• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5487-5492
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• 2014

Ultrasonography is non-invasive and can give useful clues in the diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy, However, differential diagnosis is difficult in some situations even combined with color Doppler imaging. The present study was conducted to evaluate the clinical value of real time elastography in patients with unexplained cervical lymphadenopathy using a quantitative method. From May 2011 to February 2012, 39 enlarged lymph nodes from 39 patients with unexplained cervical lymphadenopathy were assessed. All the patients were examined by both B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler flow imaging and elastography. The method of analyzing elasto-graphic data was the calculation of the 10 parametres ("mean", "sd", "area%", "com", "kur", "ske", "con", "ent", "idm", "asm") offered by the software integrated into the Hitachi system. The findings were then correlated with the definitive tissue diagnosis obtained by lymph node dissection or biopsy. Final histology revealed 10 cases of metastatic lymph nodes, 11 cases of lymphoma, 12 cases of tuberculosis and 6 cases of nonspecific lymphadenitis. The significant distinguishing features for conventional ultrasound were the maximum short diameter (p=0.007) and absent of echogenic hilum (p=0.0293). The diagnostic accuracy was 43.6% (17/39 cases) and there were 17 patients with equivocal diagnosis. For elastography, "mean" (p=0.003), "area%" (p=0.009), "kurt" (p=0.0291), "skew" (p=0.014) and "cont" (p=0.012) demonstrated significant differences between groups. With 9 of the 17 patients with previous equivocal diagnoses (52.9%) definite and correct diagnoses could be obtained. The diagnostic accuracy for conventional ultrasound combined elastography was 69.2% (27/39 cases). There were differences in the diagnostic sensitivity of the two methods (p=0.0224). Ultrasound combined with elastography demonstrated higher rates of conclusive and accurate diagnoses in patients with unexplained cervical lymphadenopathy than conventional ultrasound. The quantitative program showed good correlation with the pathology of different lymph node diseases.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.534-544
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• 2022

Medical ultrasound system has been widely used to visualize the lesion for diagnostics in most medical service site including hospitals and clinics thanks to its advantages such as real time operation, ease of use, safety. Among many signal processing blocks of the system, one of the most important part that governs the image quality is the beamformer, and technologies for this part has been continuously developed in long time. The synthetic aperture imaging method, that is one of the major technologies of beamforming, was introduced to maximize utilizing the information delivered from the patient's body through the probe, and contributed to breakthrough of the image quality since it was introduced in around 1990's, and evolved continuously in decades. This paper reviews and surveys the process of development of this technology and expects future evolution.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2023

Objectives The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the shoulder lesions in patients experiencing shoulder pain through the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound during Korean medicine intervention treatments. Methods A total of 20 cases were collected, including biceps tendinitis (n=4), calcification (n=3), SASD bursitis (n=4), partial tear (n=2), full-thickness tear (n=1), tendinopathy (n=5), and impingement syndrome (n=1). Musculoskeletal ultrasound was used by Korean medicine doctors to perform real-time scanning and to explain the patient's condition during treatment sessions. Results The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound allowed Korean medicine doctors to perform treatments such as pharmacoacupuncture, acupotomy, and acupuncture more safely and effectively. Patients were able to better understand their conditions through real-time imaging and explanations provided by the doctors. Conclusions Musculoskeletal ultrasound has the potential to enhance the safety and efficacy of Korean medicine intervention treatments for patients with shoulder pain. Institutional or governmental support is needed to further promote the use of medical devices by Korean medicine doctors, ultimately leading to an increase in cases and clinical evidence.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.935-940
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• 2013

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of conventional ultrasonography and real time ultrasound elastography in differentiating degenerating cystic thyroid nodules mimicking malignancy from papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed conventional ultrasonographic and elastographic characteristics of 19 degenerating cystic thyroid nodules mimicking malignancy in 19 patients, with 30 surgically confirmed PTCs as controls. Based on size, the nodules had been grouped into less than 10mm (group A) and greater than 10 mm (group B). We evaluated conventional parameters and elasticity pattern. Color-scaled elastograms were graded as to stiffness of nodules using an elasticity pattern from I (soft) to IV (stiff). Results: Degenerating cystic thyroid nodules were similar to PTCs in conventional ultrasonographic findings, but the former frequently showed oval to round in shape (group A, 69.2% vs 18.8%, P=0.017; group B, 66.7% vs 7.14%, P=0.017) and punctuate hyperechoic foci (group A, 61.5% vs 0, P<0.001; group B, 50% vs 0, P<0.001). On real time ultrasound elastography, 7 of 13 degenerating cystic thyroid nodules in group A were pattern I, 5 were pattern II, 1 was pattern III. One degenerating cystic thyroid nodule in group B was pattern II, 5 were pattern III. The area under the curve for elastography was 0.98 in group A (sensitivity 92.3%, specificity 100%, P = 0.002), and 0.88 in group B (sensitivity 16.7%, specificity 100%, P = 0.014). Conclusions: As a dependable imaging technique, elastography helps increase the performance in differential diagnosis of degenerating cystic thyroid nodule and malignancy.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2006

