• Journal of KIISE:Software and Applications
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.9-18
• /
• 2010

This paper proposes a deformable registration method using a demon algorithm for aligning the lungs between end-exhale and end-inhale CT scans. The lungs are globally aligned by affine transformation and locally deformed by a demon algorithm. The use of floating gradient force allows a fast convergence in the lung regions with a weak gradient of the reference image. The active-cell-based demon algorithm helps to accelerate the registration process and reduce the probability of deformation folding because it avoids unnecessary computation of the displacement for well-matched lung regions. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated through comparisons of methods that use a reference gradient force or a combined gradient force as well as methods with and without active cells. The results show that the proposed method can accurately register lungs with large deformations and can reduce the processing time considerably.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.85 no.3
• /
• pp.566-578
• /
• 2024

Purpose This study investigated whether the respiratory phase during pleural puncture in CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) affects complications. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 477 lung biopsy CT scans performed during free breathing. The respiratory phases during pleural puncture were determined based on the table position of the targeted nodule using CT scans obtained during free breathing. We compared the rates of complications among the inspiratory, mid-, and expiratory respiratory phases. Logistic regression analysis was performed to control confounding factors associated with pneumothorax. Results Among the 477 procedures, pleural puncture was performed during the expiratory phase in 227 (47.6%), during the mid-phase in 108 (22.6%), and during the inspiratory phase in 142 (29.8%). The incidence of pneumothorax was significantly lower in the expiratory puncture group (40/227, 17.6%; p = 0.035) and significantly higher in the mid-phase puncture group (31/108, 28.7%; p = 0.048). After controlling for confounding factors, expiratory-phase puncture was found to be an independent protective factor against pneumothorax (odds ratio = 0.571; 95% confidence interval = 0.360-0.906; p = 0.017). Conclusion Our findings suggest that pleural puncture during the expiratory phase may reduce the risk of pneumothorax during image guided PTNB.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.7-10
• /
• 2013

Purpose : This study evaluated the effects of breathing protocols on matching results of PET and CT images using two breathing protocols such as free breathing and acquisition in holding the breathing after the normal expiration in acquiring CT images. Materials and Methods: Whole body FDG PET and CT images of 200 patients (mean age: 58 (range 20~84), 103 males and 97 females) using Discovery VCT (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, USA). When taking CT images, subjects were asked to breathe freely (free breathing, n=100) or hold the breathing after the normal expiration (Hold, n=100). In the whole body image coronal section where PET and CT were matched, the matched error of the boundary between diaphragm and liver was measured in length. The matched errors were compared according to breathing protocol by age, sex and disease. The verification of statistical significance was made by SPSS 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) via one way ANOVA. Results: The matched error in all was 0.87 mm. According to breathing protocol, there was no significant difference in matched error as1.01 mm in free breathing and as 0.73 mm in hold breathing (p=.688). The matched error according to sex did not show significant difference as 1.08 mm of males, and 0.93 mm of females in free breathing (p=.517). In hold breathing, there was no significant difference as 0.79 mm of males and 0.66 mm of females (p=.738). There was no significant difference in matched error by age between free breathing and hold breathing (free breathing (p=.728), hold (p=.465). There was no significant difference in matched error by disease between free breathing and hold breathing (free breathing (p=.197), hold (p=.518) Conclusion: The difference in matched error between free breathing and hold breathing was less than 5 mm at 99%. There was no statistically significant difference in matched error by breathing protocol, age and disease. It was proved that there was no difference in matched error between PET and CT images according to breathing protocol during PET/CT scan.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.65 no.6
• /
• pp.457-463
• /
• 2008

