• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the contrast effect if a saline flush following low-volume contrast medium bolus improves vascular and parenchymal enhancement using a saphenous vein in abdominal CT for small animals. Six clinically healthy beagle dogs underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced CT. They were divided into nine groups (each group, n = 6), according to the volume of contrast medium 1, 2, and 3 mL/kg, and volume of the saline solution 0, 5, and 10 mL. Dynamic CT scanning was performed at the hepatic hilum level. The maximum contrast enhancement, time to maximum enhancement, and time to equilibrium phase were calculated from the time attenuation curves. Mean attenuation values for all groups were measured in the aorta, portal vein, and liver. After contrast enhancement, grading of image quality regarding surrounding artifacts and evaluation of the hepatic hilum structures was performed. For comparison of the effect of the contrast material and saline solution doses, differences in mean attenuation values between the contrast medium 2 mL/kg without saline flush group and the remaining groups, and between contrast medium 3 mL/kg without saline flush group and the remaining groups, were analyzed for statistical significance. There were no significant differences between with and without saline flushing at the same contrast medium dose groups. There were no significant differences in peak values between the 3 mL/kg dose of contrast medium alone and the 2 mL/kg dose of contrast medium with saline solution flush. However, there was a significant difference in peak values between the 3 mL/kg dose of the contrast medium without the saline flush group and the 2 mL/kg dose of the contrast medium alone group. Grades of the artifacts were not significantly different in the saline flush regardless of the dose of the contrast medium. Using 2 mL/kg of contrast medium with saline solution flush resulted in similar liver parenchyma attenuation, compared with using 3 mL/kg of contrast medium without saline solution flush. In CT evaluation of hepatic parenchymal diseases, using 2 mL/kg of contrast medium with saline solution flush may yield decreased risk of contrast nephropathy and cost-saving.

• 한국의학물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국의학물리학회 2004년도 제29회 추계학술대회 발표논문집
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• pp.100-103
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• 2004

본 연구에서는 PET/CT시스템에서 CT영상을 이용한 감쇠 보정 시 조영제가 PET영상에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위해 팬텀실험과 모의실험을 수행하였다. 다양한 농도로 희석한 조영제를 채운 플라스틱 병을 스티로폼을 이용하여 전신 팬텀 내에 고정시킨 후 투과 영상을 획득하였다. 모의실험을 위해 인체 기관 중 간을 가진 수학적 방출 스캔 맵과 투과 스캔 맵을 각각 만들었다. 간에서 조영제가 비 균일하게 증강된 투과 스캔 맵, 간에 조영제의 증강이 있는 투과스캔 맵과 없는 투과 스캔 맵, 간에 있는 종양에 조영제의 hypo-attenuating이 있는 투과 스캔 맵, 그리고 각각의 다른 조영제의 감쇠 정도를 가지는 간을 구현한 투과 스캔 맵을 각각 만들고 이를 이용하여 방출 영상을 감쇠 보정하였다. 팬텀실험을 통해 조영제의 농도에 따라 감쇠 정도가 달라짐을 확인하였다. 모의실험을 통해 감쇠 보정된 방출 영상이 조영제에 의해 영향을 받고, 또한 인공산물이 발생할 수 있음을 확인하였다. 따라서 조영제와 같은 물리적 인자가 감쇠 보정에 미치는 영향을 충분히 이해하고 정량적 분석 또는 진단 등에 고려하여야 할 것으로 생각한다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.28-36
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• 2001

