• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2016

Objective : Hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (hMMD) is associated with a poor clinical course. Furthermore, poorer clinical outcomes occur in cases of recurrent bleeding. However, the effect of hemodynamic insufficiency on rebleeding risk has not been investigated yet. This study evaluated the prognostic implications of the perfusion status during the clinical course of adult hMMD. Methods : This retrospective study enrolled 52 adult hMMD patients between April 1995 and October 2010 from a single institute. Demographic data, clinical and radiologic characteristics, including hemodynamic status using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and follow up data were obtained via a retrospective review of medical charts and imaging. Statistical analyses were performed to explore potential prognostic factors. Results : Hemodynamic abnormality was identified in 44 (84.6%) patients. Subsequent revascularization surgery was performed in 22 (42.3%) patients. During a 58-month (median, range 3-160) follow-up assessment period, 17 showed subsequent stroke (hemorrhagic n=12, ischemic n=5, Actuarial stroke rate $5.8{\pm}1.4%/year$). Recurrent hemorrhage was associated with decreased basal perfusion (HR 19.872; 95% CI=1.196-294.117) and omission of revascularization (10.218; 95%; CI=1.532-68.136). Conclusion : Decreased basal perfusion seems to be associated with recurrent bleeding. Revascularization might prevent recurrent stroke in hMMD by rectifying the perfusion abnormality. A larger-sized, controlled study is required to address this issue.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.322-331
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• 2009

In clinical SPECT, FWHM provides quality information of the images obtained under different observing conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the optimum cut off level with comparison of FWHM according to cut off levels in each filter - Band limited, Sheep-Logan, Hanning, Hamming, Low pass cosine, Parazen and Butterworth filter in a SPECT camera. I recorded images along the X, Y, Z-axis with 99mTcO4 point source and measured FWHM with profile curves. In conclusion, all filters showed the longest figures of FWHM with cut off level 0.4, which has the worst image resolution. The images with cut off level 0.7 showed best image resolution. The shortest average of FWHM in MS2 was $11.07\pm0.07mm$ using the Butterworth filter, in MS3 it was $8.44\pm0.19mm$ through using the Hanning filter.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.77-82
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• 2017

We proposed the objective ROC analysis method based on the setting of threshold value for evaluation of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image. This proposed ROC analysis method uses the quantification computational threshold value to each signal on the SPECT image. The SPECT images for this study were acquired by using Monte Carlo n-particle extended simulation code (MCNPX, Ver. 2.6.0, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA). The basic SPECT detectors and specific water phantom were realized in the simulation, and we could get the simulation results by the simulation operation. We tried to analyze the reconstructed images using threshold value application based objective ROC method. We can get the accuracy information of reconstructed region in the image. This proposed ROC technique can be helpful when we have to evaluate the weak signal for the NM image. In this study, the proposed threshold value based computational ROC analysis method can provide better objectivity than the conventional ROC analysis method.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.434-440
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of cranioplasty on dynamics of cerebral blood flow[CBF] and cerebrovascular reserve capacity[CVRC], and to investigate the usefulness of single photon emission computed tomography [SPECT] as a prognostic factor for neurological improvement after cranioplasty. Methods : Between March 2003 and December 2005, a prospective study was performed on 24 patients who had undergone total 25 cranioplasty operations. Cerebral blood flow velocities in the middle cerebral artery[MCA] and internal carotid artery[ICA] were obtained by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography[TCD]. The CVRC was assessed by SPECT in the natural state and after stimulation with 1g of acetazolamide. Neurological improvement after cranioplasty was compared between patients who showed hyperactivity to acetazolamide-activated SPECT [Group 1, n=7] and hypoactivity to acetazolamide-activated SPECT [Group 2, n=17]. These measurements were obtained two weeks prior to and two weeks after cranioplasty. Results : The blood flow velocities at the opposite site to the cranioplasty as well as at the cranioplasty site were significantly increased [P<0.05]. Compared with Group 2, there was significant increase in CBF and neurological improvement after cranioplasty in Group 1. Conclusion : Among patients with surgical bony defects, the patients who had normal reactivity of the CVRC showed a significant increase in CBF and neurological improvement after cranioplasty. The authors suggest that CVRC measurement prior to surgery may be an important prognostic factor for neurological improvement after cranioplasty.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.603-606
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• 2010

Paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis, a remote effect of cancer without nervous system metastasis, is rare, especially in childhood. Here, we report a case of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis associated with an ovarian mature teratoma in an adolescent girl. The 15-year-old girl developed neuropsychiatric symptoms, memory loss, seizures, and unconsciousness. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were normal, while single photon emission computed tomography imaging showed hypoperfusion in both temporal lobes. Ultrasound and MRI of the abdomen revealed a left ovarian cystic mass. The patient experienced a significant recovery of cognitive function after surgical resection of the tumor, which was pathologically identified as a mature ovarian teratoma, and treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 2015