Background: The attenuation of the lung parenchyma increases on expiration as a consequence of decreased air in the lung. Expiratory CT scans have been used to show air trapping in patients with chronic airway disease and diffuse parenchymal disease and also in asymptomatic smokers. Although there have been several reports investigating the regional air trapping on a expiratory CT scan, there have been only a few reports evaluating the changes of whole lung attenuation with considering its clinical significance, and especially in healthy subjects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of an expiratory increase of lung attenuation with age and smoking in healthy subjects. Methods: Asymptomatic subjects who underwent a low dose chest CT scan as part of a routine check-up and who showed normal spirometry and a normal inspiratory CT scan were recruited for this study. We excluded the subjects with significant regional air trapping seen on their expiratory CT scan. Lung attenuation was measured at 24 points of both the inspiratory and expiratory CT scans, respectively, for 100 subjects. The correlations between an expiratory increase of the lung attenuation and the amount of smoking, the patient's age and the results of spirometric test were assessed. Results: There were 87 men and 13 women included in this study. Their median age was 49.0 years old (range:25~71). Sixty current smokers, 24 ex-smokers and 16 non-smokers were included. As age increased, the expiratory increase of lung attenuation was reduced at every measuring points (r=-0.297~-0.487, Pearson correlation). The statistical significance was maintained after controlling for the effect of smoking. Smoking was associated with a reduction of the expiratory increase of lung attenuation. But the significance was reduced after controlling for the patient's age. The $FEV_1$, FVC, $FEV_1/FVC$ and $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$ were not associated with an expiratory increase of lung attenuation. Conclusion: The expiratory increase of lung attenuation in subjects with a normal inspiratory CT scan was negatively correlated with age. It was also reduced in heavy smokers. It may reflect aging and the smoking related changes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.2
• /
• pp.133-141
• /
• 2005

"소기도"라 일컬어지는 해부학적 부위는 말단부 막성 세기관지와 호흡성 세기관지로 구성된 직경 3 mm 이하의 기도부위이다. 방사선학적으로는 고해상 전산화단층촬영(CT)에서 흉막직하의 직경 약 1.0 cm으로 이루어진 2차 소엽내의 중심부에 위치하게 된다. 그러므로 이 부위의 질환때에는 중심소엽성 세기관지내의 가득찬 물질로 인해 나타나는 중심소엽성 결절들과 선상음영들이 보인다. 이외의 소견으로는 중심소엽성 폐기종, 모자이크 모양의 폐음영, 분절하 무기폐등이 있고, 호기시 CT 촬영에서 나타나는 공기포획이 있다. 최근에는 다검출기형식의 CT (multidetector CT)의 발전으로 인하여 이차원 재구성 (2 dimension reformat) 관상면, 시상면 CT 스캔을 매우 명확하고 빨리 얻을 수 있고, 기관지에 대한 삼차원 볼륨 영상 (3 dimentional volume rendering image) 등을 얻어서 가시적인 효과를 높이고 진단의 정확성에 보다 더 접근하게 되었다. 소기도를 침범하는 질환은 일차적인 것과 이차적인 것이 있는데, 병리조직학적으로는 원인별로 흡연으로 인한 소기도 질환, 세포성 세기관지염, 수축성 세기관지염, 증식성 세기관지염등으로 구분하며 여기에는 이와 같은 병리질환을 일으키는 다양한 원인들이 포함된다. 이외에도 드문 질환으로 미만성 범세기관지염, 광물질에 의한 소기도 질환등이 있다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Inteligent Information System Society Conference
• /
• 2006.06a
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2006