Objective: To provide a systematic overview of the effects of various parameters on contrast enhancement within the same population, an animal experiment as well as a computer-aided simulation study was performed. Materials and Methods: In an animal experiment, single-level dynamic CT through the liver was performed at 5-second intervals just after the injection of contrast medium for 3 minutes. Combinations of three different amounts (1, 2, 3 mL/kg), concentrations (150, 200, 300 mgI/mL), and injection rates (0.5, 1, 2 mL/sec) were used. The CT number of the aorta (A), portal vein (P) and liver (L) was measured in each image, and time-attenuation curves for A, P and L were thus obtained. The degree of maximum enhancement (Imax) and time to reach peak enhancement (Tmax) of A, P and L were determined, and times to equilibrium (Teq) were analyzed. In the computed-aided simulation model, a program based on the amount, flow, and diffusion coefficient of body fluid in various compartments of the human body was designed. The input variables were the concentrations, volumes and injection rates of the contrast media used. The program generated the time-attenuation curves of A, P and L, as well as liver-to-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) contrast curves. On each curve, we calculated and plotted the optimal temporal window (time period above the lower threshold, which in this experiment was 10 Hounsfield units), the total area under the curve above the lower threshold, and the area within the optimal range. Results: A. Animal Experiment: At a given concentration and injection rate, an increased volume of contrast medium led to increases in Imax A, P and L. In addition, Tmax A, P, L and Teq were prolonged in parallel with increases in injection time The time-attenuation curve shifted upward and to the right. For a given volume and injection rate, an increased concentration of contrast medium increased the degree of aortic, portal and hepatic enhancement, though Tmax A, P and L remained the same. The time-attenuation curve shifted upward. For a given volume and concentration of contrast medium, changes in the injection rate had a prominent effect on aortic enhancement, and that of the portal vein and hepatic parenchyma also showed some increase, though the effect was less prominent. A increased in the rate of contrast injection led to shifting of the time enhancement curve to the left and upward. B. Computer Simulation: At a faster injection rate, there was minimal change in the degree of hepatic attenuation, though the duration of the optimal temporal window decreased. The area between 10 and 30 HU was greatest when contrast media was delivered at a rate of 2 3 mL/sec. Although the total area under the curve increased in proportion to the injection rate, most of this increase was above the upper threshould and thus the temporal window was narrow and the optimal area decreased. Conclusion: Increases in volume, concentration and injection rate all resulted in improved arterial enhancement. If cost was disregarded, increasing the injection volume was the most reliable way of obtaining good quality enhancement. The optimal way of delivering a given amount of contrast medium can be calculated using a computer-based mathematical model.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.756-763
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the effects of attenuation threshold on CT pulmonary vascular volume ratios in children and young adults with congenital heart disease, and to suggest an optimal attenuation threshold. Materials and Methods: CT percentages of right pulmonary vascular volume were compared and correlated with percentages calculated from nuclear medicine right lung perfusion in 52 patients with congenital heart disease. The selected patients had undergone electrocardiography-synchronized cardiothoracic CT and lung perfusion scintigraphy within a 1-year interval, but not interim surgical or transcatheter intervention. The percentages of CT right pulmonary vascular volumes were calculated with fixed (80-600 Hounsfield units [HU]) and adaptive thresholds (average pulmonary artery enhancement [PA_avg] divided by 2.50, 2.00, 1.75, 1.63, 1.50, and 1.25). The optimal threshold exhibited the smallest mean difference, the lowest p-value in statistically significant paired comparisons, and the highest Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The PA_avg value was 529.5 ± 164.8 HU (range, 250.1-956.6 HU). Results showed that fixed thresholds in the range of 320-400 HU, and adaptive thresholds of PA_avg/1.75-1.50 were optimal for quantifying CT pulmonary vascular volume ratios. The optimal thresholds demonstrated a small mean difference of ≤ 5%, no significant difference (> 0.2 for fixed thresholds, and > 0.5 for adaptive thresholds), and a high correlation coefficient (0.93 for fixed thresholds, and 0.91 for adaptive thresholds). Conclusion: The optimal fixed and adaptive thresholds for quantifying CT pulmonary vascular volume ratios appeared equally useful. However, when considering a wide range of PAavg, application of optimal adaptive thresholds may be more suitable than fixed thresholds in actual clinical practice.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제16권4호
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• pp.192-201
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• 2005

본 연구에서는 PET/CT 시스템에서 CT 영상을 이용한 감쇠 보정 시 조영제가 PET 영상에 미치는 영향을 관찰하기 위해 팬텀실험과 모의실험을 수행하였다. 다양한 농도로 희석한 조영제를 채운 플라스틱 병을 스티로폼을 이용하여 전신 팬텀 내에 고정시킨 후 투과 영상을 획득하였다 모의실험을 위해 인체 기관 중간을 가진 수학적 방출 맵과 투과 맵을 각각 생성하였다. 조영제의 비균일 증강, 조영제의 다양한 농도 및 분포 크기, 잡음 정도, 영상의 해상도, 재구성 알고리듬, 조영제의 저-감쇠, 그리고 각각 다른 시간상에 대한 조영제의 분포의 차이와 같은 다양한 인자들에 대하여 평가하였다. 팬텀실험으로부터 CT의 Hounsfield 값이 조영제의 농도 및 전압 값에 의존함을 확인할 수 있었다. 모의실험으로부터 조영제가 감쇠 보정한 PET 영상에서 인공산물을 생성하고 영상의 질을 떨어뜨리는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 조영제의 영향은 조영제의 농도 및 분포 크기, 잡음 정도, 영상의 해상도 등에 의해 영향을 받는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과들은 임상적 PET/CT 영상에서 조영제로 인해 발생할 수 있는 잠재적 문제를 충분히 이해하고 이를 고려해야 함을 보여 주었다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.1077-1088
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• 2018

