• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.628-634
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• 2000

Objective : The introduction of MRI makes it easy to detect multiple lumbar disc herniation. However, MRI is not a physiologic test for detecting the symptomatic level. For the surgical plan, it is very important to determine the symtomatic level among the multiple lumbar disc herniation. In this regard, we studied diagnostic significance of discography on multiple lumbar disc herniation in determining the symptomatic level. Method and Material : We retrospectvely analyzed the discographic and clinical findings of 121 patients with multiple lumbar disc herniation for investigating the diagnostic availability of discography. All were surgically treated from January 1995 through May 1998. Result : Discography provocated the same pain as usual symptom in 99 out of 121 patients(81.8%). Compared with surgical findings, the diagnostic accuracy of the discography in multiple lumbar disc herniation was 75.6%, sensitivity was 64.6%, and specificity 87.2%. There was no correlation between the pain provocation of discography and the extent of annular degeneration on CT/discogram. The pain provocation showed good correlation with the extent of annular disruption on CT/discogram. The rate of same result(correlation rate) between the discography and D.I.T.I was 81.4% in multiple lumbar disc herniation patients with unilateral leg pain. Conclusion : These results indicate that in multiple lumbar disc herniation, the discography is considered useful diagnostic tool to determine the symptomatic level and to decide the surgical plan.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.1989-1994
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• 2012

Background and Purpose: An analysis of the current nuclear medicine (NM) status and future demand in Turkey in line with the international benchmarks was conducted to establish a comprehensive baseline reference. Methods: Data from all NM centers on major equipment and manpower in Turkey were collected through a survey and cross-checked with the primary research and governmental data. Data regarding manpower currently working were obtained from the relevant academic centers and occupational societies. Results: The current numbers of NM laboratories, NM specialists, gamma cameras, PET/CT scanners, radioiodine treatment units for thyroid cancer are 217, 474, 287, 75 and 39, respectively. There was personnel and equipment need underestimated in the field compared to developed countries. Equipment insufficiency was more significant in the Ministry of Health (MoH) hospitals. These gaps should be eliminated with strategic planning of equipment and NM laboratories. Currently, the number of the PET/CT devices is at the level of the developed countries. The number of specialists in the field should reach the expected goal in 2023. By 2023, Turkey will need around 820 NM specialists, 498 gamma cameras and 99 PET/CT devices. In addition, further studies should be made regarding other related staff, particularly for health physicians, radiopharmacists and NM technicians. Conclusion: There is an insufficiency of personnel and equipment in Turkey's NM field. Comprehensive strategic planning is required to allocate limited resources and the purchase of the equipment and employment policies should be structured as part of "National Special Feature Requiring Health Service Plan".

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2015

Hypoxia is an important adverse prognostic factor for tumor progression and is a major cause of failure of radiation therapy. In case of short-term hypoxia, the metabolism can recover to normal, but if hypoxia persists, it causes irreversible cell damage and finally leads to death. So a hypoxia marker would be very useful in oncology. In particular, 2-nitroimidazole can be reduced to form a reactive chemical species, which can bind irreversibly to cell components in the absence of sufficient oxygen, thus, the development of radiolabeled nitroimidazole derivatives for the imaging of hypoxia remains an active field of research to improve cancer therapy result. 2-nitroimidazole based hypoxia marker, [$^{18}F$]FMISO holds promise for the evaluation of tumor hypoxia by Positron emission tomography (PET), at both global and local levels. In the present study, [$^{18}F$]FMISO was synthesized using an automatic synthesis module with high radiochemical purity (>99%) in 60 min. Immunohistochemical analysis using pimonidazole confirmed the presence of hypoxia in xenografted CT-26 tumor tissue. A biodistribution study in CT-26 xenografted mice showed that the increased tumor-to-muscle ratio and tumor-to-blood ratios from 10 to 120 min post-injection. In the PET study, [$^{18}F$]FMISO also showed increased tumor-to-muscle ratios from 10 to 120 min post-injection. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility and utility of [$^{18}F$]FMISO for imaging hypoxiain mouse colon cancer model using small animal PET.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.434-440
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• 2022

