• International journal of advanced smart convergence
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2019

In this research, a practical deep learning framework to differentiate the lesions and nodules in breast acquired with ultrasound imaging has been proposed. 7408 ultrasound breast images of 5151 patient cases were collected. All cases were biopsy proven and lesions were semi-automatically segmented. To compensate for the shift caused in the segmentation, the boundaries of each lesion were drawn using Fully Convolutional Networks(FCN) segmentation method based on the radiologist's specified point. The data set consists of 4254 benign and 3154 malignant lesions. In 7408 ultrasound breast images, the number of training images is 6579, and the number of test images is 829. The margin between the boundary of each lesion and the boundary of the image itself varied for training image augmentation. The training images were augmented by varying the margin between the boundary of each lesion and the boundary of the image itself. The images were processed through histogram equalization, image cropping, and margin augmentation. The networks trained on the data with augmentation and the data without augmentation all had AUC over 0.95. The network exhibited about 90% accuracy, 0.86 sensitivity and 0.95 specificity. Although the proposed framework still requires to point to the location of the target ROI with the help of radiologists, the result of the suggested framework showed promising results. It supports human radiologist to give successful performance and helps to create a fluent diagnostic workflow that meets the fundamental purpose of CADx.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.489-491
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• 2002

The need for video diagnosis in medicine has been increased and real-time transfer of digital video will be an important component in PACS and telemedicine. But, Network environment has certain limitations that the required throughput can not satisfy quality of service (QoS). MPEG-4 ratified as a moving video standard by the ISO/IEC provides very efficient video coding covering the various ranges of low bit-rate in network environment. We implemented MPEG-4 CODEC (coder/decoder) and applied various compression ratios to moving ultrasound images. These images were displayed in random order on a client monitor passed through network. Radiologists determined subjective opinion scores for evaluating clinically acceptable image quality and then these were statistically processed in the t-Test method. Moreover the MPEG-4 decoded images were quantitatively analyzed by computing peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) to objectively evaluate image quality. The bit-rate to maintain clinically acceptable image quality was up to 0.8Mbps. We successfully implemented the adaptive throughput or bit-rate relative to the image quality of ultrasound sequences used MPEG-4 that can be applied for diagnostic performance in real-time.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2020

Objective: To assess the feasibility of simultaneous multislice-accelerated diffusion-weighted imaging (SMS-DWI) of the rectum in comparison with conventional DWI (C-DWI) in rectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods: This study included 65 patients with initially-diagnosed rectal cancer. All patients underwent C-DWI and SMS-DWI with acceleration factors of 2 and 3 (SMS2-DWI and SMS3-DWI, respectively) using a 3T scanner. Acquisition times of the three DWI sequences were measured. Image quality in the three DWI sequences was reviewed by two independent radiologists using a 4-point Likert scale and subsequently compared using the Friedman test. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values for rectal cancer and the normal rectal wall were compared among the three sequences using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: Acquisition times using C-DWI, SMS2-DWI, and SMS3-DWI were 173 seconds, 107 seconds, (38.2% shorter than C-DWI), and 77 seconds (55.5% shorter than C-DWI), respectively. For all image quality parameters other than distortion (margin sharpness, artifact, lesion conspicuity, and overall image quality), C-DWI and SMS2-DWI yielded better results than did SMS3-DWI (Ps < 0.001), with no significant differences observed between C-DWI and SMS2-DWI (Ps ≥ 0.054). ADC values of rectal cancer (p = 0.943) and normal rectal wall (p = 0.360) were not significantly different among C-DWI, SMS2-DWI, and SMS3-DWI. Conclusion: SMS-DWI using an acceleration factor of 2 is feasible for rectal MRI resulting in substantial reductions in acquisition time while maintaining diagnostic image quality and similar ADC values to those of C-DWI.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.752-762
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• 2022

