• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2021

Background: Endobronchial lung cancer (EBLC) and bronchial anthracofibrosis (BAF) share similar symptoms and radiological findings. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and radiological differences between BAF and EBLC, both of which were confirmed by bronchoscopy. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with BAF or EBLC from 2008 to 2014. Data were derived from a bronchoscopy registry made since January 1, 2008. Clinical and radiological characteristics of both diseases were analyzed. Results: Among 3,214 patients who underwent bronchoscopy, 167 and 117 patients were enrolled in BAF and EBLC groups, respectively. BAF occurred more predominantly in older non-smoking female patients with a higher chance of tuberculosis (38.3%) than EBLC (6.0%). Cough, sputum, and dyspnea were common symptoms reported for both groups. Bronchoscopic findings revealed that BAF lesions were more common in multiple lobar bronchi (85.0%) or bilateral bronchi (73.7%). Radiologic findings revealed that bronchial stenosis was the most commonly found lesion in both groups (49.1% and 78.6%, respectively). Rates of peribronchial calcification and bronchial wall thickening were higher in the BAF group. The number of patients with lymph node calcification was also higher in the BAF group. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated characteristics of clinical and radiologic findings of BAF and EBLC. Increasing the awareness of both diseases may help clinicians differentiate these two diseases from each other, thus avoiding unnecessary invasive diagnostic procedures.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.550-558
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a biologically heterogeneous tumor characterized by varying degrees of aggressiveness. The current treatment strategy for HCC is predominantly determined by the overall tumor burden, and does not address the diverse prognoses of patients with HCC owing to its heterogeneity. Therefore, the prognostication of HCC using imaging data is crucial for optimizing patient management. Although some radiologic features have been demonstrated to be indicative of the biologic behavior of HCC, traditional radiologic methods for HCC prognostication are based on visually-assessed prognostic findings, and are limited by subjectivity and inter-observer variability. Consequently, artificial intelligence has emerged as a promising method for image-based prognostication of HCC. Unlike traditional radiologic image analysis, artificial intelligence based on radiomics or deep learning utilizes numerous image-derived quantitative features, potentially offering an objective, detailed, and comprehensive analysis of the tumor phenotypes. Artificial intelligence, particularly radiomics has displayed potential in a variety of applications, including the prediction of microvascular invasion, recurrence risk after locoregional treatment, and response to systemic therapy. This review highlights the potential value of artificial intelligence in the prognostication of HCC as well as its limitations and future prospects.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.211-218
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• 2022

Purpose: We report on the 10-year clinical hip function and radiologic outcomes of patients who underwent hip arthroplasty using a COREN stem. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 224 primary cementless hip arthroplasty implantations were performed using a COREN stem between 2009 and 2011; among these, evaluation of 128 hips was performed during a minimum follow-up period of 10 years. The mean age of patients was 65.4 years (range, 40-82 years) and the mean duration of follow-up was 10.8 years (range, 10-12 years). Evaluation of clinical hip function and radiologic implant outcomes was performed according to clinical score, thigh pain, and radiologic analysis. Results: Dramatic improvement of the mean Harris hip score (HHS) from 59.4 preoperatively to 93.5 was observed at the final follow-up (P≤0.01). Stable fixation was demonstrated for all implants with no change in position except for one case of Vancouver type B2 periprosthetic femur fracture. A radiolucent line (RLL) was observed in 16 hips (12.5%). Thigh pain was observed in only two hips (1.6%) at the final follow-up. There were no cases of osteolysis around the stem. The survival rate for the COREN stem was 97.7%. Conclusion: Good long-term survival with excellent clinical and radiological outcomes can be achieved using the COREN femoral stem regardless of Dorr type.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2014

