• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.64-75
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• 2016

Purpose: In order to evaluate the relationship between the dose to the liver parenchyma and focal liver reaction (FLR) after stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), we suggest a novel method using a three-dimensional dose distribution and change in signal intensity of gadoxetate disodium-gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hepatobiliary phase images. Materials and Methods: In our method, change of the signal intensity between the pretreatment and follow-up hepatobiliary phase images of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was calculated and then threshold dose (TD) for developing FLR was obtained from correlation of dose with the change of the signal intensity. For validation of the method, TDs for six patients, who had been treated for liver cancer with SABR with 45-60 Gy in 3 fractions, were calculated using the method, and we evaluated concordance between volume enclosed by isodose of TD by the method and volume identified as FLR by a physician. Results: The dose to normal liver was correlated with change in signal intensity between pretreatment and follow-up MRI with a median $R^2$ of 0.935 (range, 0.748 to 0.985). The median TD by the method was 23.5 Gy (range, 18.3 to 39.4 Gy). The median value of concordance was 84.5% (range, 44.7% to 95.9%). Conclusion: Our method is capable of providing a quantitative evaluation of the relationship between dose and intensity changes on follow-up MRI, as well as determining individual TD for developing FLR. We expect our method to provide better information about the individual relationship between dose and FLR in radiotherapy for liver cancer.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.167-173
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• 2023

Background: Mandibular split fractures, in which the fracture occurs exclusively in the posterior wall, are uncommon. This study aimed to enhance clinicians' understanding of mandibular split fractures and offer insights for future research. Methods: This study included six patients who visited our hospital between January 2020 and June 2023 and were diagnosed with mandibular split fractures. We retrospectively collected data from patients' medical records on their age, sex, symptoms, mechanism, impact site, associated injuries, and treatment method, as well as the location, pattern, and number of fractures observed on computed tomography (CT) and panoramic images. The frequency of split fractures among all mandibular fractures was calculated. Results: The six patients included three men (50%) and three women (50%), ranging in age from 20 to 71 years (mean age, 49.8 years). The split fractures were located in the symphysis in one patient (16.7%), symphysis to parasymphysis in two patients (33.3%), parasymphysis in one patient (16.7%), and parasymphysis to the body in two patients (33.3%). Four patients (66.7%) had condylar head fractures, while two patients (33.3%) had single split fractures. The mechanism of trauma was a slip-down incident in four cases (66.7%), while two cases (33.3%) were caused by motorcycle traffic accidents. Four patients (67%) underwent intermaxillary fixation, while two patients (33%) improved with conservative treatment. Split fractures were diagnosed in all six patients on CT, whereas the fracture line was not clearly visible on panoramic images. Mandibular split fractures accounted for 5.6% of all mandibular fractures. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the clinical characteristics of rare mandibular split fractures and the diagnostic imaging findings. Furthermore, CT scans and three-dimensional image synthesis-instead of panoramic images-may be essential for accurately diagnosing mandibular fractures, including mandibular split fractures, in the future.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2023

Background: We analyzed association between viewing two-dimensional computed tomography (2D CT) images in addition to radiographs with radial head treatment recommendations after accounting for patient and surgeon factors in a survey-based experiment. Methods: One hundred and fifty-four surgeons reviewed 15 patient scenarios with terrible triad fracture dislocations of the elbow. Surgeons were randomized to view either radiographs only or radiographs and 2D CT images. The scenarios randomized patient age, hand dominance, and occupation. For each scenario, surgeons were asked if they would recommend fixation or arthroplasty of the radial head. Multi-level logistic regression analysis identified variables associated with radial head treatment recommendations. Results: Reviewing 2D CT images in addition to radiographs had no statistical association with treatment recommendations. A higher likelihood of recommending prosthetic arthroplasty was associated with older patient age, patient occupation not requiring manual labor, surgeon practice location in the United States, practicing for five years or less, and the subspecialties "trauma" and "shoulder and elbow." Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that in terrible triad injuries, the imaging appearance of radial head fractures has no measurable influence on treatment recommendations. Personal surgeon factors and patient demographic characteristics may have a larger role in surgical decision making. Level of evidence: Level III, therapeutic case-control study.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2001

