• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.481-492
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infection in hospitalized immunocompromised patients in comparison with immunocompetent patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed consecutive adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine at two academic medical centers between June 2021 and December 2022. Immunocompromised patients (with active solid organ cancer, active hematologic cancer, active immune-mediated inflammatory disease, status post solid organ transplantation, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome) were compared with immunocompetent patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of immune status on severe clinical outcomes (in-hospital death, mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit admission), severe radiologic pneumonia (≥ 25% of lung involvement), and typical CT pneumonia. Results: Of 2218 patients (mean age, 69.5 ± 16.1 years), 274 (12.4%), and 1944 (87.6%) were immunocompromised an immunocompetent, respectively. Patients with active solid organ cancer and patients status post solid organ transplantation had significantly higher risks for severe clinical outcomes (adjusted odds ratio = 1.58 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.01-2.47], P = 0.042; and 3.12 [95% CI, 1.47-6.60], P = 0.003, respectively). Patient status post solid organ transplantation and patients with active hematologic cancer were associated with increased risks for severe pneumonia based on chest radiographs (2.96 [95% CI, 1.54-5.67], P = 0.001; and 2.87 [95% CI, 1.50-5.49], P = 0.001, respectively) and for typical CT pneumonia (9.03 [95% CI, 2.49-32.66], P < 0.001; and 4.18 [95% CI, 1.70-10.25], P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients with COVID-19 breakthrough infection showed an increased risk of severe clinical outcome, severe pneumonia based on chest radiographs, and typical CT pneumonia. In particular, patients status post solid organ transplantation was specifically found to be associated with a higher risk of all three outcomes than hospitalized immunocompetent patients.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.305-312
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• 2023

Objective: Chronic enteropathy associated with SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) is a recently recognized disease. We aimed to evaluate the enterographic findings of CEAS. Materials and Methods: Altogether, 14 patients with CEAS were confirmed based on known SLCO2A1 mutations. They were registered in a multicenter Korean registry between July 2018 and July 2021. Nine of the patients (37.2 ± 13 years; all female) who underwent surgery-naïve-state computed tomography enterography (CTE) or magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) were identified. Two experienced radiologists reviewed 25 and 2 sets of CTE and MRE examinations, respectively, regarding the small bowel findings. Results: In initial evaluation, eight patients showed a total of 37 areas with mural abnormalities in the ileum on CTE, including 1-4 segments in six and > 10 segments in two patients. One patient showed unremarkable CTE. The involved segments were 10-85 mm (median, 20 mm) in length, 3-14 mm (median, 7 mm) in mural thickness, circumferential in 86.5% (32/37), and showed stratified enhancement in the enteric and portal phases in 91.9% (34/37) and 81.8% (9/11), respectively. Perienteric infiltration and prominent vasa recta were noted in 2.7% (1/37) and 13.5% (5/37), respectively. Bowel strictures were identified in six patients (66.7%), with a maximum upstream diameter of 31-48 mm. Two patients underwent surgery for strictures immediately after the initial enterography. Follow-up CTE and MRE in the remaining patients showed minimal-to-mild changes in the extent and thickness of the mural involvement for 17-138 months (median, 47.5 months) after initial enterography. Two patients required surgery for bowel stricture at 19 and 38 months of follow-up, respectively. Conclusion: CEAS of the small bowel typically manifested on enterography in varying numbers and lengths of abnormal ileal segments that showed circumferential mural thickening with layered enhancement without perienteric abnormalities. The lesions caused bowel strictures that required surgery in some patients.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제81권6호
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• pp.1348-1363
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• 2020

2018년에 새롭게 개정된 장기 손상척도는 이전 미국외상수술협회의 응급수술분류체계와 유사한 형식을 가지며, 고형장기 손상의 등급을 지정하는 기준을 영상(imaging), 수술(operative), 병리(pathologic) 세 가지 세트로 나누어 분류하였다. 2018년 개정에서 가장 중요한 변화는 거짓동맥류와 동정맥 누공을 포함한 혈관 손상의 다중검출CT (multidetector CT; 이하 MDCT) 소견을 정의하여 장기 손상척도에 통합한 것이다. 이전 장기 손상척도와 동일하게 세 가지 기준 중에 가장 높은 등급이 최종 등급이 된다. 또한 한 장기 내에 여러 개의 1등급 또는 2등급 소견이 있으면, 다발성 손상에 대해 3등급의 부여가 가능하다. 본 임상화보에서는 2018년 개정된 미국외상수술협회 장기 손상척도의 MDCT 소견을 소개하고자 한다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권5호
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• pp.1033-1052
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• 2021