Objective: To correlate CT parameters on detector-based dual-energy CT enterography (DECTE) with Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) and externally validate quantitative CT parameters. Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine patients with CD were retrospectively enrolled. Two radiologists reviewed DECTE images by consensus for qualitative and quantitative CT features. CT attenuation and iodine concentration for the diseased bowel were also measured. Univariate statistical tests were used to evaluate whether there was a significant difference in CTE features between remission and active groups, on the basis of the CDAI score. Pearson's correlation test and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the correlation between quantitative CT parameters and CDAI. For external validation, an additional 33 consecutive patients were recruited. The correlation and concordance rate were calculated between real and estimated CDAI. Results: There were significant differences between remission and active groups in the bowel enhancement pattern, subjective degree of enhancement, mesenteric fat infiltration, comb sign, and obstruction (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found between CDAI and quantitative CT parameters, including number of lesions (correlation coefficient, r = 0.573), bowel wall thickness (r = 0.477), iodine concentration (r = 0.744), and relative degree of enhancement (r = 0.541; p < 0.05). Iodine concentration remained the sole independent variable associated with CDAI in multivariate analysis (p = 0.001). The linear regression equation for CDAI (y) and iodine concentration (x) was y = 53.549x + 55.111. For validation patients, a significant correlation (r = 0.925; p < 0.001) and high concordance rate (87.9%, 29/33) were observed between real and estimated CDAIs. Conclusion: Iodine concentration, measured on detector-based DECTE, represents a convenient and reproducible biomarker to monitor disease activity in CD.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.575-584
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• 2021

본 논문의 목적은 복부 CT 검사를 시행하는 소아환자에게 체중 기반 조영제 프로토콜을 적용함으로써 고정 투여법보다 조영제를 감소시키면서 최적의 문맥기 화질을 달성하는 것이다. Discovery 750HD(General Electric medical systems, Milwaukee, USA)를 이용하였으며, 만 18세 미만의 소아 남자 85명과 여자 82명, 총 167명을 대상으로 연구하였다. 300 mgI/ml(Xenetix, Guerbet, France)의조영제를 몸무게 2배로 고정 주입한 그룹과 체중기반 프로토콜을 적용하면서 주입량을 10%씩 단계적으로 감소시키면서 생리식염수를 주입한 그룹을 구분하였으며, 스캔 지연 시간을 추가로 변화시키면서 복부 장기의 CT 감쇄계수와 SNR을 비교 평가하였다. 또한 조영 증강의 정도와 심장 주변의 빔 경화 인공물을 정성적으로 평가하였다. 체중기반 프로토콜을 적용하고 20%의 조영제를 감소한 그룹이 몸무게 2배로 고정 주입한 그룹과 조영 증강이 가장 유사하였으며, 그리고 20%의 지연시간을 가진 그룹이 가장 조영 증강 효과가 높았다. 조영제 주입 후 적절한 지연시간은 실질 장기의 조영 효과를 상승시켰으며, 생리식염수를 적용한 주입 프로토콜은 심장 주변의 인공물이 감소시켰다. 결론적으로 소아 복부 CT 검사 시, 체중 기반 프로토콜의 적용과 적절한 지연시간의 조절은 불필요한 조영제 사용을 억제하고 최적의 문맥기 영상의 특성화를 가능하게 한다.

