• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.293-301
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• 2019

Soft tissue masses of the extremities and torso are a common problem encountered by orthopaedic surgeons. Although these soft tissue masses are often benign, orthopaedic surgeons need to recognize the key features differentiating benign and malignant masses. An understanding of the epidemiology and clinical presentation of soft tissue masses is needed to develop a practical approach for evaluation and surgical management. Size and depth are the two most important factors on which triage decisions should be based. In a differential diagnosis of a tumor, it is important to know the characteristics of the soft tissue mass through detailed history taking and physical examinations before the diagnostic procedures. A variety of imaging studies, such as simple radiography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, computed tomography, bone scan, and angiography can be used to diagnose tumors. Know the ledge of advantages and disadvantages of each imaging study is essential for confirming the characteristics of the tumor that can be observed in the image. In particular, ultrasonography is convenient because it can be performed easily in an outpatient clinic and its cost is lower than other image studies. On the other hand, the accuracy of the test is affected by the skill of the examiner. A biopsy should be performed to confirm the tumor and be performed after all imaging studies have been done but before the final treatment of soft tissue tumors. When a biopsy is to be performed, careful attention to detail with respect to multidisciplinary coordination beforehand, cautious execution of the procedure to minimize complications, and expedient follow-up and referral to a musculoskeletal oncologist when appropriate, are essential.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate difference in fascicle behavior of the medial gastrocnemius during the locomotion with varying intensities, such as gait and one-legged and two-legged vertical jumping. Methods : Six subjects (3 males and 3 females; age: $27.2{\pm}1.6yrs.$, body mass: $62.8{\pm}9.8kg$, height: $169.6{\pm}8.5cm$) performed normal gait (G) at preferred speed and maximum vertical jumping with one (OJ) and two (TJ) legs. While subjects were performing the given tasks, the hip, knee and ankle joint motion and ground reaction force was monitored using a 8-infrared camera motion analysis system with two forceplates. Simultaneously, electromyography of the triceps surae muscles, and the fascicle length of the medial gastrocnemius were recorded using a real-time ultrasound imaging machine. Results : Comparing to gait, the kinematic and kinetic parameters of TJ and OJ were found to be significantly different. Along with those parameters, change in the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle-tendon complex (MTC) length ($50.57{\pm}6.20mm$ for TJ and $44.14{\pm}5.39mm$ for OJ) and changes in the fascicle length of the MG ($18.97{\pm}3.58mm$ for TJ and $20.31{\pm}4.59mm$ for OJ) were observed. Although the total excursion of the MTC and the MG fascicle length during the two types of jump were not significantly different, however the pattern of length changes were found to be different. For TJ, the fascicle length maintained isometric longer during the propulsive phase than OJ. Conclusion : One-legged and two-legged vertical jumping use different muscle-tendon interaction strategies.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2001

Objective: The purpose of this study was to make a guideline of uterine artery embolization for the treatment of uterine leiomyomas accompanying with adenomyosis in Korea. Materials and Methods : We performed the retrospective study for 37 women who had uterine leiomyomas accompanying with adenomyosis. Bilateral uterine artery embolization was performed in 37 patients (age range 25-65) during 17 months with pain, hypermenorrhea, urinary frequency etc due to leiomyomas. Ultrasound imaging was performed before the procedure and at mean 6.9 months after the procedure. Results: All procedures were technically successful. Mean clinical follow-up was 12.8 months. Minor complication occurred in 82% patients after the procedure. After imaging follow-up (mean, 6.9 months postprocedure), median uterine volume decreased 34.4%, and dominant myoma volume decreased 86%. There was no statistical difference in uterine volume reduction and dominant myoma size reduction whether occluding agents was polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol plus gelfoam, and gelfoam, and whether ultrasound measured Resistance Index value before the procedure was low or high. Conclusion: Primary candidates for uterine artery embolization include those with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas who no longer des ire fertility but wish to avoid surgery or are poor surgical risks. To our study, uterine volume reduction and dominant myoma size reduction in patients who had adenomyosis were similar to previous other studies in patients who had not adenomyosis. Therefore adenomyosis should not be considered as a contraindication for uterine artery embolization. Because there is little data about subsequent reproductive potential after this procedure, it should not be routinely advocated for infertile women. Further investigation is warranted for occluding agents and Resistance Index.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.284-291
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• 2013