M-mode imaging of the in vivo murine myocardium using optical coherence tomography (OCT) is described. Application of conventional techniques (e.g. MRI, Ultrasound imaging) for imaging the murine myocardium is problematic because the wall thickness is less than 1.5 mm (20 g mouse), and the heart rate can be as high as six hundred beats per minute. To acquire a real-time image of the murine myocardium, OCT can provide sufficient spatial resolution ($10{\mu}m$) and imaging speed (1000 A-scans/s). Strong light scattering by blood in the heart causes significant light attenuation, which makes delineation of the endocardium-chamber boundary problematic. To measure the thickness change of the myocardium during one heart beat cycle, a myocardium edge detection algorithm is developed and demonstrated.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.8 s.173
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• pp.182-191
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• 2005

It is very important to obtain a high quality of bone image for an accurate ultrasonic measurement of bone mineral density. In this study, we suggested a technique to acquire an optimal image by adapting an acoustic lens and a properly selected ultrasonic probe. Also, we have applied an image processing algorithm with which automatically makes a decision of brightness and contrast of image by generating threshold level, a composition of ultrasonic data, an elimination of noise using modified median filter, and a real time interpolation. We could confirm much improved resolution of bone image with acoustic lens attached to the ultrasonic probe and with the image processing algorithm suggested in this study. Therefore, it became possible to precisely diagnose the osteoprosis using ultrasonic imaging technique.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.57 no.11
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• pp.690-699
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• 2019

Ultrasound sonography(US) is used to evaluate various diseases of maxillofacial region including salivary glands, soft tissue and jaw lesions because of easy accessibility and no hazard of ionizing radiation. Also, US can offer dynamic study showing real-time images during diagnostic or surgical procedure. US images provide accurate information about the internal features of lesions on the jaw prior to surgical treatment. Doppler images are used to visualize the vascular distribution of the lesions and to provide additional information to enhance diagnostic value. Nevertheless, the clinical application of US imaging is limited in the dental field. This is due to the lack of knowledge about the US image and the image characteristics of the anatomical structures. It is necessary to evaluate the diagnostic value of US and evaluate its usefulness by looking at clinical cases using US images. Therefore, US imaging may be recommended as an assistant image in evaluating jaw lesions. US images provided accurate information about the internal structure of lesions on the jaw prior to surgical treatment, and diagnostic value was enhanced by visualizing the vascular distribution of the lesion using doppler imaging.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.403-414
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• 2004

In the accompanying paper, we proposed a real. time volumetric imaging method using a cross array based on receive dynamic focusing and synthetic aperture focusing along lateral and elevational directions, respetively. But synthetic aperture methods using spherical waves are subject to beam spreading with increasing depth due to the wave diffraction phenomenon. Moreover, since the proposed method uses only one element for each transmission, it has a limited transmit power. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new real. time volumetric imaging method using cross arrays based on synthetic aperture technique with linear wave fronts. In the proposed method, linear wave fronts having different angles on the horizontal plane is transmitted successively from all transmit array elements. On receive, by employing the conventional dynamic focusing and synthetic aperture methods along lateral and elevational directions, respectively, ultrasound waves can be focused effectively at all imaging points. Mathematical analysis and computer simulation results show that the proposed method can provide uniform elevational resolution over a large depth of field. Especially, since the new method can construct a volume image with a limited number of transmit receive events using a full transmit aperture, it is suitable for real-time 3D imaging with high transmit power and volume rate.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2008

Prolotherapy can be defined as the injection of growth factors or growth factor production stimulants to grow normal cells or tissue. Even though it has been a controversal procedure for decades, it is currently gaining in popularity among many physicians. The term prolotherapy was coined by Hacket in the 1950s to imply proliferation of normal tissue at ligamentous and tendinous entheses. The procedure has been described by other terms, such as sclerotherapy, regenerative injection therapy, and stimulated ligament repair. Incomplete healing from sprains or strains is common and can lead to chronic pain, joint instability and laxity, and is a risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis. Prolotherapy is commonly used for these musculoskeletal conditions which are refractory to usual care therapies. The proliferant solution and technique varies according to physicial training and preferance. Commonly reported proliferants include 10% to 25% dextrose, P2G and sodium morrhuate. High resolution ultrasound imaging of musculoskeletal tissue is increasing in popularity because of patient tolerability, low cost, ability to visualize tissue in real time motion and superior resolution of highly organized tissue such as a tendon. This procedure can be introduced by ultrasound imaging and tissue growth and repair after this procedure in a tendon or a ligament can be documented with ultrasound.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2014

Sarcopenia, or reduced muscle mass and volume, is due to various factors such as senile change, neuronal degeneration, drug, malignancy, and sepsis. Sarcopenia with the aging process has been evidenced by the decline in muscle mass by 0.5 to 1% per year with 3-5% reduction in muscle strength for 10 years between the ages of 40 and 50, and a 1-2% of decline of mass every year in people aged 60-70. Therefore, early diagnosis and understanding the mechanism of sarcopenia are crucial in the prevention of muscle loss. However, it is still difficult to image changes of muscle microstructure due to a lack of techniques. In this study, we developed an animal model using denervated rats to induce a rapid atrophy in the tibialis anterior (TA) and imaged its structural changes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) along with histologic and ultrasound analyses. Ultrasound showed changes of overall muscle size. Histology revealed that the atrophic TA muscle displayed an increased size variability of muscle fiber and inflammatory changes. Three dimensional OCT imaged the changes of perimysial grid and muscle fiber structure in real time without sacrifice. These observed advantages of multimodal imaging using OCT and ultrasound would provide clinical benefits in the diagnosis of sarcopenia.