• 한국건강관리협회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.49-59
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• 2006

"본 논문은 대한영상의학회지 2005년 제52권 제1호에 실렸던 논문으로 대한영상의학회의 승인을 득하고 본 협회지에 게재함. Purpose: We wished to compare CT colonography with conventional colonoscopy for the detection of colorectal poiypoid lesions, and we wanted to evaluate the role of IV contrast-enhanced CT colonography for the differentiation between benign polypoid lesions and malignant polypoid lesions. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four consecutive patients underwent CT colonography prior to conventional colonoscopy, Precontrast prone-position CT images and post contrast supine position CT images were obtained and the virtual colonoscopic images were reconstructed, Axial, sagittal and presence, size and morphologic features of colorectal polypoid lesions, and thor these findings were compared with the colonoscopic findings. The degree of enhancement of colorecralpolypoid lesions was measured by subtracting the attenuation valves obtained with precontrastand postcontrast CT images for the differentiation of benignity and malignancy of the colorectal polypoid lesions. Results. Among 75 colorectal polypoid lesions identified on conventional colonoscopy, 49neoplasms were found on CT coloaographv, and the overall detection rate was 65,3%.Detection rate of lesions smaller than l0mm was 52.1%(24/46), and the detection rate for lesions equal to or larger than 10mm was 86.2%(25/29), Morphologic features of the sessile type lesions on CT colonography were well correlated with those noted on colonoscopy, but the stalks were not identified in 6 of 13 polyps on CT colonography. There was no statistical correlation between benignity and malignancy and the degree of contrast enhancement on CT colonography, Conclusion CT colonography is a useful modality for the detection of colorectal polypoid lesionsequal to or polyps. However, CT colonography cannot differentiate benignity from malignancy.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제81권6호
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• pp.1424-1435
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• 2020

목적 간세포암종과 혼합성 간세포암종-담관암종의 다위상 전산단층촬영술 소견과 ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose 양전자방출단층촬영(이하 FDG PET/CT)에서 섭취율 차이를 연구하여 이들의 감별 진단에 유용성이 있는지를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법 2007년 1월에서 2016년 4월까지 조직학적으로 간세포성 암종으로 진단된 84명과 혼합성 간세포암종-담관암종으로 진단된 9명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 조영증강 양상은 유형 I (동맥기 조영증강과 지연기 조영유실), 유형 II (지연기 조영유실이 없는 동맥기 조영증강), 유형 III (저혈관성 병변, 침투성 양상 혹은 변연부 조영증강)로 구분하였고, PET/CT 소견은 FDG 섭취 여부에 따라서 양성과 음성으로 분류하였다. 결과 혼합성 간세포암종-담관암종(89%)은 간세포암종(61%)보다 PET/CT 섭취 양성률이 높았으나 통계적으로 유의한 차이는 보이지 않았다(p = 0.095). 유형 I 조영증강양상을 보이는 58개의 간세포암종 중 37예(64%)가 PET/CT에서 양성이었다. 유형 II 조영증강양상을 보이는 19예 중 간세포암종 3예(21%)에서 PET/CT에서 양성을 보였고 혼합 간세포암종-담관암종 4예(80%)에서 PET/CT 양성을 보였다. 유형 II 조영증강양상을 보이는 경우 혼합 간세포암-담관암종이 간세포암종보다 PET/CT 양성률이 유의하게 높았다(p = 0.020). 유형 III 조영증강 양상을 보이는 16예 중 간세포암 11예(91.6%), 혼합 간세포암-담관암종 4예(100%)에서 PET/CT 양성을 보였다. 유형 III 조영증강양상을 보이는 경우 간세포암과 혼합 간세포암-담관암종의 PET/CT 양성률의 유의한 차이는 보이지 않았다. 결론 유형 II 조영증강 양상을 보이는 경우 간세포암종과 혼합성 간세포암종-담관암종의 감별진단에 전산단층촬영술과 병행하는 ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT가 도움이 될 것으로 보인다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.173-176
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• 2012

본 저자들은 우측 부신에서 발생한 갈색세포종과 인접한 간에서 보이는 국소적인 조영 증강의 영상의학적 소견을 보고하고자 한다. 전산화단층촬영과 자기공명영상의 동맥기 영상에서 인접한 간조직에 국소적인 강한 조영증강이 보였다. 그러나 지연기 영상에서 병변은 정상 간조직과 동일한 감쇄를 보여 잘 구분되지 않았다. 또한 병변은 자기공명 T1, T2 강조 영상에서도 비정상적인 신호강도를 보이지 않았으며 정상 조직과 구분되어 보이지 않았다. 이 조영증강되는 간의 병소는 부신절제술을 시행한지 수개월 후 다시 시행한 수술 후 전산화 단층촬영에서는 저절로 소실되어 보이지 않았다.