We developed an evans blue-indocyanine green-$^{99m}Tc$-human serum albumin conjugate for sentinel lymph node mapping and we describe its unique potential usage for clinical implications. This conjugate has combined the strengths of visible blue dye, near-infrared fluorescence and radioisotope into one single conjugate without any additional weakness/disadvantage. All the components of evans blue-indocyanine green-$^{99m}Tc$-human serum albumin are safe and of low cost, and they have already been clinically used. This conjugate was stable in the serum, it showed a long retention time in the lymphatic system and the lymph nodes showed a much higher signal-to-noise ratio after the conjugate was injected intradermally into the paw of mice. Both the single-photon emission computed tomography and near-infrared fluorescent images of the mice were successfully obtained at the same time as the excised sentinel lymph nodes showed blue color. The visual color, near-infrared fluorescence and gamma ray from this agent could be complementary for each other in all the steps of sentinel lymph node sampling: exploring and planning sentinel lymph node before excision with visualization of the exact sentinel lymph node location during an operation. Therefore, the triple modal agent will possibly be very ideal for sentinel lymph node mapping because of the high signal-to-noise ratio for non-invasive imaging and its complementary multimodal nature, easy preparation and safety. It is promising for clinical applications and it may have great advantages over the traditional single modal methods.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 1991

The value of $^{99}Tc-RBC$ scintigraphy and SPECT in the diagnosis of hepatic hemangioma was evaluated in 27 patients with 38 hemangiomas and 13 patients with 15 nonhemangiomas. Twenty four (63.2%) of 38 hemangiomas were detected by planar delayed RBC imaging, whereas 30 (78.9%) hemangiomas were detected by the delayed RBC SPECT. Increase in sensitivity was noted in nodules less than 2 cm in diameter. The smallest hemangioma shown by delayed RBC SPECT was 0.9 cm in diameter. All of nonhemangiomatous lesions show normal or decreased activity in delayed blood pool images. We concluded that $^{99m}Tc-RBC$ SPECT is an accurate method for the detection of hepatic hemangioma and is more sensitive than planar imaging in depicting small lesions.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1996

Since the publication of the first bone scintiscans in 1962 three decades have elapsed. The bone scan has made great strides during this period, becoming one of the most commonly used nuclear imaging tests. In spite of the progress, however, the specificity of bone scan has remained relatively low. As the result it is a common practice to seek additional information from radiograph, CT scan and MR image, which is euphemistically termed as "image fusion or co-location." The basic reason is the inapplicability of the classical piecemeal analysis to interpreting planar and SPECT bone scans. Such analysis has its base on the observation of elemental features of morphology, which include the size, shape, contour, location, topography and internal architecture. The physiochemical profile may well also be included. Understandably, however, the miniatured images of the planar bone scan cannot provide these features in acceptable detail and the same holds true even with SPECT Images which are but sliced views of the reconstructed planar scans. Fortunately pinhole scanning has the capacity to portray both the morphological and chemical profiles of bone and joint diseases in greater detail through true magnification. The magnitude of pinhole scan resolution is practically comparable to that of radiography as far as gross anatomy is concerned. Thus, we feel strongly that pinhole scanning is a potential breakthrough of the long-lamented low specificity of bone scan. This presentation will discuss the fun-damentals, advantages and disadvantages and the most recent advances of pinhole scanning. It high-lights the actual clinical applications of pinhole scanning in relation to the diagnosis of infective and inflammatory diseases of bone and joint.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 1998

Objectives: The authors tried to analyze the results of carotid artery sacrifice with or without preoperative carotid evaluation. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients undergone carotid sacrifice were evaluated. Carotid balloon occlusion test (BOT) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with technetium-99m-labeled hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime ($^{99m}Tc-HMPAO$) were used for preoperative carotid evaluation. Results: The causes of carotid artery sacrifice consisted of the neck mass involving the carotid artery, spontaneous aneurysmal rupture, and traumatic pseudoaneurysm. Five patient had postoperative neurologic complications and two of them had permanent neurologic deficits. Conclusion: The authors stress that the preoperative evaluation in carotid artery sacrifice is imperable, and the BOT with SPECT can be used in selecting the method of treatment. But since these tests cannot predict the postoperative outcome perfectly, careful perioperative care of the patients should be exercised regardless of the results of the preoperative evaluation.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.328-332
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• 2016

Background: Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a new radiation therapy. In BNCT, there exists some very critical problems that should be solved. One of the severest problems is that the treatment effect cannot be known during BNCT in real time. We are now developing a SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) system (BNCT-SPECT), with a cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor detector. BNCT-SPECT can obtain the BNCT treatment effect by measuring 478 keV gamma-rays emitted from the excited state of $^7Li$ nucleus created by $^{10}B(n,{\alpha})$ $^7Li$ reaction. In the previous studies, we investigated the feasibility of the BNCT-SPECT system. As a result, the S/N ratio did not meet the criterion of S/N > 1 because deterioration of the S/N ratio occurred caused by the influence of Compton scattering especially due to capture gamma-rays of hydrogen. Materials and Methods: We thus produced an arrayed detector with two CdTe crystals to test cross talk phenomenon and to examine an anti-coincidence detection possibility. For more precise analysis for the anti-coincidence detection, we designed and made a collimator having a similar performance to the real BNCT-SPECT. Results and Discussion: We carried out experiments with the collimator to examine the effect of cross talk of scattering gamma-rays between CdTe elements more practically. As a result of measurement the coincidence events were successfully extracted. Conclusion: We are now planning to carry out evaluation of coincidence rate from the measurement and comparison of it with the numerical calculations.