Objective: To compare a deep learning-based reconstruction (DLR) algorithm for pediatric abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) with filtered back projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms. Materials and Methods: Post-contrast abdominopelvic CT scans obtained from 120 pediatric patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 8.7 ± 5.2 years; 60 males) between May 2020 and October 2020 were evaluated in this retrospective study. Images were reconstructed using FBP, a hybrid IR algorithm (ASiR-V) with blending factors of 50% and 100% (AV50 and AV100, respectively), and a DLR algorithm (TrueFidelity) with three strength levels (low, medium, and high). Noise power spectrum (NPS) and edge rise distance (ERD) were used to evaluate noise characteristics and spatial resolution, respectively. Image noise, edge definition, overall image quality, lesion detectability and conspicuity, and artifacts were qualitatively scored by two pediatric radiologists, and the scores of the two reviewers were averaged. A repeated-measures analysis of variance followed by the Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to compare NPS and ERD among the six reconstruction methods. The Friedman rank sum test followed by the Nemenyi-Wilcoxon-Wilcox all-pairs test was used to compare the results of the qualitative visual analysis among the six reconstruction methods. Results: The NPS noise magnitude of AV100 was significantly lower than that of the DLR, whereas the NPS peak of AV100 was significantly higher than that of the high- and medium-strength DLR (p < 0.001). The NPS average spatial frequencies were higher for DLR than for ASiR-V (p < 0.001). ERD was shorter with DLR than with ASiR-V and FBP (p < 0.001). Qualitative visual analysis revealed better overall image quality with high-strength DLR than with ASiR-V (p < 0.001). Conclusion: For pediatric abdominopelvic CT, the DLR algorithm may provide improved noise characteristics and better spatial resolution than the hybrid IR algorithm.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.951-958
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of virtual monochromatic images (VMIs) obtained using dual-layer dual-energy CT (DL-DECT) for evaluating brain tumors. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 32 patients with brain tumors who had undergone non-contrast head CT using DL-DECT. Among them, 15 had glioblastoma (GBM), 7 had malignant lymphoma, 5 had high-grade glioma other than GBM, 3 had low-grade glioma, and 2 had metastatic tumors. Conventional polychromatic images and VMIs (40-200 keV at 10 keV intervals) were generated. We compared CT attenuation, image noise, contrast, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between tumor and white matter (WM) or grey matter (GM) between VMIs showing the highest CNR (optimized VMI) and conventional CT images using the paired t test. Two radiologists subjectively assessed the contrast, margin, noise, artifact, and diagnostic confidence of optimized VMIs and conventional images on a 4-point scale. Results: The image noise of VMIs at all energy levels tested was significantly lower than that of conventional CT images (p < 0.05). The 40-keV VMIs yielded the best CNR. Furthermore, both contrast and CNR between the tumor and WM were significantly higher in the 40 keV images than in the conventional CT images (p < 0.001); however, the contrast and CNR between tumor and GM were not significantly different (p = 0.47 and p = 0.31, respectively). The subjective scores assigned to contrast, margin, and diagnostic confidence were significantly higher for 40 keV images than for conventional CT images (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In head CT for patients with brain tumors, compared with conventional CT images, 40 keV VMIs from DL-DECT yielded superior tumor contrast and diagnostic confidence, especially for brain tumors located in the WM.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.51-57
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• 2020

This study was conducted to examine the type of subjective perceptions and characteristics of the type toward the image of students enrolled in the Department of Radiology who experienced clinical training by applying Q Methodology which is aiming at the research of human subjectivity, and provide basic data for educational programs for the Department of Radiology to establish the image of a radiological technologist based on the result. This study conducted convenience sampling with 30 students of the Department of Radiology who experienced their first clinical training for 8 weeks as a P sample, forcing 33 Q samples to be distributed on the nine-point scale Q distribution chart. After that, this study processed collected data with principal factor analysis by QUANL program. Study results show that Eigen value was more than 1.0, which was divided into 2 types. Type 1 was "Patient-oriented" and type 2 was "Organization-oriented". These results can be helpful as a basic resources to understand Radiology Students who will choose a job by using different sense of value of their job.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.411-415
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• 2000

For comparison with conventional barium-gastrointestinal study, modified method using barium and methylcellulose was performed in 16 normal dogs (4-8 kg) divided into two groups. The group 1 received 8ml/kg of 40% w/v barium suspension only, and group 2 had taken 15 ml/kg of 0.6% w/v methylcellulose after administration 4 ml/kg of 40% w/v barium suspension by feeding tube. The barium suspension was prepared mixing full strength-barium suspension with water and methylcellulose solution was produced by blending methylcellulose sterilized water Sequential radiographs, lateral and ventrodorsal projections were obtained at 5 minute, 20 minute,40 minute. 60 minute and every 30 minutes thereafter, until the contrast is seen in the large intestine Inage qual- ity was rated by three veterinary radiologists as " poor" " fair ". "good", or "excellent" We analyzed the relationship between image quality,, transit time. Between two techniques, the modified method with 4ml of 40% w/v barium suspension and 15 ml of 0.6% w/v methylcellulose showed much better image quality ["excellent" result in 7 of the 8 subjects (88%)] and shorter transit time (107 minutes) toe the cecum. In addition, the best image quality was obtained at 20 and 40 minutes after admin-istration of contrast agent. It call be concluded the modified gastrointestinal study using methylcel-lulose after administration of barium suspension was a simple technique and easily improved the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of gstrointestinal disorders in small animal.racy of gstrointestinal disorders in small animal.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1006-1016
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• 2023