간세포암은 우리나라에서 전체 암사망자 중 17.2%로 3번째의 흔한 사망원인이며, 간암에 의한 사망률은 인구 10만 명당 약 21명에 이른다. 본 논문에서는 간 내부에서 발생하는 간세포암을 CT 영상에서 자동으로 추출하는 방법을 제안하여 간세포암의 보조진단으로서의 유용성에 대해 알아보고자 한다. 간 내부의 종양을 추출하기 위해 흉부의 윗부분에서 시작하여 2.5mm의 간격으로 약 45-50장 정도를 촬영한 CT 영상들을 대상으로 먼저 간 영역을 추출한다. 간 영역 추출은 먼저 관심이 없는 외부 영역을 갈비뼈를 중심으로 제거한 후 영상의 밝기 정보를 이용하여 각 기관의 영역을 분할 한다. 분할된 영역들은 위 아래로 인접한 영상에서의 분할 영역들과 밝기 값을 비교하여 적절하게 병합하는 3차원적 접근방법을 사용한다. 간 영역은 여러개의 영역들 중에서 간 영역의 구조 및 위치 등의 정보를 활용하여 추출한다. 추출된 간 영역에서 종양 판별과 추출을 위해 종양이 가지는 특징을 분석하여 종양을 추출한다. 전형적인 간세포암은 과혈관성 종양이므로 조영증강 CT 영상에서 주위보다 밝은 색으로 나타나며, 팽창 형성장을 보일 경우에는 구형으로 나타나는 특징이 있다. 이에, 주위 보다 밝은 색을 가지고 둥근형태를 가지는 영역을 종양의 후보영역으로 선정한 후, 그 영상의 위와 아래로 연결되는 영상에서도 같은 위치에서 같은 특징을 보이는 영역이 있으면 간 내부의 종양으로 판별하여 추출한다. 제안된 간 영역 및 간 종양 추출 방법의 정확성을 판별하기 위하여 CT 영상을 대상으로 실험하여 영상의학 전문의가 판단한 결과와 비교하였다. 간 영역 추출은 정확히 모두 추출되었으며, 간 종양 추출 및 판별은 전문의의 보조 진단도구로 활용할 수 있는 가능성이 매우 높다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.emantic Similarity Measure 등을 단계적으로 수행하여 자동화되고 정확한 규칙식별을 하고자 한다. 이러한 방법들의 조합으로 인하여 규칙구성요소 추출이 되지 않을 후보 단어들의 수를 줄여서 보다 더 정확하고, 지능적인 규칙구성요소 추출 방법론을 제시하고 구현하여 지식관리자의 규칙습득에 대한 부담을 줄여 주고자 한다. 도움을 받을 수 있게 되었다.을 거치도록 되어있다. 교통주제도는 국가의 교통정책결정과 관련분야의 기초자료로서 다양하게 활용되고 있으며, 특히 ITS 노드/링크 기본지도로 활용되는 등 교통 분야의 중요한 지리정보로서 구축되고 있다..20{\pm}0.37L$, 72시간에 $1.33{\pm}0.33L$로 유의한 차이를 보였으므로(F=6.153, P=0.004), 술 후 폐환기능 회복에 효과가 있다. 4) 실험군과 대조군의 수술 후 노력성 폐활량은 수술 후 72시간에서 실험군이 $1.90{\pm}0.61L$, 대조군이 $1.51{\pm}0.38L$로 유의한 차이를 보였다(t=2.620, P=0.013). 5) 실험군과 대조군의 수술 후 일초 노력성 호기량은 수술 후 24시간에서 $1.33{\pm}0.56L,\;1.00{\ge}0.28L$로 유의한 차이를 보였고(t=2.530, P=0.017), 술 후 72시간에서 $1.72{\pm}0.65L,\;1.33{\pm}0.3L$로 유의한 차이를 보였다(t=2.540, P=0.016). 6) 대상자의 술 후 폐환기능에 영향을 미치는 요인은 성별로 나타났다. 이에 따른 폐환기능의 차이를 보면, 실험군의 술 후 노력성 폐활량이 48시간에 남자($1.78{\pm}0.61L$)가 여자(

• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.174-182
• /
• 2010

In this study, we evaluated feasibility of applying MTV (Metabolic Target Volume) to respiratory gated radiotherapy for more accurate treatment using various SUV (Standard Uptake Value) from PET images. We compared VOI (Volume of Interest) images from 50%, 30% and 5% SUV (standard uptake volume) from PET scan of an artificial target with GTV (Gross Tumor Volume) images defined by percentage of respiratory phase from 4D-CT scan for respiratory gated radiotherapy. It is found that the difference of VOI of 30% SUV is reduced noticeably comparing with that of 50% SUV in longitudinal direction with respect to total GTV of 4D-CT image. Difference of VOI of 30% SUV from 4D-PET image defined by respiratory phase from 25% inhalation to 25% exhalation, and GTV from 4D-CT with the same phase is shown below 0.6 cm in maximum. Thus, it is better to use 4D-PET images than conventional PET images for applying MTV to gated RT. From the result that VOI of 5% SUV from 4D-PET agrees well with reference image of 4D-CT in all direction, and the recommendation from department of nuclear medicine that 30% SUV be advised for defining tumor range, it is found that using less than 30%SUV will be more accurate and practical to apply MTV for respiratory gated radiotherapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.34-38
• /
• 2017

