• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.562-574
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• 2021

MRI has the advantages of having excellent soft-tissue contrast and providing functional information without any harmful ionizing radiation. Although previous technical limitations restricted the use of chest MRI, recent technological advances and expansion of insurance coverage are increasing the demand for chest MRI. Recognizing the need for guidelines on appropriate use of chest MRI in Korean clinical settings, the Korean Society of Radiology has composed a development committee, working committee, and advisory committee to develop Korean chest MRI justification guidelines. Five key questions were selected and recommendations have been made with the evidence-based clinical imaging guideline adaptation methodology. Recommendations are as follows. Chest MRI can be considered in the following circumstances: for patients with incidentally found anterior mediastinal masses to exclude non-neoplastic conditions, for pneumoconiosis patients with lung masses to differentiate progressive massive fibrosis from lung cancer, and when invasion of the chest wall, vertebrae, diaphragm, or major vessels by malignant pleural mesothelioma or non-small cell lung cancer is suspected. Chest MRI without contrast enhancement or with minimal dose low-risk contrast media can be considered for pregnant women with suspected pulmonary embolism. Lastly, chest MRI is recommended for patients with pancoast tumors planned for radical surgery.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2010

National Cancer Screening Project and Korean Society of Breast Imaging recommend that breast cancer screening should be performed on those aged 40 and above. Nevertheless, this recommendation is usually ignored by a number of medical institutions. The purpose of this study is to emphasize the necessity of an age limitation in screening mammography. Ten institutions were randomly selected and telephone inquiries about patients' age limitation and internal guidelines were set up. The 3,214 women, who underwent screening mammography through 'GE Senography 2000D' in each hospital, were classified into five groups according to age(from 20s to 40s, at intervals of 5). And then, collected data was analyzed by a radiologist in accordance with ACR-BIRADS(American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System), through which breast parenchymal density and the results of analysis were categorized in order to predict the sensitivity of mammography. Information about craniocaudal-view mammograms was automatically produced by use of GE Senography 2000D, and the average glandular dose was retrospectively analyzed through the program 'Excel 2007.' Two institutions did not set the age limitation. Other seven institutions internally allowed those who wanted to receive mammography regardless of age. Approximately 99% of those aged 20 to 29 were judged as having the dense breast. In those aged 35 to 39, breast parenchymal density tended to be lower, but the fatty breast to increase. In the case of 'category-zero' that does not need additional tests, the rate of 'heterogeneously dense' and 'extremely dense' reached to 83.1% and 15.1% respectively. Regarding dense breasts, there was no sufficient information for image reading. The glandular dose, applied to 3,214, was 1.47mGy on the average. In those aged 20 to 24 who are sensitive to radiation, the average glandular dose indicated 1.59mGy. Those aged 35 and above showed the lowest value, 1.43mGy. In those aged 35 to 39, the breast tended to change from denseness to fattiness. The average glandular dose was lowest in those aged 35 and above, which suggests that screening mammography should be periodically performed on those aged 35 and above in order that breast cancer may be early detected. On the other hand, in those aged less than 35, it is difficult to analyze mammograms due to the high density of breast parenchyma, and also retakes become frequent. In particular, subjects may be exposed to excessive doses. Accordingly, it should be substituted by breast self-examination or clinical breast examination. In case of need, it is advisable to perform ultrasonography.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.1066-1076
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the 2018 Korean Liver Cancer Association-National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) Practice Guidelines (hereafter, PG) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI, compared to the Liver Imaging-Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) version 2018 (hereafter, v2018). Materials and Methods: From January 2013 to October 2015, treatment-naïve hepatic lesions (≥ 1 cm) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis were retrospectively evaluated. For each lesion, three radiologists independently analyzed the imaging features and classified the lesions into categories according to the 2018 KLCA-NCC PG and LI-RADS v2018. The imaging features and categories were determined by consensus. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to compare the per-lesion diagnostic performance of the 2018 KLCA-NCC PG and LI-RADS v2018 using the consensus data. Results: In total, 422 lesions (234 HCCs, 45 non-HCC malignancies, and 143 benign lesions) from 387 patients (79% male; mean age, 59 years) were included. In all lesions, the definite HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a higher sensitivity and lower specificity than LR-5 (LI-RADS v2018) (87.2% [204/234] vs. 80.8% [189/234], p < 0.001; 86.2% [162/188] vs. 91.0% [171/188], p = 0.002). However, in lesions of size ≥ 2 cm, the definite HCC had a higher sensitivity than the LR-5 (86.8% [164/189] vs. 82.0 (155/189), p = 0.002) without a reduction in the specificity (80.0% [48/60] vs. 83.3% [50/60], p = 0.15). In all lesions, the sensitivity and specificity of the definite/probable HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) and LR-5/4 did not differ significantly (89.7% [210/234] vs. 91.5% [214/234], p = 0.204; 83.5% [157/188] vs. 79.3% [149/188], p = 0.071). Conclusion: For the diagnosis of HCC of size ≥ 2 cm, the definite HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a higher sensitivity than LR-5, without a reduction in specificity. The definite/probable HCC (2018 KLCA-NCC PG) had a similar sensitivity and specificity to that those of the LR-5/4.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2010

