• International Journal of Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2015

The main source of noise in computed tomography (CT) images is a quantum noise, which results from statistical fluctuations of X-ray quanta reaching the detector. This paper proposes a neural network (NN) based hybrid filter for removing quantum noise. The proposed filter consists of bilateral filters (BFs), a single or multiple neural edge enhancer(s) (NEE), and a neural filter (NF) to combine them. The BFs take into account the difference in value from the neighbors, to preserve edges while smoothing. The NEE is used to clearly enhance the desired edges from noisy images. The NF acts like a fusion operator, and attempts to construct an enhanced output image. Several measurements are used to evaluate the image quality, like the root mean square error (RMSE), the improvement in signal to noise ratio (ISNR), the standard deviation ratio (MSR), and the contrast to noise ratio (CNR). Also, the modulation transfer function (MTF) is used as a means of determining how well the edge structure is preserved. In terms of all those measurements and means, the proposed filter shows better performance than the guided filter, and the nonlocal means (NLM) filter. In addition, there is no severe restriction to select the number of inputs for the fusion operator differently from the neuro-fuzzy system. Therefore, without concerning too much about the filter selection for fusion, one could apply the proposed hybrid filter to various images with different modalities, once the corresponding noise characteristics are explored.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.351-354
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• 2011

Objective : This investigation was conducted to evaluate a new, safe entry point for the C2 pedicle screw, determined using the anatomical landmarks of the C2 lateral mass, the lamina, and the isthmus of the pars interarticularis. Methods : Fifteen patients underwent bilateral C1 lateral mass-C2 pedicle screw fixation, combined with posterior wiring. The C2 pedicle screw was inserted at the entry point determined using the following method : 4 mm lateral to and 4 mm inferior to the transitional point (from the superior end line of the lamina to the isthmus of the pars interarticularis). After a small hole was made with a high-speed drill, the taper was inserted with a 30 degree convergence in the cephalad direction. Other surgical procedures were performed according to Harm's description. Preoperatively, careful evaluation was performed with a cervical X-ray for C1-C2 alignment, magnetic resonance imaging for spinal cord and ligamentous structures, and a contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional computed tomogram (3-D CT) for bony anatomy and the course of the vertebral artery. A 3-D CT was checked postoperatively to evaluate screw placement Results : Bone fusion was achieved in all 15 patients (100%) without screw violation into the spinal canal, vertebral artery injury, or hardware failure. Occipital neuralgia developed in one patient, but this subsided after a C2 ganglion block. Conclusion : C2 transpedicular screw fixation can be easily and safely performed using the entry point of the present study. However, careful preoperative radiographic evaluation, regardless of methods, is mandatory.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.321-326
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• 2015

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic role of metabolic response to chemotherapy, determined by FDG-PET, in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with metastatic NSCLC were analyzed for prognostic factors related to overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Disease evaluation was conducted with FDG-PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT prior to and at the end of first-line chemotherapy. Response evaluation of 19 of 30 patients was also performed after 2-3 cycles of chemotherapy. Morphological and metabolic responses were assessed according to RECIST and PERCIST, respectively. Results: The median OS and PFS were 11 months and 6.2 months, respectively. At the end of first-line chemotherapy, 10 patients achieved metabolic and anatomic responses. Of the 19 patients who had an interim response analysis after 2-3 cycles of chemotherapy, 3 achieved an anatomic response, while 9 achieved a metabolic response. In univariate analyses, favorable prognostic factors for OS were number of cycles of first-line chemotherapy, and achieving a response to chemotherapy at completion of therapy according to the PERCIST and RECIST. The OS of patients with a metabolic response after 2-3 cycles of chemotherapy was also significantly extended. Anatomic response at interim analysis did not predict OS, probably due to few patients with anatomic response. In multivariate analyses, metabolic response after completion of therapy was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Conclusions: Metabolic response is at least as effective as anatomic response in predicting survival. Metabolic response may be an earlier predictive factor for treatment response and OS in NSCLC patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.371-374
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• 2015

Pulmonary pneumatoceles are air-filled thin-walled spaces within the lung and are rare in adult cases of pneumonia. We report the case of a 74-year-old male who was admitted with a cough and sputum production. He had been treated with oral dexamethasone since a brain tumorectomy 6 months prior. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed a large pneumatocele in the right middle lobe and peripheral pneumonic consolidation. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed; cultures identified extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (ESBL) producing Proteus mirabilis. A 4-week course of intravenous ertapenem was administered, and the pneumatocele with pneumonia resolved on follow-up chest CT. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pulmonary pneumatocele caused by ESBL-producing P. mirabilis associated with pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2004