Large volume of $6{\times}6{\times}12mm^3$ CdZnTe ${\gamma}$-ray detector was fabricated with CdZnTe single crystals grown by Traveling Heater Method (THM) to evaluate the energy resolution of 662 keV in $^{137}Cs$. Hole tailing effect which originated from the large mobility difference in electron and hole degrade energy resolution of radiation detector and its effects become more severe for a large volume detectors. Generally, single carrier collection technique is very useful method to remove/minimize hole tailing effect and thereby improvement in energy resolution. Virtual Frisch-grid technique is also one of single charge collection method through weighting potential engineering and it is very simple and easily applicable one. In this paper, we characterized CZT detector grown by THM and evaluated the effectiveness of virtual Frisch-grid technique for a high energy gamma-ray detector. The proper position and width of virtual Frisch-grid was determined from electric field simulation using ANSYS Maxwell ver. 14.0. Energy resolution of 2.2% was achieved for the 662 keV ${\gamma}$-peak of $^{137}Cs$ with virtual Frisch-grid CdZnTe detector.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2014

Bone density measurement use of diagnosis of osteoporosis and it is an important indicator for treatment as well as prevention. But errors in degree of precision of BMD can be occurred by status of patient, bone densitometer and radiological technologist. Therefore the author evaluated that how BMD changes according to the condition of the patient. As Lumbar region, which could lead to substantial effects on bone density by diverse factors such as the water, food, intentional bowels. We recognized a change of bone mineral density in accordance with the height of the water tank and in the presence or absence of the gas using the Aluminum Spine Phantom. We also figured out the influence of bone mineral density by increasing the water and food into a target on the volunteers. Measured bone mineral density through Aluminum Spine Phantom had statistically significant difference accordance with increasing the height of water tank(p=0.026). There was no significant difference in BMD according to the existence of the bowl gas(p=0.587). There was no significant difference in a study of six people targeted volunteers in the presence or absence of the food(p=0.812). And also there was no significant difference according to the existence of water(p=0.618). If it is not difficult to recognize the surround of bone in measuring BMD of lumbar bone, it is not the factor which has the great effect on bone mineral density whether the test is after endoscopic examination of large intestine and patient's fast or not.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2012

In a normal x-ray examination, the cooperation of a patient in positioning greatly influences the improvement of work performance, the quality of the images and the reduction in time spent on the examination. An attempt was made to discover the connection between an examination information printout and the effects of the examination by informing the patient before the examination on the examination positions in order to increase the level of cooperation by the patient and by surveying the degree of satisfaction of the patient during the examination proceedings. An examination information printout was prepared on five positions that patients consider to be difficult while receiving normal x-ray examinations and were shown to 257 male and female patients between the ages of 30 to 79 who had visited this hospital between January 1 to February 29, 2012 or to a person who had accompanied the patients before the examination to research the degree of satisfaction regarding the printout. In addition, the examination explanation printout was given to Radiologic Technologists with over 1 year experience in this hospital to use while taking the x-rays and the degree of satisfaction was surveyed and it was examined if the increase of the degree of satisfaction had an effect on the reduction in the examination time. The patients who utilized the examination information printout revealed results of approximately a 7.8% higher degree of satisfaction among the patients who had previous experience receiving x-ray examinations compared to those were having an x-ray for the first time. In the age groups between 30 to 70 years of age, the age group in the 30's revealed the lowest level of satisfaction at approximately 69% and the group in the 50's showed the highest degree of satisfaction of 87.94%. In the survey of the Radiologic Technologists, 85% responded that they were satisfied. In the question that stated "Will the examination information printouts reduce the time involved in unnecessary conversations with the patients?," the responses showed a 95% degree of satisfaction. The degree of satisfaction was high over the examination information printout by both the patients and the Radiologic Technologists. Although the effects of examination time reduction varied based on the ages of the patients and physical conditions that they were in and could not be given measurement values, it was able to be seen through the survey that reduction of the unnecessary communication between the patient and the Radiologic Technologists contributed to the increase in the degree of satisfaction. As a result, both the patients and the Radiologic Technologists had an increased degree of satisfaction over the examination information printout and it was possible for improvements to be made in the quality of medical service provided as well. Nevertheless, it is considered that a more developed manual in terms of quality and quantity must be produced using a more systematic approach and design.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.3347-3352
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• 2010