The importance of ultrasound examination in the field of medical imaging has been emphasized and the interest in sonographic image evaluation is growing. However image evaluations by the non-standardized criteria and methods, so establishment of legal provisions and objective evaluation criteria are needed. In this study, we used SNR to find out more quantitative way and supplement the limitations of the existing phantom image evaluation. The results of acquired 8 images using ATS-539 multipurpose phantom were compared in SNR of sensitivity and gray-scale dynamic range. In the result of the experiment, excellent equipment of existing phantom images are G1, S1 and G2 in regular sequence. In SNR of sensitivity, G1, S1 and G2 and in SNR of gray-scale dynamic range, S1 G1 and G2 in order. In the conclusion, all the experiment results did not show big difference and regular pattern neither. Therefore, the new evaluation measures should be used with the existing phantom image evaluation method for more objective and quantitative evaluation of the ultrasound imaging device.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2014

The patellar clunk syndrome is one of the patellofemoral complication, caused by formation of the fibrous nodule at the suprapatellar region after total knee arthroplasty. The symptom involves painful catching, crepitus and clunk during knee extension. It has been mainly but not exclusively associated with the posterior stabilized total knee system. The fibrous nodule is entrapped in the femoral intercondylar notch of the femoral component during flexion and as the knee is extended, it displaces back to the trochlear groove abruptly and the typical symptoms occur. The risk of developing this complication is primarily related to the design of the femoral component and higher incidence was noted with earlier designs of posterior stabilized knee prosthesis. Modifications have been made to the femoral component to optimize the kinematics of the patellofemoral joint and thereby reduced the incidence of patellar clunk syndrome but did not eliminate the problem completely. Clinical examination is the gold standard of diagnosis and imaging study has been used as a possible adjunct to diagnosis. Especially ultrasonography is an imaging modality, which can be easily performed to detect the fibrous nodule on the quadriceps tendon. We report a case of patellar clunk syndrome which was diagnosed with ultrasonography.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.857-864
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• 2019

Many countries, including Canada, operate a sonographer license system separately from a radiological technologist license. However, in Korea, radiological technologists perform ultrasound imaging under the guidance of doctors. Therefore, in order to have the opportunity to provide a systematic education by analyzing the job competency of the radiological technologist's ultrasound imaging, based on the Canadian National Competency Profile (NCP) lists, this study measured the job content validity of the job competences and detailed competencies required for performing ultrasonography in Korea. From the results of comparing and analyzing the importance of the core competencies included in the Korean radiological technologist's job competencies and the degree of job performance, the average overall importance was 4.087, the average of overall performance was 3.640, showing that the importance was higher than the performance and that there was a statistically significant difference. In conclusion, 'A Communication', 'B Professional responsibilities', 'D Operation of equipment' and 'G Workplace health and safety' showed high job content validity. However, it is said that as 'C Patient assessment and care', 'E Critical thinking and problem solving', and 'H Image' showed low job content validity, it is necessary to seek ways to strengthen and complement these competencies.

• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.147-163
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine how horse-riding exercise would be effective on the stroke patients' muscle thickness of lower extremity. The 30 stroke patients who were hospitalized in a hospital located in G metropolitan city were selected for this study. These subjects were randomly placed in a horse-riding exercise group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The horse-riding exercise group received three 20-minute exercises a week for a total of 6 weeks. An ultrasound imaging equipment was used to measured The thicknesses of the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and gluteus medius (GM). After the completion of a 6-week exercise program, same measurement was conducted for all study subjects. The data were analyzed using a paired t-test and independent t-test to determine the statistical significance. As a result, muscle thickness was significantly differentiated before and after the intervention in each group. The thicknesses of all the four muscles significantly increased after exercise in the horse-riding exercise group. The thicknesses of the RF, GM, and TA significantly increased after exercise in the control group. In conclusion, horse-riding exercise increased the thickness of the lower extremity skeletal muscles by stabilizing the knees and activating the extensor muscles of the lower extremities.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.866-877
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• 2022