A 69 year-old female was admitted to the hospital due to intermittent hemoptysis for 1 month. Emergent bronchoscopy revealed mass-like lesion almost completely obstructing right intermediate bronchus with multiple hemorrhagic spots. Bronchial arterial angiography was performed but failed to find out actively bleeding vessel. Spiral computerized tomography of the chest showed contrast enhanced bulging of the posterior portion of right main bronchus into the lumen of right intermediate bronchus suggesting Rasmussen aneurysm. The AFB smear of bronchial washing fluid was positive. Pulmonary arterial angiography and embolization were not performed due to improvement of clinical course with medical conservative care. Here we report a case of endobronchial mass-like Rasmussen aneurysm grossly suspected by bronchoscopy and diagnosed by spiral CT, which successfully managed by medical conservative care with antituberculous agents.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2015

This study investigated the accuracy of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and computed tomography angiography (CTA) in terms of reflecting the actual vascular length. Three-dimensional time of flight (3D TOF) MRA, 3D contrast-enhanced (CE) MRA, volume-rendering after CTA and maximum intensity projection were investigated using a flow model phantom with a diameter of 2.11 mm and area of $0.26cm^2$. 1.5 and 3.0 Tesla devices were used for 3D TOF MRA and 3D CE MRA. CTA was investigated using 16 and 64 channel CT scanners, and the images were transmitted and reconstructed by volume-rendering and maximum intensity projection, followed by conduit length measurement as described above. The smallest 3D TOF MRA measure was $2.51{\pm}0.12mm$ with a flow velocity of 40 cm/s using the 3.0 Tesla apparatus, and $2.57{\pm}0.07mm$ with a velocity of 71.5 cm/s using the 1.5 Tesla apparatus; both images were magnified from the actual measurement of 2.11 mm. The measurement with the 16 channel CT scanner was smaller ($3.83{\pm}0.37mm$) than the reconstructed image on maximum intensity projection. The images from CTA from examination apparatus and reconstruction technique were all larger than the actual measurement.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.487-492
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• 2021

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a systemic disease characterized by dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with abundant IgG4-positive plasma cells and fibroblast proliferation. The retroperitoneal involvement of IgG4-related disease usually appears as a soft-tissue mass covering the abdominal aorta or entrapping the ureters, resulting in hydronephrosis. Here, we present a case of IgG4-related disease with retroperitoneal involvement in a 75-yearold woman with an unusual manifestation. A preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an irregular infiltrative retroperitoneal mass invading the normal anatomic barriers, raising the suspicion of malignancy or inflammation. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a homogeneous progressive enhancement of the mass.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1334-1340
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• 2021

Amyloidosis has been reported to be associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Amyloidosis and lymphoma can be related in two ways: lymphoma-associated systemic amyloidosis and peritumoral amyloidosis with lymphoma. We report a rare case of peritumoral amyloidosis in a patient with head and neck mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. On CT, the oropharyngeal mass showed an irregularly shaped soft-tissue density with multifocal amorphous calcifications and heterogeneous enhancement. On MRI, the mass showed heterogeneous low signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. On contrast-enhanced MR images, the mass showed good enhancement with several inner non-enhancing foci. Concurrent pathologies, such as peritumoral amyloidosis, should be considered when calcifications are noted in patients with pre-treatment lymphoma.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 2001

We present a case of a 31 year-old male patient with tuberculous pericarditis with mediastinal mass that showed increased uptake on Gallium-67 image. Gallium-67 scan was performed to evaluate the activity of the superior mediastinal mass, which was detected on chest CT. A rim of intense activity around the heart was observed, but increased uptake was not seen in the mediastinum. However, on maximal contrast-enhanced SPECT images, a small focus of faint uptake was observed in the superior mediastinum. This finding implied that there was an active tuberculosis in the pericardium and inflammation in the superior mediastinal mass. This case demonstrated that Gallium-67 scinitigraphy was helpful for the diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.269-274
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• 1997

Parotid canalicular adenoma is a benign neoplasm that is predominantly composed of branching and interconnecting cords of single or double rows of columnar epithelium in a very loose stroma. There has been considerable confusion in the literature concerning the terminology of canalicular adenoma. However, thesedays it has been newly-recognized as a discrete entity of the monomorphic adenoma group. Canalicular adenoma has a remarkable predilection for occurrence in the minor salivary glands such as the upper lip, in contrast with basal cell adenoma that occurs predominantly in major salivary glands such as the parotid gland. We have experienced a case of canalicular adenoma of the parotid gland in a 65-year-old woman. The patient had a palpable mass on the preauricular area for the last 15 years and recently noticed a mild pain and discomfort on the mass. Neck ultrasonography showed a low echogenic mass of 1.0cm in diameter in the right parotid gland and a neck CT scan showed a well-enhanced rectangular-shaped mass. A superficial parotidectomy was performed for the lesion and the final pathologic diagnosis turned out to be 'multifocal canalicular adenoma'.