It is recommended that the door of control room is closed during radiography to protect a radiologic technologist. However, for those patients such as of emergency or pediatrics, the door must be kept open unavoidably to apply immediate medical administration and treatment on the potential case of emergency which could be happened through the course of radiography. In addition, it could be efficient by reducing patients waiting time when the door is open for a general case. This study was conducted to evaluate practical exposure rate to a radiologic technologist when the door is open during the radiography, and to find out the ways to minimize radiation exposure and to increase the efficiency simultaneously. Measuring practical exposure rate was fulfilled with glass dosimeter, and it was 2.02 mGy/week at the location of radiologic technologist under the condition that the door is open during the radiography, which was about 2.3 times higher than the 100 mR/week. It means that the considerable amount of scattered rays through the door opening, and increase exposure rate at the radiologic technologist. Hence we confirmed that a radiologic technologist probably overexposed if the door is open during the radiography. It was also confirmed by the Monte Carlo simulation that the exposure rate could be reduced up to approximately 1/100 by change only the door opening direction. In conclusion, since the proper door opening direction provides same shielding effect whether it is open or close, the door opening direction need to be considered when it is installed at radiography facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2014

The aim of this retrospective research was to investigate the influence of the patient's arm position on radiation dose and scanning during CT. Chest CT image created image degradation, artifact and overdose to the patient due to the difference of the chest thickness. Therefore, the patient's arm should up position during the CT chest examination. In 2012, 1,642 patients underwent chest CT examination in Seoul K hospital. 118 chest CT examination performed hands down position. The average DLP value of the CT chest arm up examination was 275 $mGy{\cdot}cm$. The average DLP value of the CT chest arm down examination was 312.46 $mGy{\cdot}cm$. In the retrospective study with same patient, The average DLP value of the CT chest examination arm up vigorously was 267.5 $mGy{\cdot}cm$. The average DLP value of the CT chest arm down examination was 307.5 $mGy{\cdot}cm$. Chest CT scan without raising arm created linear artifact due to the lack of X-ray photons which is the thickest part of the human body of shoulder area. In conclusion, arm positioning patients' arms above the shoulders at CT of the chest increases image quality and substantially reduces effective radiation dose.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.353-360
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• 2012

Diverse designs of collimator have been applied to Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) according to the purpose of acquisition; thus, it is necessary to reflect geometric characteristic of each collimator for successive image reconstruction. This study carry out reconstruction algorithm for imaging system in nuclear medicine with pinhole collimator. Especially, we study to solve sampling problem which caused in the system model of pinhole collimator. System model for a maximum likelihood expectation maximization (MLEM) was developed based on the geometry of the collimator. The projector and back-projector were separately implemented based on the ray-driven and voxel-driven methods, respectively, to overcome sparse sampling problem. We perform phantom study for pinhole collimator by using geant4 application for tomographic emission(GATE) simulation tool. The reconstructed images show promising results. Designed iterative reconstruction algorithm with unmatched system model effective to remove sampling problem artefact. Proposed algorithm can be used not only for pinhole collimator but also for various collimator system of imaging system in nuclear medicine.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2014

In this study, we surveyed the current status, satisfaction and demand of radiologic technologist continuing education for 93 radiologic technologists who participated in the continuing education. To understand the current status and general evaluation and to find out the improvement direction, survey was conducted on 3 categories: participation, satisfaction and demand of continuing education. In addition, we analyzed the continuing education implementation status and the management system by collecting related regulations. As a result, the education completion rates of radiologic technologists from 2010 to 2012 were respectively 42.6%, 43.4% and 34.2%; the rates were similar to other medical technician's average education completion rates. According to the survey, in case of participation, the most frequent answer was 'more than five times less than 10 times per year' with 48.4% and in satisfaction section, the most common answer was 'Average(3)' with 34.4%. In demand of continuing education section, 32.8% of the respondents chose 'Clinical skill training in major field'. In the results of this research, continuing education needs to be managed in the direction of helping radiologists improve their personal ability and self development. Furthermore, to meet the demand of radiologists, the quality of continuing education should be improved to satisfy the educatee.