Liver transplantation is a critical used treatment method for patients with end-stage liver disease. The number of cases of living donor liver transplantation is increasing due to the imbalance in needs and supplies for brain-dead organ donation. As a result, the importance of the accuracy of the donor's suitability evaluation is also increasing rapidly. To measure the donor's liver volume accurately is the most important, that is absolutely necessary for the recipient's postoperative progress and the donor's safety. Therefore, we propose liver segmentation in abdominal CT images from pre-operation, POD 7, and POD 63 with a two-dimensional U-Net. In addition, we introduce an algorithm to measure the volume of the segmented liver and measure the hepatectomy rate and regeneration rate of pre-operation, POD 7, and POD 63. The performance for the learning model shows the best results in the images from pre-operation. Each dataset from pre-operation, POD 7, and POD 63 has the DSC of 94.55 ± 9.24%, 88.40 ± 18.01%, and 90.64 ± 14.35%. The mean of the measured liver volumes by trained model are 1423.44 ± 270.17 ml in pre-operation, 842.99 ± 190.95 ml in POD 7, and 1048.32 ± 201.02 ml in POD 63. The donor's hepatectomy rate is an average of 39.68 ± 13.06%, and the regeneration rate in POD 63 is an average of 14.78 ± 14.07%.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2015

Purpose : 3D Printers are used to create three-dimensional models based on blueprints. Based on this characteristic, it is feasible to develop a bolus that can minimize the air gap between skin and bolus in radiotherapy. This study aims to compare and analyze air gap and target dose at the branded 1 cm bolus with the developed customized bolus using 3D printers. Materials and Methods : RANDO phantom with a protruded tumor was used to procure images using CT simulator. CT DICOM file was transferred into the STL file, equivalent to 3D printers. Using this, customized bolus molding box (maintaining the 1 cm width) was created by processing 3D printers, and paraffin was melted to develop the customized bolus. The air gap of customized bolus and the branded 1 cm bolus was checked, and the differences in air gap was used to compare $D_{max}$, $D_{min}$, $D_{mean}$, $D_{95%}$ and $V_{95%}$ in treatment plan through Eclipse. Results : Customized bolus production period took about 3 days. The total volume of air gap was average $3.9cm^3$ at the customized bolus. And it was average $29.6cm^3$ at the branded 1 cm bolus. The customized bolus developed by the 3D printer was more useful in minimizing the air gap than the branded 1 cm bolus. In the 6 MV photon, at the customized bolus, $D_{max}$, $D_{min}$, $D_{mean}$, $D_{95%}$, $V_{95%}$ of GTV were 102.8%, 88.1%, 99.1%, 95.0%, 94.4% and the $D_{max}$, $D_{min}$, $D_{mean}$, $D_{95%}$, $V_{95%}$ of branded 1cm bolus were 101.4%, 92.0%, 98.2%, 95.2%, 95.7%, respectively. In the proton, at the customized bolus, $D_{max}$, $D_{min}$, $D_{mean}$, $D_{95%}$, $V_{95%}$ of GTV were 104.1%, 84.0%, 101.2%, 95.1%, 99.8% and the $D_{max}$, $D_{min}$, $D_{mean}$, $D_{95%}$, $V_{95%}$ of branded 1cm bolus were 104.8%, 87.9%, 101.5%, 94.9%, 99.9%, respectively. Thus, in treatment plan, there was no significant difference between the customized bolus and 1 cm bolus. However, the normal tissue nearby the GTV showed relatively lower radiation dose. Conclusion : The customized bolus developed by 3D printers was effective in minimizing the air gap, especially when it is used against the treatment area with irregular surface. However, the air gap between branded bolus and skin was not enough to cause a change in target dose. On the other hand, in the chest wall could confirm that dose decrease for small the air gap. Customized bolus production period took about 3 days and the development cost was quite expensive. Therefore, the commercialization of customized bolus developed by 3D printers requires low-cost 3D printer materials, adequate for the use of bolus.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.280-288
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• 2009

This study is to design and produce a detailed model for volume variety of three dimensional reconstruction images and to evaluate the changes of volume, area and the length of the model in the process of the reconstruction of RTP system. CT simulation was operated at the thickness of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10mm and average, standard deviation of scan direction(X), thickness(Y), table movement direction(Z), area(A), and volume(V) of the three dimensional volume rendering, were measured according to the shape and thickness of the phantoms. As a result, at the thickness of 1.25, 2.5min, the phantom's shape decreased maximum 0.13cm(p<0.05) to the direction of X, Y, Z and length, area, volume decreased 0.1cm, $0.8cm^2$, $3.99cm^3$ which led to an approximate image of the phantoms. However, at the thickness of 5, 10mm, the phantom of the original form decreased maximum 0.58cm(p<0.05) and volume, area, length decreased maximum 0.45cm, $8.21cm^2$, $11.03cm^3$. Volume varieties according to the thickness and shape of the phantoms have occurred diversely, when CT simulation was operated, and it is considered that a clinically appropriate volume rendering can be obtained only when the thickness is below 3mm.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.357-362
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• 2015