Objective: Computed tomography (CT) is an established method for the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of multiple myeloma. Here, we investigated the potential of photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) in terms of image quality, diagnostic confidence, and radiation dose compared with energy-integrating detector CT (EID-CT). Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients with known multiple myeloma underwent clinically indicated whole-body PCD-CT. The image quality of PCD-CT was assessed qualitatively by three independent radiologists for overall image quality, edge sharpness, image noise, lesion conspicuity, and diagnostic confidence using a 5-point Likert scale (5 = excellent), and quantitatively for signal homogeneity using the coefficient of variation (CV) of Hounsfield Units (HU) values and modulation transfer function (MTF) via the full width at half maximum (FWHM) in the frequency space. The results were compared with those of the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols as controls. Additionally, the radiation dose (CTDIvol) was determined. Results: We enrolled 35 patients with multiple myeloma (mean age 69.8 ± 9.1 years; 18 [51%] males). Qualitative image analysis revealed superior scores (median [interquartile range]) for PCD-CT regarding overall image quality (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), edge sharpness (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), image noise (4.0 [4.0-4.0] vs. 3.0 [3.0-4.0]), lesion conspicuity (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]), and diagnostic confidence (4.0 [4.0-5.0] vs. 4.0 [3.0-4.0]) compared with EID-CT (P ≤ 0.004). In quantitative image analyses, PCD-CT compared with EID-CT revealed a substantially lower FWHM (2.89 vs. 25.68 cy/pixel) and a significantly more homogeneous signal (mean CV ± standard deviation [SD], 0.99 ± 0.65 vs. 1.66 ± 0.5; P < 0.001) at a significantly lower radiation dose (mean CTDIvol ± SD, 3.33 ± 0.82 vs. 7.19 ± 3.57 mGy; P < 0.001). Conclusion: Whole-body PCD-CT provides significantly higher subjective and objective image quality at significantly reduced radiation doses than the current clinical standard EID-CT protocols, along with readily available multi-spectral data, facilitating the potential for further advanced post-processing.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to suggest the method for image enhancement of digital chest radiograph and evaluate clinically the quality of the resultant image. A nonlinear iterative filter was developed in order to reduce quantum noise preserving edge. Dynamic range was adjusted and adaptive image enhancement was performed based on the property of anatomic region and the degree of compatibility with neighboring pixels. The lung fields were enhanced appropriately to visualize effectively vascular tissue, bronchus and lung tissue with the desired mediastinum enhancement. Clinic evaluation was performed by three radiologists with at least 8 years experience. The anatomic regions of 11 in PA and 9 in Lateral were observed carefully in each 100 radiographs according to ITU (International Telecommunication Union) recommendation 500 protocol. The result showed the mean 3.4 between good and adequate. This means that the clinical utility of the image quality is enough. In this study, image enhancement was carried out considering image display device and human perceptual system to prevent the loss of useful anatomic information. In order to increase the diagnostic accuracy in digital radiograph, the continuous study on image enhancement is needed.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.539-543
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• 2018

Telometer is a supplementary filming device that improves the image quality and minimizes the motion unsharpness by enhancing the reproducibility of diagnostic images because it applies constant pressure (force) to the affected area. The stress-radiogram which is widely used to provide the o-bjective quantitative stability of knee ligament is reported in literature as the most suitable method to evaluate the stability of ligament and it is advised to use the Telometer. In order to evaluate the image reproducibility of the Telometer, the collateral ligament which is the most vulnerable among the ligaments consisting of the knee joint, the stress-radiogram was executed in the order of the Telometer, the push pull gauge and the conventional stress radiogram. Then, SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science) for Windows 22.0 was used for comparison and evaluation. According to the results of comparison and evaluation, the standard errors and standard deviations became smaller in the order of the Telometer, the push pull gauge, the conventional stress radiogram while the image reproducibility was higher in the order of the Telometer, the push pull gauge, the conventional stress radiogram. Therefore, it is considered that the use of the TELOS for stress-radiogram would enhance the quality of patient diagnostic images and the work performance of radiologists.