In projection radiography, two types of digital imaging systems are currently available, computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR): a difference between them can be stated in terms of dose and image quality. In the Department of Radiology our hospital, a flat-panel DR equipment (Digital diagnost, Philips) and two CR systems (ADC Compact plus digitizer, AGFA) are employed. Eight standard radiographic examinations (Skull AP, Skull LAT, Chest PA, Chest LAT, Abdomen AP, L-spine AP, L-spine LAT, Pelvis AP) were considered: doses delivered to patients in terms of both entrance skin dose (ESD) were calculated and compared in order to study the dosimetric discrepancies between CR and DR. Assessment of image quality is undertaken by Consultant Radiologists to ensure that the quality criteria for diagnostic radiographic images of the European guidelines were met. Results showed that both ESD in DR are lower than that in CR; all images met the criteria in the European Guidelines for both modalities and were used for reporting by the radiologists. Since the operators are the same and the image quality is comparable in both modalities, this study shows that in the considered examinations, DR can perform better than CR from a dosimetric point of view.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3213-3218
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• 2012

When patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC) are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), efficacy is monitored by the extent of tumor shrinkage. Since their publication in 1981, World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines have been widely practiced in clinical trials and oncologic practice, for standardized tumor response evaluation. With advances in cancer treatment and tumor imaging, a simpler criterion based on one-dimensional rather than bi-dimensional (WHO) tumor measurement, named Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) was introduced in 2000. Both approaches have four response categories: complete response, partial response, stable disease and progressive disease (PD). Bi-dimensional measurement data of 151 patients with ABC were analysed with WHO and RECIST criteria to compare their response categories and inter criteria reproducibility by Kappa statistics. There was 94% concordance and 9/151 patients were recategorized with RECIST including 6/12 PD cases. RECIST therefore under-estimates and delays diagnosis of PD. This is undesirable because it may delay or negate switch over to alternate therapy. Analysis was repeated with a new criteria named RECIST-Breast (RECIST-B), with a lower threshold for PD (${\geq}10%$ rather than ${\geq}20%$ increase of RECIST). This showed higher concordance of 97% with WHO criteria and re-categorization of only 4/151 patients (1/12 PD cases). RECIST-B criteria therefore have advantages of both ease of measurement and calculations combined with excellent concordance with WHO criteria, providing a practical clinical tool for response evaluation and offering good comparison with past and current clinical trials of NACT using WHO guidelines.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.319-325
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• 2015

While the conventional personal protective equipments (PPEs) covers a variety of devices and garments such as respirators, turnout gear, gloves, blankets and gas masks, several electronic devices such as personal alert safety system (PASS) and heads-up displays in the facepiece have become a part of firefighters personal protective equipments through past several years. Furthermore, more advanced electronic sensors including location traking sensor, thermal imaging caerma, toxic gas detectors, and even physiological monitoring sensors are being integrated into ensemble elements for better protection of firefighters from fire sites. Despite any electronic equipment placed on the firefighter must withstand environmental extremes and continue to properly function under any thermal conditions that firefighters routinely face, there are no specific criteria for these electronics to define functionability of these devices under given thermal conditions. Although manufacturers provide the specifications and performance guidelines for their products, their operation guidelines hardly match the real thermal conditions. Present study overviews firefighter's fatalities and thermal conditions that firefighters and their equipments face. Lastly, thermal packaging methods that we have developed and tested are introduced.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.92-116
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study were to researched a Korean medicine doctors' recognition about coldness of hands and feet, and developing of korean medicine clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for coldness of hands and feet. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 399 Korean medicine doctors belonging to the Association of Korean Medicine by e-mail and analyzed the answers. Results: 1. 86.86% of the respondents agreed about the necessity of CPG for coldness of hands and feet. 2. 84.2% of respondents wanted coding of Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD) on coldness of hands and feet. 3. To diagnosis a coldness of hands and feet, the respondents used a Subjective symptoms (98.5%), Infrared thermographic imaging device (DITI) (26.32%) Heart rate variablity test (HRV) (17.04%), Thermometer (9.77%), Cold stress test (2.76%) 4. Causing of coldness of hands and feet, the respondents considered a constitution or heredity (84.71%), stress (73.66%), lack of exercise (64.91%), irregular eating habits (51.63%), Cold meals (32.83%), depression (31.33%), etc. 5. Treating coldness of hands and feet, the respondents used a herbal medicine (66.85%), acupuncture (70.7%) Pharmacopuncture (23.85%) and moxibustion (60.08%) for $10.91{\pm}8.03week$. Conclusions: We researched a Korean Medicine doctors' recognition of CPG, clinical diagnosis, treatment on a coldness of hands and feet, and policy they required.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.11
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• pp.415-421
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• 2020