방광암은 비교적 흔히 진단되는 암이며 재발이 흔해 영상의학적 검사에서 흔히 만날 수 있다. 방광암의 정확한 진단과 병기 평가는 어떤 치료를 할 것인지를 정하고 예후를 평가하는데 큰 영향을 미친다. 방광암의 임상적 병기 평가는 요도경유방광종양절제술로 진단과 치료를 겸해서 이루어졌지만, 저평가되는 경우가 흔히 있다. 수술 전 방광암의 위치, 크기, 근육층 침범 유무, 림프절전이, 원격전이, 상부요로 암 유무 등을 영상의학적 검사에서 정확히 진단 및 평가할 수 있다면 더욱 적절히 처치 및 관리를 할 수 있다. 이런 정확한 진단을 위해서는 영상을 판독하는 영상의학과 의사는 먼저 방광암의 임상적인 특징을 잘 알고 있어야 한다. 그리고 영상 검사들의 종류와 특징, 한계를 알고 있어야 한다. 최근 자기공명영상의 발달로 방광 영상의 질 및 방광암의 진단과 평가가 향상되었다. 그리고 방광 이미징 보고 및 데이터 시스템이 발표되어 객관적으로 방광암의 근육층 침범 가능성을 평가할 수 있게 되었다. 방광암 치료 종류를 알고 그에 따른 치료 후 변화에는 무엇이 있는지 어떻게 평가하는지도 알아야 하겠다. 이 종설에서는 방광 요로상피세포암의 특징과 다양한 영상의학 검사와 소견에 대해서 알아보고자 한다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권6호
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• pp.1524-1533
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• 2021

목적 인터페론-감마 분비 검사(interferon-gamma release assay; 이하 IGRA) 결과가 양성인 의료종사자의 흉부 X선(chest X-ray; 이하 CXR) 및 CT 결과를 기반으로 결핵의 발생률을 조사하고, 결핵 진단에서 진단 영상의 추가적인 역할을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법 IGRA를 시행 받은 1976명의 의료 종사자 중에서 IGRA 양성자를 후향적으로 조사하였다. 상부 폐야의 군집 결절 또는 선형 음영을 흉부 X선 양성으로 간주하였고, CT 결핵소견은 활성, 활동성미정, 비활동성, 정상으로 분류하였다. 활성 또는 활동성미정을 CT 양성으로 정의하였다. 결과 IGRA 검사 결과 255명(12.9%)에서 양성이었다. CXR과 CT는 각각 249명(99.2%)과 113명(45.0%)에서 시행되었다. CXR 양성 소견은 249명 중 7명(2.8%), CT 양성 소견은 113명 중 9명(8.0%)에서 각각 나왔다. 9명의 CT 양성 대상자 중 활성 또는 활동성미정 결핵 소견은 각각 6명(5.3%)과 3명(2.7%)에서 발견되었다. Acid-fast bacilli 염색, 배양 및 결핵에 대한 polymerase chain reaction을 포함한 미생물적 검사는 9명의 CT 양성 피험자 모두에서 음성이었다. CT 양성 피험자 9명은 경험적 항결핵약물 치료를 받았고, 이 9명 중 3명은 CXR 음성 소견이었다. 결론 IGRA 양성 의료 종사자에서 CT 검사는 무증상 결핵을 진단하는 데 도움을 주었다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권6호
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• pp.1534-1544
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• 2021