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of gadobenate dimeglumine (GdBOPTA) enhanced MR imaging for the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasms. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients with histologically proven primary malignancy of the liver were evaluated before and after administration of GdBOPTA at dose 0.05 or 0.10 mmol/kg. T1-weighted spin echo (T1W-SE) and gradient echo (T1W-GRE) images were evaluated for lesion number, location, size and confidence by three off-site independent reviewers and the findings were compared to reference standard imaging (intraoperative ultrasound, computed tomography during arterial portography or lipiodol computed tomography). Results were analyzed for significance using a two-sided McNemar's test. Results: More lesions were identified on Gd-BOPTA enhanced images than on unenhanced images and there was no significant difference in lesion detection between either concentration. The largest benefit was in detection of lesions under 1 cm in size (7 to 21, 9 to 15, 16 to 18 for reviewers A, B, C respectively). In 68% of the patients with more than one lesion, Gd-BOPTA increased the number of lesions detected. Conclusion: Liver MR imaging after Gd-BOPTA increases the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasm.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.195-200
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• 2003

Purpose: Advancement of computed tomography (CT) hardware and software has allowed thin section scanning and reconstruction of fascinating 2-dimentional (2D) and 3- dimentional (3D) images. Especially, the reconstruction of 3D images of gastrointestinal tract has been used in the detection and diagnosis of pre-malignant and malignant diseases. To compare the efficacy of CT gastrography with conventional upper gastrointenstinal series (UGIs) in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: During Nov. 2002 and Mar. 2003, twenty-seven patients who had gastric cancer received both double contrast upper GI series and CT gastrography prior to radical surgery. Among these patients, nineteen had early gastric cancer (EGC) and 8 had advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Fifteen patients were male and 12 were female. The mean age was 54 yrs (range, $27\∼75$ yrs). The patients were placed on NPO and Stomach was distended with gas in fasting state prior to CT scanning. Double contrast upper GI series were performed as routine manual. CT scan was conducted in all patients using 8 or 16-channel multidetector CT in this study. The collimation and reconstruction for CT scanning were set at 2.5 mm and 1.25 mm, respectively. CT scanning was performed in the supine position. For image processing, CT gastrography, in which raysum and surface rendering images were constructed, virtual and 2D image in coronal and sagittal images were performed. The detectability of gastric cancer was assessed between UGIs and CT gastrography. Results: In AGCs, the detection rate of cancer using CT gastrography and virtual gastroscopy was higher than EGC cases. However, CT gastrography and virtual gastroscopy showed less favorable results than UGIs. Even though only a small number of cases had been studied, we might conclude that CT gastrography and virtual gastroscopy could replace UGIs in the detection of AGC cases. Conclusion: The detection rate used with CT gastrography and Virtual gastroscopy is not better than that of UGIs in early gastric cancer, however, in advanced gastric cancer cases, it is nearly equal to that of UGIs.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.431-436
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to develop an integration protocol of Nuclear Medicine image with a commercial PACS. Two independent local networks. PACS network and Nuclear Medicine network, were connected using a Nuclear Medicine DICOM gateway A DICOM converter Program was developed to convert Interfile 3.3. which is used in nuclear medicine scanners in our hospital. to DICOM 3.0. The Program converts Interfile format images to those of DICOM format and also transfers converted DICOM files to PACS DICOM gateway. PACS DICOM gateway compares and matches the DICOM image information with patient information in Hospital Information System and then saves to PACS database. The transfer protocol was designed to be able to transfer Interfile. screen dumped file. and also scanned file. We successfully transferred Nuclear Medicine images to PACS. Images transferred by Interfile transfer protocol could be further processed using various tools in PACS. The graphs, numerical information and comments could be conveniently transferred by screen dumped file. The image in a hard copy can be transferred after scanning using an ordinary scanner. The developed protocol can easily transfer Nuclear Medicine images to PACS in various forms with low cost.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.150-158
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• 2021

