• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2009

Objective: Two findings easily found at coronal source images of MR myelography (MRM) were evaluated : dorsal root ganglion (DRG) swelling and running course abnormality (RCA) of L5 exiting root at foramen or extraforamen. We tried to find the sensitivity of each finding when root was compressed. Methods: From 2004 July to 2006, one hundred and ten patients underwent one side paraspinal decompression for their L5 root foraminal or extraforaminal compression at L5-S1 level. All kinds of conservative treatments failed to improve leg symptom for several months. Before surgery, MRI, CT and MRM were done. Retrospective radiologic analysis for their preoperative MRM coronal source images was done to specify root compression sites and L5 root morphologic changes. Results: DRG swelling was found in 66 (60%) of 110 patients. DRG swelling has statistically valuable meaning in foraminal root compression (chi-square test, p<0.0001). Seventy-two (66%) in 110 patients showed abnormal alteration of running course. Abnormal running course has statistically valuable meaning in foraminal or extraforaminal root compression (chi-square test, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Three-dimensional MRM provides precise thin sliced coronal images which are most close to real operative views. DRG swelling and running course abnormality of L5 exiting root are two useful findings in diagnosing L5 root compression at L5-S1 foramen or extraforamen. MRM is thought to provide additional diagnostic accuracy expecially in L5-S1 foraminal and extraforaminal area.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate the reliability and clinical usefulness of ultrasonography in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Materials and Methods : Parasagittal and paracoronal 1.5 T MR images and 7.5 MHz ultrasonographs of 40 TMJs in 20 asymptomatic volunteers were obtained. Disc position using MR imaging was evaluated and the distance between the lateral surface of mandibular condyle and the articular capsule using MR image and ultrasonograph of 27 TMJs with normal disc position was measured and compared. Intraobserver and interobserver measurements reliability was evaluated by using interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and measurement error. Also, the distance measured on ultrasonographs was compared, according to mouth position and disc postion. Results : The normal disc position was found in 27 of 40 asymptomatic joints. At the intraobserver reliability of measurement, ICC at the closed and open mouth position were 0.89 and 0.91. The measurement error was 0.4% and 0.5%. At the interobserver reliability, ICC at the closed and open mouth position were 0.92 and 0.81. The measurement error was 0.4% and 0.7%. At the TMJ with normal disc position, the distances between the lateral surface of mandibular condyle and the articular capsule measured on MR images and ultrasonographs were $2.0{\pm}0.7mm,\;1.8{\pm}0.5mm$, respectively (p<0.05). On the ultrasonographs, the distances at open mouth position were $1.2{\pm}0.5mm$ (p<0.05). At the TMJ with medially displaced disc, the distances at the closed and open mouth position were $1.3{\pm}0.3\;mm\;and\;0.9{\pm}0.2\;mm$ (p<0.05). Conclusion : The results suggest ultrasonography of TMJ is a reliable imaging technique for assessment of normal disc position.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.311-315
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• 2004

The detection of lymph node metastasis is an important step in tumor staging and is significant for therapy planning. It has been challenged to yield an appropriate image with diagnostic methods such as Magnetic Resonance (MR) and Computed Tomography (CT). Though CT has been used widely and accessed easily to show internal organs, it can hardly provide difference between lymph node and adjacent vessel or fat tissue. It has been well established that MR can reveal the subtle discrepancy within soft tissue. This study investigated the suitability of MR lymph node imaging without contrast enhancement by comparison of T1-weighted image (T1WI) and T2- weighted image (T2WI) in ten normal rabbits. According to the pulse sequence optimized from preliminary study, T1-weighted spin-echo (repetition time/echo time=400/12 ms) and T-2 weighted fast spin-echo (repetition time/echo time=3500/84 ms) images covering the hind limbs and pelvic region were acquired at 1.5 T. Two radiologists scrupulously evaluated the MR images in consensus. And signal intensity of lymph nodes was compared with that of adjacent fat. Statistical analysis showed that T1-weighted coronal image visualized the lymph nodes (iliac, superficial inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes) quickly and consistently rather than T2-weighted one. Conclusively, T1WI for evaluation of lymph nodes is moderately better than T2WI and appears to have potential for quick and sufficient mapping of the lymph nodes. In addition, this normal MR image of lymph nodes could be applied to further study for the evaluation of lymphatic system in abscess and tumor bearing animal model.

• Journal of KIISE
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.869-877
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• 2016

In this paper, we propose an automated segmentation method of femoral cartilage in knee MR images using multi-atlas-based locally-weighted voting. The proposed method involves two steps. First, to utilize the shape information to show that the femoral cartilage is attached to a femur, the femur is segmented via volume and object-based locally-weighted voting and narrow-band region growing. Second, the object-based affine transformation of the femur is applied to the registration of femoral cartilage, and the femoral cartilage is segmented via multi-atlas shape-based locally-weighted voting. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, we compared the segmentation results of majority voting method, intensity-based locally-weighted voting method, and the proposed method with manual segmentation results defined by expert. In our experimental results, the newly proposed method avoids a leakage into the neighboring regions having similar intensity of femoral cartilage, and shows improved segmentation accuracy.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the knee joint after double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with three-dimensional (3D) isotropic magnetic resonance (MR) image, and to directly compare the ACL graft findings on 3D MR with the clinical results. Materials and Methods: From January 2009 to December 2014, we retrospectively reviewed MRIs of 39 patients who had reconstructed ACL with double bundle technique. The subjects were examined using 3D isotropic proton-density sequence and routine two-dimensional (2D) sequence on 3.0T scanner. The MR images were qualitatively evaluated for the intraarticular curvature, graft tear, bony impingement, intraosseous tunnel cyst, and synovitis of anteromedial and posterolateral bundles (AMB, PLB). In addition anterior tibial translation, PCL angle, PCL ratio were quantitatively measured. KT arthrometric values were reviewed for anterior tibial translation as positive or negative. The second look arthroscopy results including tear and laxity were reviewed. Results: Significant correlations were found between an AMB tear on 3D-isotropic proton density MR images and arthroscopic proven AMB tear or laxity (P < 0.05). Also, a significant correlation was observed between increased PCL ratio on 3D isotropic MRI and the arthroscopic findings such as tear, laxities of grafts (P < 0.05). KT arthrometric results were found to be significantly correlated with AMB tears (P < 0.05) and tibial tunnel cysts (P < 0.05). Conclusion: An AMB tear on 3D-isotropic MRI was correlated with arthroscopic results qualitatively and quantitatively. 3D isotropic MRI findings can aid the evaluation of ACL grafts after double bundle reconstruction.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2013