목적 전산화단층촬영에서 호흡에 의한 폐 용적의 변화가 폐 반고형결절의 크기와 용적에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 한다. 대상과 방법 총 31명의 환자에서 42개의 반고형결절이 연구에 포함되었다. 먼저 총 폐활량 상태에서 전산단층화촬영을 시행 받은 후, 결절이 포함된 부분만 일호흡용적 상태에서 추가로 촬영하였다. 각각의 반고형결절의 직경과 용적을 측정하였고, 전체 폐 용적은 결절의 중심이 있는 동측 폐의 단면적으로 추정하였다. 동일한 개인 내에서 총 폐활량과 일회 호흡량 간 측정값 변화의 유의성을 통계적으로 평가하였다. 결과 총 폐활량 상태와 비교하였을 때, 일회 호흡용적 상태에서 폐 단면적은 평균 12.7 cm², 반고형결절의 직경 및 용적은 평균적으로 각각 0.5 mm와 46.4 mm³ 감소하였다(p < 0.001). 총 폐활량 상태와 일호흡량 상태 간 폐 면적 변화는 반고형결절의 직경 변화(rho = 0.341; p = 0.027) 및 부피 변화(rho = 0.401; p = 0.014)와 유의한 양의 상관관계를 보였다. 그러나 폐 용적의 변화를 고려하여 보정한 후에는 반고형결절의 평균 직경과 부피가 총 폐활량 상태와 일호흡량 상태 간 유의한 차이가 없었다(각각 p = 0.062, p = 0.124). 결론 전산화단층촬영에서 측정한 반고형결절의 크기와 용적은 동일한 환자 내에서도 촬영 당시의 폐 용적에 유의한 영향을 받는다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권7호
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• pp.742-751
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• 2022

Objective: To assess focal mineral deposition in the globus pallidus (GP) by CT and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) of MRI scans and evaluate its clinical significance, particularly cerebrovascular degeneration. Materials and Methods: This study included 105 patients (66.1 ± 13.7 years; 40 male and 65 female) who underwent both CT and MRI with available QSM data between January 2017 and December 2019. The presence of focal mineral deposition in the GP on QSM (GP_QSM) and CT (GP_CT) was assessed visually using a three-point scale. Cerebrovascular risk factors and small vessel disease (SVD) imaging markers were also assessed. The clinical and radiological findings were compared between the different grades of GP_QSM and GP_CT. The relationship between GP grades and cerebrovascular risk factors and SVD imaging markers was assessed using univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: GP_CT and GP_QSM were significantly associated (p < 0.001) but were not identical. Higher GP_CT and GP_QSM grades showed smaller gray matter (p = 0.030 and p = 0.025, respectively) and white matter (p = 0.013 and p = 0.019, respectively) volumes, as well as larger GP volumes (p < 0.001 for both). Among SVD markers, white matter hyperintensity was significantly associated with GP_CT (p = 0.006) and brain atrophy was significantly associated with GP_QSM (p = 0.032) in at univariable analysis. In multivariable analysis, the normalized volume of the GP was independently positively associated with GP_CT (p < 0.001) and GP_QSM (p = 0.002), while the normalized volume of the GM was independently negatively associated with GP_CT (p = 0.040) and GP_QSM (p = 0.035). Conclusion: Focal mineral deposition in the GP on CT and QSM might be a potential imaging marker of cerebral vascular degeneration. Both were associated with increased GP volume.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권8호
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• pp.794-802
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of single-shot whole thoracic time-resolved MR angiography (TR-MRA) to identify the feeding arteries of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) and reperfusion of the lesion after embolization in patients with multiple PAVMs. Materials and Methods: Nine patients (8 females and 1 male; age range, 23-65 years) with a total of 62 PAVMs who underwent percutaneous embolization for multiple PAVMs and were subsequently followed up using TR-MRA and CT obtained within 6 months from each other were retrospectively reviewed. All imaging analyses were performed by two independent readers blinded to clinical information. The visibility of the feeding arteries on maximum intensity projection (MIP) reconstruction and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) TR-MRA images was evaluated by comparing them to CT as a reference. The accuracy of TR-MRA for diagnosing reperfusion of the PAVM after embolization was assessed in a subgroup with angiographic confirmation. The reliability between the readers in interpreting the TR-MRA results was analyzed using kappa (κ) statistics. Results: Feeding arteries were visible on the original MIP images of TR-MRA in 82.3% (51/62) and 85.5% (53/62) of readers 1 and 2, respectively. Using the MPR, the rates increased to 93.5% (58/62) and 95.2% (59/62), respectively (κ = 0.760 and 0.792, respectively). Factors for invisibility were the course of feeding arteries in the anteroposterior plane, proximity to large enhancing vessels, adjacency to the chest wall, pulsation of the heart, and small feeding arteries. Thirty-seven PAVMs in five patients had angiographic confirmation of reperfusion status after embolization (32 occlusions and 5 reperfusions). TR-MRA showed 100% (5/5) sensitivity and 100% (32/32, including three cases in which the feeding arteries were not visible on TR-MRA) specificity for both readers. Conclusion: Single-shot whole thoracic TR-MRA with MPR showed good visibility of the feeding arteries of PAVMs and high accuracy in diagnosing reperfusion after embolization. Single-shot whole thoracic TR-MRA may be a feasible method for the follow-up of patients with multiple PAVMs.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권7호
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• pp.647-659
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• 2023

Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the effect of correct occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA) on intracardiac blood flow and thrombus formation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional (3D)-printed phantoms. Materials and Methods: Three life-sized 3D-printed left atrium (LA) phantoms, including a pre-occlusion (i.e., before the occlusion procedure) model and correctly and incorrectly occluded post-procedural models, were constructed based on cardiac computed tomography images from an 86-year-old male with long-standing persistent AF. A custom-made closed-loop flow circuit was set up, and pulsatile simulated pulmonary venous flow was delivered by a pump. 4D flow MRI was performed using a 3T scanner, and the images were analyzed using MATLAB-based software (R2020b; Mathworks). Flow metrics associated with blood stasis and thrombogenicity, such as the volume of stasis defined by the velocity threshold ($\left|\vec{V}\right|$ < 3 cm/s), surface-and-time-averaged wall shear stress (WSS), and endothelial cell activation potential (ECAP), were analyzed and compared among the three LA phantom models. Results: Different spatial distributions, orientations, and magnitudes of LA flow were directly visualized within the three LA phantoms using 4D flow MRI. The time-averaged volume and its ratio to the corresponding entire volume of LA flow stasis were consistently reduced in the correctly occluded model (70.82 mL and 39.0%, respectively), followed by the incorrectly occluded (73.17 mL and 39.0%, respectively) and pre-occlusion (79.11 mL and 39.7%, respectively) models. The surfaceand-time-averaged WSS and ECAP were also lowest in the correctly occluded model (0.048 Pa and 4.004 Pa^-1, respectively), followed by the incorrectly occluded (0.059 Pa and 4.792 Pa^-1, respectively) and pre-occlusion (0.072 Pa and 5.861 Pa^-1, respectively) models. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a correctly occluded LAA leads to the greatest reduction in LA flow stasis and thrombogenicity, presenting a tentative procedural goal to maximize clinical benefits in patients with AF.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권11호
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• pp.1044-1054
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether a deep learning reconstruction (DLR) method improves the image quality, stent evaluation, and visibility of the valve apparatus in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) when compared with filtered back projection (FBP) and hybrid iterative reconstruction (IR) methods. Materials and Methods: CCTA images of 51 patients (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 63.9 ± 9.8 years, 36 male) who underwent examination at a single institution were reconstructed using DLR, FBP, and hybrid IR methods and reviewed. CT attenuation, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and stent evaluation, including 10%-90% edge rise slope (ERS) and 10%-90% edge rise distance (ERD), were measured. Quantitative data are summarized as the mean ± SD. The subjective visual scores (1 for worst -5 for best) of the images were obtained for the following: overall image quality, image noise, and appearance of stent, vessel, and aortic and tricuspid valve apparatus (annulus, leaflets, papillary muscles, and chordae tendineae). These parameters were compared between the DLR, FBP, and hybrid IR methods. Results: DLR provided higher Hounsfield unit (HU) values in the aorta and similar attenuation in the fat and muscle compared with FBP and hybrid IR. The image noise in HU was significantly lower in DLR (12.6 ± 2.2) than in hybrid IR (24.2 ± 3.0) and FBP (54.2 ± 9.5) (p < 0.001). The SNR and CNR were significantly higher in the DLR group than in the FBP and hybrid IR groups (p < 0.001). In the coronary stent, the mean value of ERS was significantly higher in DLR (1260.4 ± 242.5 HU/mm) than that of FBP (801.9 ± 170.7 HU/mm) and hybrid IR (641.9 ± 112.0 HU/mm). The mean value of ERD was measured as 0.8 ± 0.1 mm for DLR while it was 1.1 ± 0.2 mm for FBP and 1.1 ± 0.2 mm for hybrid IR. The subjective visual scores were higher in the DLR than in the images reconstructed with FBP and hybrid IR. Conclusion: DLR reconstruction provided better images than FBP and hybrid IR reconstruction.