• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate appropriate contrast reference values (CRVs) by comparing the contrast in phantom and clinical images. Materials and Methods: Phantom contrast was measured using two methods: (1) counting the number of visible pits of different depths in an aluminum plate, and (2) obtaining the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for 5 tissue-equivalent materials (porcelain, aluminum, polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE], polyoxymethylene [POM], and polymethylmethacrylate [PMMA]). Four panoramic radiographs of the contrast phantom, embedded in the 4 different regions of the arch-form stand, and 1 real skull phantom image were obtained, post-processed, and compared. The clinical image quality evaluation chart was used to obtain the cut-off values of the phantom CRV corresponding to the criterion of being adequate for diagnosis. Results: The CRVs were obtained using 4 aluminum pits in the incisor and premolar region, 5 aluminum pits in the molar region, and 2 aluminum pits in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region. The CRVs obtained based on the CNR measured in the anterior region were: porcelain, 13.95; aluminum, 9.68; PTFE, 6.71; and POM, 1.79. The corresponding values in the premolar region were: porcelain, 14.22; aluminum, 8.82; PTFE, 5.95; and POM, 2.30. In the molar region, the following values were obtained: porcelain, 7.40; aluminum, 3.68; PTFE, 1.27; and POM, - 0.18. The CRVs for the TMJ region were: porcelain, 3.60; aluminum, 2.04; PTFE, 0.48; and POM, - 0.43. Conclusion: CRVs were determined for each part of the jaw using the CNR value and the number of pits observed in phantom images.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.293-303
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• 1992

Generally the patient's absorb dose and readability of radiograms are affected by the exposure time and kVp of which are related with the radiographic density and contrast The investigator carried studies to know the adequate level of exposure time and kVp to obtain the better readability of radiograms. In these studies dried human mandible with selfcuring acrylic resins attached with aluminum step wedge was used and readability of radiograms were compared with each other by videodensitometry among various combination sets of the exposure time, such as 5, 6, 8, 12, 15, 19, 24, 30, 38, 48 and 60, and varing level of kVp, such as 60, 65, 70, 80 and 90 respectively. The obtained results were as follows: 1. As exposure time and kVp were increased, radiographic density of radiograms was increased. 2. The subject contrast was increased where aluminum step wedge was thin and reduced in the reversed condition. At the thin aluminum step wedge, subject contrast was increased at the condition of lower kilovoltage than that of higher kilovoltage. 3. In the case of non-constant radiographic density, the radiographic contrast was reduced with the increment kilovoltage. The radiographic contrast was increased in the lower kilovoltage with the longer exposure time and the higher kilovoltage with the shorter exposure time. 4. At the condition of short exposure time, better readability of each reading item was obtained with the increment of the kilovoltage but at the opposite condition increasing exposure time worsened readability of radiograms. Since X-ray machine in the current dental clinics is fixed between the range of 60-70kVp and 10mA, good radiograms can be obtained by varied exposure time. But according to the conclusion of these studies, better radiograms can be obtained by using filtered high kVp and then the absorb dose to patient and exposure time can be reduced.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 1999

Magnetic resonance imaging with its superior soft tissue contrast resolution and absence of beam hardening artifacts, combined with its ability to perform multiplanar imaging, is now effective tool in diagnostic imagings. Magnetic resonance is primarily a phenomenon that involves atomic nuclei. It provides totally new clinical informations with no known hazards through the use of very weak interactions with endogenous stable magnetic atomic nuclei. This article briefly summarizes the basic mechanism of generation and detection of the signals and general sorts of tissue properties which can influence the signals and thereby give rise to tissue contrast. It also describes how the machine-operating parameters can be used to manipulate the tissue contrast observed in the image.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2003

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of the newly marketed, Insight dental X-ray film. Materials and Methods: Kodak Ultraspeed (DF-58), E-speed, Agfa Dentus M2, and Kodak Insight (IP-21) films were radiographed using a Trophy intra-oral radiographic machine. 10 step exposure times were prepared and each step exposure was monitored using a FH 40G (ESM Eberline Instruments) dosimeter for each of the 4 types of intra-oral film. All films were manually processed and the radiographic densities at 6 sites of each processed film were measured, and the characteristic curves of each of the 4 types intra-oral films were created utilizing these dosimetric data and radiographic densities, based on ISO 5779. The film contrast, speed, and base plus fog density of Insight film were compared with those of the 3 other films examined in this experiment. Results : E-speed film showed greatest average gradients followed by Insight film. E-speed and Ultraspeed film showed great average gradients at low density levels. Insight film showed the fastest speed followed by E-speed, Dentus M2 and Ultraspeed film. Dentus M2 film showed greatest base plus fog density level followed by Insight film. Conclusion : Kodak Insight film showed fastest film speed with comparable film contrast on characteristic curve.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.370-374
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• 2023

Oral melanoma is the most common type of oral tumor in dogs. In this report, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to diagnose a right oral pigmented mass in an 8-year-old dog. The oral mass appeared as a homogeneous soft tissue density parenchyma on pre-contrast CT images, and with heterogeneous enhancement on post-contrast images. Bone destruction of the right mandibular body around the mass and mild enlargement of the right mandibular lymph node were also found. On MRI, the bulky oral mass showed mixed hyperintensity and isointensity compared to the adjacent muscle, where irregular hyperintensity on T1-weighted images corresponded to hypointensity on the T2-weighted images. Based on the physical examinations and imaging results, melanoma was suspected and confirmed via fine-needle aspiration. These unique MRI signals were due to the high paramagnetic melanin content in the tumor, therefore MRI examination could be useful for diagnosis of melanoma.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.141-145
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• 2015