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) refers to acute bleeding inside the intracranial vault. Not only does this devastating disease record a very high mortality rate, but it can also cause serious chronic impairment of sensory, motor, and cognitive functions. Therefore, a prompt and professional diagnosis of the disease is highly critical. Noninvasive brain imaging data are essential for clinicians to efficiently diagnose the locus of brain lesion, volume of bleeding, and subsequent cortical damage, and to take clinical interventions. In particular, computed tomography (CT) images are used most often for the diagnosis of ICH. In order to diagnose ICH through CT images, not only medical specialists with a sufficient number of diagnosis experiences are required, but even when this condition is met, there are many cases where bleeding cannot be successfully detected due to factors such as low signal ratio and artifacts of the image itself. In addition, discrepancies between interpretations or even misinterpretations might exist causing critical clinical consequences. To resolve these clinical problems, we developed a diagnostic model predicting intracranial bleeding and its subtypes (intraparenchymal, intraventricular, subarachnoid, subdural, and epidural) by applying deep learning algorithms to CT images. We also constructed a visualization tool highlighting important regions in a CT image for predicting ICH. Specifically, 1) 27,758 CT brain images from RSNA were pre-processed to minimize the computational load. 2) Three different CNN-based models (ResNet, EfficientNet-B2, and EfficientNet-B7) were trained based on a training image data set. 3) Diagnosis performance of each of the three models was evaluated based on an independent test image data set: As a result of the model comparison, EfficientNet-B7's performance (classification accuracy = 91%) was a way greater than the other models. 4) Finally, based on the result of EfficientNet-B7, we visualized the lesions of internal bleeding using the Grad-CAM. Our research suggests that artificial intelligence-based diagnostic systems can help diagnose and treat brain diseases resolving various problems in clinical situations.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.10 no.8
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• pp.1407-1413
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• 2006

The field of medical images has been digitalized as the development of computer and the digitalization of the medical instruments. As a result it causes a lot of problems such as an illegal copy related to medical images and property right of the medical images. Therefore, digital watermarking is used for discrimination whether the data are modified or not. It is also used to protect both the property right of medical images and the private life of many patients. The proposed theories, the Non-blind and the Blind method, have two problems. One is needed an original image and the other is using a gaussian watermarking. This paper proposes the new Blind Watermarking using binary images in order to easily recognize the results of watermark. This algorism is described that an watermark of a binary image is wavelet-transformed, and then a transformed watermark is inserted in medium-band of frequency domains of original image by the Circular Input method. This method don't have any loss when image didn't have any attack. As a result Watermark can be perfectly extracted by using this algorithm. And Maximam PSNR value is improved 3.35dB. This algorithm will be improved by using gray level image and color image.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.175-179
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• 2016

Recent advances in technology of medical image have made surgical simulation that is helpful to diagnosis, operation plan, or education. Improving and enhancing the medical imaging have led to the availability of high definition images and three-dimensional (3D) visualization, it allows a better understanding in the surgical and educational field. The Real human field of view is stereoscopic. Therefore, with just 2D images, stereoscopic reconstruction process through the surgeon's head, is necessary. To reduce these process, 3D images have been used. 3D images enhanced 3D visualization, it provides significantly shorter time for surgeon for judgment in complex situations. Based on 3D image data set, virtual medical simulations, such as virtual endoscopy, surgical planning, and real-time interaction, have become possible. This article describes principles and recent applications of newer imaging techniques and special attention is directed towards medical 3D reconstruction techniques. Recent advances in technology of CT, MR and other imaging modalities has resulted in exciting new solutions and possibilities of shoulder imaging. Especially, three-dimensional (3D) images derived from medical devices provides advanced information. This presentation describes the principles and potential applications of 3D imaging techniques, simulation and printing in shoulder and elbow practice.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.111-115
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• 2005

The quality of image from the system that creates medical images by using X-ray depends on the various different reasons such as the X-ray generator, the subject and the image transmission medium. In other words, thereare various factors existing that can influence on the quality of image from the moment when the X-ray is generated and until the final image is created. Therefore, the operator who creates images at the clinical site should make continuous evaluation and observation from the final image. There are various methods of evaluating the medical images, but it is assumed that the MTF measurement method can be suitable for measuring actual or effective resolution. So in this study, the MTF measurement method by using X-ray film has been avoided and the MTF features according to the deterioration of the X-ray system have been measured by using the software (the program used Borland C++ builder software and LEAD tools software) that can measure the MTF of the digital medical images. As the result of this measurement, it has been found out through the MTF graph that the resolution and sharpness from the old x-ray generator with a many years of using and many numbers of times of using were deteriorated for the quality of image comparing to those from the new system. Also a simple and easy measurement method for the MTF from the digital medical images can be obtained in this study.