Cryptorchidism or undescended testis is the single most common genitourinary disease in male neonates. In most cases, the testes will descend spontaneously by 3 months of age. If the testes do not descend by 6 months of age, the probability of spontaneous descent thereafter is low. About 1%-2% of boys older than 6 months have undescended testes after their early postnatal descent. In some cases, a testis vanishes in the abdomen or reascends after birth which was present in the scrotum at birth. An inguinal undescended testis is sometimes mistaken for an inguinal hernia. A surgical specialist referral is recommended if descent does not occur by 6 months, undescended testis is newly diagnosed after 6 months of age, or testicular torsion is suspected. International guidelines do not recommend ultrasonography or other diagnostic imaging because they cannot add diagnostic accuracy or change treatment. Routine hormonal therapy is not recommended for undescended testis due to a lack of evidence. Orchiopexy is recommended between 6 and 18 months at the latest to protect the fertility potential and decrease the risk of malignant changes. Patients with unilateral undescended testis have an infertility rate of up to 10%. This rate is even higher in patients with bilateral undescended testes, with intra-abdominal undescended testis, or who underwent delayed orchiopexy. Patients with undescended testis have a threefold increased risk of testicular cancer later in life compared to the general population. Self-examination after puberty is recommended to facilitate early cancer detection. A timely referral to a surgical specialist and timely surgical correction are the most important factors for decreasing infertility and testicular cancer rates.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: We aimed to build a machine learning tool to help predict low-grade intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) in order to avoid unnecessary surgical resection. IPMNs are precursors to pancreatic cancer. Surgical resection remains the only recognized treatment for IPMNs yet carries some risks of morbidity and potential mortality. Existing clinical guidelines are imperfect in distinguishing low-risk cysts from high-risk cysts that warrant resection. Methods: We built a linear support vector machine (SVM) learning model using a prospectively maintained surgical database of patients with resected IPMNs. Input variables included 18 demographic, clinical, and imaging characteristics. The outcome variable was the presence of low-grade or high-grade IPMN based on post-operative pathology results. Data were divided into a training/validation set and a testing set at a ratio of 4:1. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to assess classification performance. Results: A total of 575 patients with resected IPMNs were identified. Of them, 53.4% had low-grade disease on final pathology. After classifier training and testing, a linear SVM-based model (IPMN-LEARN) was applied on the validation set. It achieved an accuracy of 77.4%, with a positive predictive value of 83%, a specificity of 72%, and a sensitivity of 83% in predicting low-grade disease in patients with IPMN. The model predicted low-grade lesions with an area under the curve of 0.82. Conclusions: A linear SVM learning model can identify low-grade IPMNs with good sensitivity and specificity. It may be used as a complement to existing guidelines to identify patients who could avoid unnecessary surgical resection.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

This round of tests in patients with UGI and Esophagography data collected by national and international reference levels based on the original set of guidelines and fluoroscopy, through the provision of medical radiation exposure reduction and further optimization of Defense to realize that is intended. 359 names in our hospital underwent Esophagography 302 patients who underwent UGI average fluoroscopy time and number of images to calculate the average 21 cm Acryl phantom dose for 10 seconds and 20 seconds, average area dose and the area dose of 1 spot image, 5 spot consecutive images by measuring the patient dose and third quartile of the mean area dose was set seonryangin reference dose. Esophagography average patient dose was set to 30.05 $Gy{\cdot}cm^2$, DRL was set at a 25.37 $Gy{\cdot}cm^2$. Average dose of UGI patients were selected as 45.33 $Gy{\cdot}cm^2$, DRL was set at a 34 $Gy{\cdot}cm^2$. UGI patients with established average dose recommended in the 2008 national recommendation from the UGI examination with a dose of less than 49.7 $Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ seonryangin is evaluated. This Note examines the dose of self-aware through education recognizes the importance of dose reduction and examine if their efforts and further reduce patient dose could achieve optimization of the medical exposure is considered.