Purpose: This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the reverse contrast mode in intraoral digital radiography for the detection of proximal dentinal caries, in comparison with the original digital radiographs. Materials and Methods: Eighty extracted premolars with no clinically apparent caries were selected, and digital radiographs of them were taken separately in standard conditions. Four observers examined the original radiographs and the same radiographs in the reverse contrast mode with the goal of identifying proximal dentinal caries. Microscopic sections $5{\mu}m$ in thickness were prepared from the teeth in the mesiodistal direction. Four slides prepared from each sample used as the diagnostic gold standard. The data were analyzed using SPSS (${\alpha}=0.05$). Results: Our results showed that the original radiographs in order to identify proximal dentinal caries had the following values for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy, respectively: 72.5%, 90%, 87.2%, 76.5%, and 80.9%. For the reverse contrast mode, however, the corresponding values were 63.1%, 89.4%, 87.1%, 73.5%, and 78.8%, respectively. The sensitivity of original digital radiograph for detecting proximal dentinal caries was significantly higher than that of reverse contrast mode (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found regarding specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, or accuracy (p>0.05). Conclusion: The sensitivity of the original digital radiograph for detecting proximal dentinal caries was significantly higher than that of the reversed contrast images. However, no statistically significant differences were found between these techniques regarding specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, or accuracy.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.301-306
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• 2019

Purpose: This report presents a procedure for performing power Doppler ultrasound-guided sialography using the phenomenon of increased blood flow and illustrates its application to practical patient cases. Materials and Methods: The salivary gland was scanned using ultrasound equipment (GE LOGIQ5 Expert^® device; GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA) to identify pathological findings related to the patient's chief complaint. To identify the orifice of the main duct, it should be cannulated using a lacrimal dilator. After inserting the catheter into the cannulated main duct, the position of the catheter within the duct was confirmed by ultrasound. A contrast agent was injected until the patient felt fullness, and ultrasound (B-mode) was used to confirm whether the contrast agent filled the main canal and secondary and tertiary ducts. Then, power Doppler ultrasound was performed to determine whether the salivary gland had increased blood flow. Results: In 2 cases in this report, a power Doppler ultrasound scan showed a significant increase in blood flow after contrast medium injection, which was not observed on a preoperative scan. Conclusion: Power Doppler ultrasound was found to be a simple, safe, and effective tool for real-time sialography monitoring.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.193-206
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• 1997

Because the oral mucositis is often inevitable in acute leukemia patients during chemotherapy, the efforts must be made to keep these leukemia patients from oral mucositis. So we tried to develop two oral care protocols for reducing the level of oral mucositis during cytotoxic therapy through literature review and our clinical experience. This quasi-experimental study was performed to compare the prohpylatic value of these oral care protocols. Thirty-nine subjects were assigned to one of three groups. The first group performed bivon-normal saline gargling protocol, the second group performed chlorhexidine gargling protocol, and the last contrast group kept traditonal gargling protocol. The Oral Assessment Guide(OAG), the Beck's perception of oral comfort were used to assess oral status and subject's oral discomfort during chemotherapy. Each subjects were observed daily from the start of the chemotherapy until Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) reached $1,000/mm^3$. It continued about 2-4 weeks. The data was analyzed by ANCOVA and Kruskal-Wallis one way ANOVA, chi-sqare, survival analysis. The results were as follows : The contrast group showed significantly highest mean score of the OAG and Beck's perception of oral discomfort among three groups from second week to third week. However chie-test and survial analysis showed that the incidence of severe mucositis were not significantly different among three groups. Conclusively we recommend that nurses who care acute leukmia patients use bivon-normal saline gargling protocol be careful to occur severe mucositis during chemotherapy.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.299-308
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• 1999

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the qualities of the four different processing chemicals (solutions). Materials and Methods: With EP 21 films(Ektaspeed plus film, Kodak Co., USA), nine unexposed and nine exposed films of a step wedge were processed utilizing automatic film processor(XR 24, Durr Co., Germany) for 5 days. During 5 days, the total number of processed films including out-patient' s intraoral films were about 400-500 for each brand. Base plus fog density, film density, contrast of processed films were measured with densitometer(model 07-443 digital densitometer, Victoreen Co., USA). These measurements were analyzed for comparison. Results: The results were as follows, 1. For the base plus fog density. there was significant difference among the four chemicals (p<0.05). The sequence of the base plus fog densities was in ascending order by Kodak, X-dol 90. Agfa and Konica. 2. For the film density. all chemicals showed useful range of photographic densities(0.25-2.5). The sequence of the film densities was in ascending order by Kodak, X-dol 90, Konica and Agfa. But there was no statistically significant difference of film density between X-dol and Kodak (p<0.05). 3. The sequence of the contrasts was in ascending order by Konica, X-dol 90, Kodak and Agfa. But there was no statistically significant difference of contrast between X-dol and Konica (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that the four processing chemicals had clinically useful film density and contrast. but only Kodak processing chemical had useful base plus fog density.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1973

The author has studied maxillo-facial anatomical landmarks using Status X with two methods. The one has performed by application of contrast media on the human dry skull, the other has performed on living human skull as control group. Comparing the panagraphs taken by two methods, the author has drawn following results: 1. The panagraphs revealed the undistorted, highly sharp panoramic shadows of each jaw on a film. 2. Diminishing the inserted anode tube overlapping-free representation of the anterior teeth was taken. 3. Alternating the head position of the objects, direction of anode tube and film placing, the shadows of temporo-mandibular joint and zygomatic arch were taken without overlapping the other bone tissues. 4. In the panagraphs applied various shaped contrast media to each anatomical landmark, a radio-anatomical atlas which is necessary to interpret various bone tissues was taken. 5. In order to interpret panagraphic shadows easily, the author has tried this study by comparing the films of the living human skull with the films of the human dry skull applied contrast media.