Correct target volume delineation is an important part of radiosurgery treatment planning process. We designed head phantom and performed target delineation to evaluate the volume differences due to radiosurgery treatment planning systems and image acquisition system, CT/MR. Delineated mean target volume from CT scan images was $2.23{\pm}0.08cm^3$ on BrainSCAN (NOVALS), $2.13{\pm}0.07cm^3$ on Leksell gamma plan (Gamma Knife) and $2.24{\pm}0.10cm^3$ on Multi plan (Cyber Knife). For MR images, $2.08{\pm}0.06cm^3$ on BrainSCAN, $1.94{\pm}0.05cm^3$ on Leksell gamma plan and $2.15{\pm}0.06cm^3$ on Multi plan. As a result, Differences of delineated mean target volume due to radiotherapy planning system was 3% to 6%. And overall mean target volume from CT scan images was 6.36% larger than those of MR scan images.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.63-67
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• 2001

Objective: Atrophy and a high T2 signal of the hippocampus are known to be the principal MR imaging findings of hippocampal sclerosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not individual MRI findings correlate with surgical outcome in patients with this condition. Materials and Methods: Preoperative MR imaging findings in 57 consecutive patients with pathologically-proven hippocampal sclerosis who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy and were followed-up for 24 months or more were retrospectively reviewed, and the results were compared with the postsurgical outcome (Engel classification). The MR images included routine sagittal T1-weighted and axial T2-weighted spin-echo images, and oblique coronal T1-weighted 3D gradient-echo and T2-weighted 2D fast spin-echo images obtained on either a 1.5 T or 1.0 T unit. The images were visually evaluated by two neuroradiologists blinded to the outcome; their focus was the presence or absence of atrophy and a high T2 hippocampal signal. Results: Hippocampal atrophy was seen in 96% of cases (55/57) [100% (53/53) of the good outcome group (Engel class I and II), and 50% (2/4) of the poor outcome group (class III and IV)]. A high T2 hippocampal signal was seen in 61% of cases (35/57) [62% (33/53) of the good outcome group and 50% (2/4) of the poor outcome group]. All 35 patients with a high T2 signal had hippocampal atrophy. 'Normal' hippocampus, as revealed by MR imaging, occurred in 4% of patients (2/57), both of whom showed a poor outcome (Engel class III). The presence or absence of hippocampal atrophy correlated well with surgical outcome (p<0.01). High T2 signal intensity did not, however, significantly correlate with surgical outcome (p>0.05). Conclusion: Compared with a high T2 hippocampal signal, hippocampal atrophy is more common and correlates better with surgical outcome. For the prediction of this, it thus appears to be the more useful indicator.

• Proceedings of the Korea Multimedia Society Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.204-207
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• 2001

뇌 MR 영상에서 질환을 자동적으로 진단하고 판별하는 작업은 정상인의 뇌 영상과의 비교를 통해서 가능하다. 정상인과의 뇌 영상 비교를 통하여 보다 정확하게 질병에 대한 근거를 제시할 수가 있기 때문에 이러한 접근 방법들이 여러 의료영상 연구 분야에서 시도되고 있다. 정상인의 뇌 영상과의 비교를 위해서는 우선적으로 해결되어야 하는 것이 현재의 대상 영상이 정상인 뇌의 어느 위치의 영상과 일치하는 지를 판별하는 문제이다. 따라서 본 연구는 이러한 뇌 매핑에 사용될 수 있는 특징들을 추출하기 위한 것으로, 뇌 매핑에 사용되는 특징들을 추출하기 위해서 뇌 MR 영상으로부터 대리영역, 뇌영역, 뇌척수액영역 그리고 눈영역을 분할한 후 이들의 윤곽선, 최소사각형과 각 영역들의 픽셀 정보들을 찾아낸다. 이는 추후 연구할 뇌 매핑을 위한 대분류에 사용될 수 있다.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.525-528
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• 1999

Abstract - In this paper, a segmentation method for brain Magnetic Resonance(MR) image using region clustering technique with statistical distribution of gradient image and fuzzy rules is described. The brain MRI consists of gray matter and white matter, cerebrospinal fluid. But due to noise, overlap, vagueness, and various parameters, segmentation of MR image is a very difficult task. We use gradient information rather than intensity directly from the MR images and find appropriate thresholds for region classification using gradient approximation, rayleigh distribution function, region clustering, and merging techniques. And then, we propose the adaptive fuzzy rules in order to extract anatomical structures and diseases from brain MR image data. The experimental results shows that the proposed segmentation algorithm given better performance than traditional segmentation techniques.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.172-174
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• 2000

We present a case of medullary sclerosis of the appendicular skeleton in a patient with chronic renal insufficiency for whom MR imaging findings were characteristic. T1- and T2-weighted MR images showed multiple vertical lines (medullary streaks) of low signal intensity in the metaphyses and diaphyses of the distal femur and proximal tibia.