.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2014

Salivary duct carcinoma(SDC) is rare malignancy, accounting for approximately 1-3% of all malignant salivary gland tumors. Systemic chemotherapy has been used for stage IV SDC, but there is no consensus on the standard treatment. SDC is histologically similar to ductal carcinoma of breast and often overexpress HER2/neu, hence HER2/neu targeted therapy could be one of treatment options. A 75-year-old Arabian man was diagnosed as SDC of right parotid gland with extensive metastases. He received oral 5-FU as palliative chemotherapy, but he was intolerable to oral chemotherapy due to severe oral mucositis. Considering immunohistochemical stain of tumor tissue showing strong positive for HER2/neu, we decided to administer an anti-HER2/neu antibody, trastuzumab. Follow-up CT scans before the third dose of trastuzumab demonstrated remarkable regression of multiple metastases as well as primary tumor. This case suggests that HER2/neu targeted therapy may be a potential therapeutic option for the SDC patient with overexpression of HER2/neu.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2014

Background: Normal elbow joint kinematics has been widely studied in cadaver, whilst in vivo study, especially of the forearm, is rare. Our study analyses, in vivo, the kinematics of normal forearm and of malunited forearm using a three-dimensional computerized simulation system. Methods: We examined 8 patients with malunited Monteggia fracture and 4 controls with normal elbow joint. The ulna and radius were reconstructed from CT data placing the forearm in three different positions; full pronation, neutral, and full supination using computer bone models. We analyzed the axis of rotation 3-dimentionally based on the axes during forearm rotation from full pronation to full supination. Results: Axis of rotation of normal forearm was pitch line, with a mean range of 2 mm, from full pronation to full supination, connecting the radial head center proximally and ulnar fovea distally. In normal forearm, the mean range was 1.32 mm at the proximal radioulnar joint and 1.51 mm at the distal radioulnar joint. However in Monteggia fracture patients, this range changed to 7.65 mm at proximal and 4.99 mm at distal radoulnar joint. Conclusions: During forearm rotation, the axis of rotation was constant in normal elbow joint but unstable in malunited Monteggia fracture patients as seen with radial head instability. Therefore, consideration should be given not only to correcting deformity but also to restoring AOR by 3D kinematics analysis before surgical treatment of such fractures.