Objective: The optimal imaging approach for evaluating pathological nipple discharge remains unclear. We investigated the value of adding ductography to ultrasound (US) for evaluating pathologic nipple discharge in patients with negative mammography findings. Materials and Methods: From July 2003 to December 2018, 101 women (mean age, 46.3 ± 12.2 years; range, 23-75 years) with pathologic nipple discharge were evaluated using pre-ductography (initial) US, ductography, and post-ductography US. The imaging findings were reviewed retrospectively. The standard reference was surgery (70 patients) or > 2 years of follow-up with US (31 patients). The diagnostic performances of initial US, ductography, and post-ductography US for detecting malignancy were compared using the McNemar's test or a generalized estimating equation. Results: In total, 47 papillomas, 30 other benign lesions, seven high-risk lesions, and 17 malignant lesions were identified as underlying causes of pathologic nipple discharge. Only eight of the 17 malignancies were detected on the initial US, while the remaining nine malignancies were detected by ductography. Among the nine malignancies detected by ductography, eight were detected on post-ductography US and could be localized for US-guided intervention. The sensitivities of ductography (94.1% [16/17]) and post-ductography US (94.1% [16/17]) were significantly higher than those of initial US (47.1% [8/17]; p = 0.027 and 0.013, respectively). The negative predictive value of post-ductography US (96.9% [31/32]) was significantly higher than that of the initial US (83.3% [45/54]; p = 0.006). Specificity was significantly higher for initial US than for ductography and post-ductography US (p = 0.001 for all). Conclusion: The combined use of ductography and US has a high sensitivity for detecting malignancy in patients with pathologic nipple discharge and negative mammography. Ductography findings enable lesion localization on second-look post-ductography US, thus facilitating the selection of optimal treatment plans.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.912-923
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to validate the risk stratification system (RSS) and biopsy criteria for cervical lymph nodes (LNs) proposed by the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included a consecutive series of preoperative patients with thyroid cancer who underwent LN biopsy, ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT) between December 2006 and June 2015. LNs were categorized as probably benign, indeterminate, or suspicious according to the current US- and CT-based RSS and the size thresholds for cervical LN biopsy as suggested by the KSThR. The diagnostic performance and unnecessary biopsy rates were calculated. Results: A total of 277 LNs (53.1% metastatic) in 228 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 47.4 years ± 14) were analyzed. In US, the malignancy risks were significantly different among the three categories (all P < 0.001); however, CT-detected probably benign and indeterminate LNs showed similarly low malignancy risks (P = 0.468). The combined US + CT criteria stratified the malignancy risks among the three categories (all P < 0.001) and reduced the proportion of indeterminate LNs (from 20.6% to 14.4%) and the malignancy risk in the indeterminate LNs (from 31.6% to 12.5%) compared with US alone. In all image-based classifications, nodal size did not affect the malignancy risks (short diameter [SD] ≤ 5 mm LNs vs. SD > 5 mm LNs, P ≥ 0.177). The criteria covering only suspicious LNs showed higher specificity and lower unnecessary biopsy rates than the current criteria, while maintaining sensitivity in all imaging modalities. Conclusion: Integrative evaluation of US and CT helps in reducing the proportion of indeterminate LNs and the malignancy risk among them. Nodal size did not affect the malignancy risk of LNs, and the addition of indeterminate LNs to biopsy candidates did not have an advantage in detecting LN metastases in all imaging modalities.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.117-126
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• 2008

Recent advances in medical imaging technologies have enabled the high-resolution data acquisition. Therefore visualization of such large data set on standard graphics hardware became a popular research theme. Among many visualization techniques, we focused on bricking method which divided the entire volume into smaller bricks and rendered them in order. Since it switches bet\W8n bricks on main memory and bricks on GPU memory on the fly, to achieve better performance, the number of these memory swapping conditions has to be minimized. And, because the original bricking algorithm was designed for regular volume data such as CT and MR, when applying the algorithm to ultrasound volume data which is based on the toroidal coordinate space, it revealed some performance degradation. In some areas near bricks' boundaries, an orthogonal viewing ray intersects the single brick twice, and it consequently makes a single brick memory to be uploaded onto GPU twice in a single frame. To avoid this redundancy, we divided the volume into bricks allowing overlapping between the bricks. In this paper, we suggest the formula to determine an appropriate size of these shared area between the bricks. Using our formula, we could minimize the memory bandwidth. and, at the same time, we could achieve better rendering performance.