Purpose During PET/CT examinations, the movements of internal organs caused by respiration are captured in images during multiple breathing cycles, resulting in the increases in tumor size and effects on SUV. Respiratory synchronized systems were used to evaluate tumor sizes and SUV changes. Materials and Methods Biograph mCT 64 was used for the equipment, and RPM and Anzai systems were used for the respiratory synchronized systems. We used point source and micro-phantom for an experimentation. We were performed on 12 patients who had solid tumors discovered at the base of the lung or at the top of the liver from August through September 2016. The PET images of the exhalation-to-breathing state and the CT images of the post-exhalation suspension state were gained to evaluate changes in radioactivity concentration (KBq/mL), SUVmax, cylinder diameter (mm), and tumor diameter (cm) under the conventional Static, RPM, and Anzai methods. Results The result of measuring the radioactivity concentration of the point source was RPM 94% and Anzai 91% against Static, respectively. In the two cylinders of different radioactivity in the micro-phantom, the SUVmax increased to RPM 61% and 78%, and Anzai 58% and 77% against Static, whereas the cylinder diameters decreased by RPM -26% and -28%, and Anzai -28% and -26%, each respectively. Among the patients, the SUVmax increased from a minimum of RPM 8.2% to a maximum of 94.4% against Static, and from a minimum of Anzai 7.6% to a maximum of 68.3%, respectively. As for the tumor diameters, a minimum of RPM -7.6% to a maximum of -28.9% were achieved, while the Anzai fell by a minimum of -9.6% to a maximum of -27.7%, respectively. There was no significant difference discovered in the phantom study between the RPM and Anzai, yet there was a meaningful difference in the patients' tumors (P<0.05). Conclusion The respiratory synchronized systems of RPM and Anzai yielded no significant difference in the phantom study in which the respiration was executed at regular intervals. However, it was discovered that the patients had a meaningful difference for the irregular respiratory cycle and inter-system differences. Still, the respiratory synchronized systems would be useful for the accurate diagnosis and SUV measurement as the tumor decreased in size against the existing Static and the SUV increased.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.34 no.8
• /
• pp.749-754
• /
• 2010

Knowledge of the characteristics of airflow in nasal cavities is essential to understand the physiological and pathological aspects of nasal breathing. In our laboratory, a series of experimental investigations on the nasal airflow was conducted; airflow in models of normal and deformed nasal cavities under both constant and periodic flow conditions was studied by PIV. Some of the patients with asymmetric nasal cavities experience pain or discomfort, while other patients with asymmetric nasal cavities do not experience pain. Airflows inside asymmetric nasal cavities with and without obstructions due to a bent nasal septum are investigated both experimentally by PIV and numerically by using the general-purpose FVM code in order to determine the reason for the above-mentioned discrepancy. The comparisons between two cases are tried. Heat and humidity distribution are investigated numerically.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.85-93
• /
• 2012

Purpose: It is essential to minimize the respiratory-induced motion of involved organs in the Tomotherapy for tumor located in the chest and abdominal region. However, the application of breathing control system to Tomotherapy is limited. This study was aimed to investigate the possible application of the ABCHES system and its efficacy as a means of breathing control in the tomotherapy treatment. Materials and Methods: Five subjects who were treated with a Hi-Art Tomotherapy system for lung, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic tumors. All patients undertook trained on two breathing methodes using an ABCHES, free breathing methode and shallow breathing methode. When the patients could carry out the breathing control, 4D-CT scan was a total of 10 4D tomographic images were acquired. A radiologist resident manually drew the tumor region, including surrounding nomal organs, on each of CT images at the inhalation phase, the exhalation phase and the 40% phase (mid-inhalation) and average CT image. Those CT images were then exported to the Tomotherapy planning station. Data exported from the Tomotherapy planning station was analyzed to quantify characteristics of dose-volume histograms and motion of tumors. Organ motions under free breathing and shallow breathing were examined six directions, respectively. Radiation exposure to the surrounding organs were also measured and compared. Results: Organ motion is in the six directions with more than a 5 mm displacement. A total of 12 Organ motions occurred during free breathing while organ motions decreased to 2 times during shallow breathing under the use of Abches. Based on the quantitative analysis of the dose-volume histograms shallow breathing showed lower resulting values, compared to free breathing, in every measure. That is, treatment volume, the dose of radiation to the tumor and two surrounding normal organs (mean doses), the volume of healthy tissue exposed to radiation were lower at the shallow breathing state. Conclusion: This study proposes that the use of ABCHES is effective for the Tomotherapy treatment as it makes shortness of breathing easy for patients. Respiratory-induced tumor motion is minimized, and radiation exposure to surrounding normal tissues is also reduced as a result.