In this experiment, we are to know the administered radioactivity in the actual patients by measuring the remained radioactivity when administering the isotope with noted MDP, the radiopharmaceutical product, to 50 visited patients for the bone scan, confirmed the radioactivity administered to actual patients. We confirmed the actual administered amount of remained radioactivity in the syringe and 3-way by using a gauger after administering the isotope with MDP noted via 3-way with 50 patients maintaining 3-way after CT or MRI among the visited patients for the bone scan in the department of nuclear medicine. As a result of radioactivity in the 3-way and syringe pre and post injection of radiopharmaceutical products in 50 patients, average radioactivity of pre-injection is 31.75 mCi, average remained radioactivity in the syringes after injection is 1.22 mCi, and the average remained radioactivity in 3-way after injection is 0.95 mCi. The average of actual administered radioactivity is 29.57, so it is obvious that average 2.18 mCi was administered for less than the dosage that we initially intended to inject. When determining the dosage in view of the radioactivity that remains in the 3-way with the syringe, it would be possible to accurately dose the desired dosage to be administered to actual patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.433-435
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• 2000

A 6000-year-old male with carcinoma of the prostate and cerebral infarction underwent a Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy for the evaluation of skeletal metastases. Bone scintigraphy (Fig. 1) showed multiple areas of increased uptake of Tc-99m MDP in the skull, spine, and ribs representing skeletal metastases. Two different patterns of uptake occurred in the skull region (Fig. 1A-C); one represents bony metastasis and the ether represents cerebral infarction. The shape, size, location, intensity, and border of the increased uptake differed between the two lesions. An oval-shaped pattern with smaller size, greater intensity and more sharply defined border in the frontal region was consistent with bony metastasis. A rectangular-shaped pattern with larger size, lesser intensity and relatively indistinct border in the temporo-parieto-occipital region was consistent with cerebral infarction. Increased uptake of bone-seeking radiotracers in cerebral infarction has been reported previously.$^{1-4)}$ A suggested mechanism by which bone-seeking radiotracers accumulate in the necrotizing cerebral tissue is an alteration of the blood-brain barrier induced during cerebral infarction, which results in entry of the radiotracers into the extracellular space of the brain.$^{4)}$ Brain CT (Fig. 2) performed 7 days before and one month after the bone scintigraphy revealed lesions on the right temporo-parieto-occipital region consistent with acute hemorrhagic and chronic cerebral infarction, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.307-311
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• 2007

Purpose: The aim of this study was simply assessing linear measurements in the lateral and medial approach, respectively, for bone harvesting using anatomic and three-dimensional(3D) computed tomographic(CT) analyses on a dried cadaveric proximal tibia. In addition, the availability of the three-dimensional computed tomographic(3D-CT) analysis was also estimated. Materials and methods: Ten dried proximal tibia were obtained from five Korean cadavers. Four the reference points, the SM(superior-medial), IM(inferior-medial), SL(superior-lateral), and IL(inferior-lateral) were marked around the tibial tuberosity. The PM(posterior-medial) and PL(posterior-lateral) points were randomly marked at points farthest from the lateral and medial reference points, respectively, in the posterior border of the superior articular surface of both condyles. All measurements were obtained on the dried proximal tibia. After computed tomography had been performed, the three dimensional images were reconstructed using V works $4.0^{TM}$(Cybermed Inc., Seoul, Korea), and the length between the reference points were measured three dimensionally using the method described above. The error between the mean actual and mean 3D-CT measurements was calculated in order to determine the availability of the three dimensional computed tomographic analysis. Results: The length between the reference points was greatest at the IL-PM, which averaged $65.39mm{\pm}10.35$. This was followed by the SL-PM with $63.24mm{\pm}8.10$, the IM-PL with $58.09mm{\pm}10.02$, and the SM-PL with $51.99mm{\pm}9.06$. The differences between the IL-PM and SM-PL were 13.4 mm. The mean values were 55.04 mm in the medial approach and 64.32 mm in the lateral approach, and the differences between medial and lateral were 9.28 mm. The error between the mean actual and mean 3D-CT measurements was 0.31% and the standard deviation was 0.28%. Conclusion: The anatomical and three dimensional computed tomographic analysis indicates that there was only a 9.28 mm linear difference between the lateral and medial approach. This is consistent with previous studies, which showed that there was little difference between the two approaches in terms of the bone volume. In addition, the error(0.31%) and the standard deviation(0.28%) were considered low, demonstrating high accuracy of 3D-CT. Therefore it can be used in preoperative treatment planning.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2009

Purpose : To assess the clinical findings and hard tissue changes of osteomyelitis of the jaws using computed tomographic (CT) image analysis. Materials and Methods : We reviewed and interpreted the CT images of 163 patients (64 males and 99 females, age range from 10 to 87 years) who visited the Seoul National University Dental Hospital from April 23, 2006 to December 31, 2008 and were diagnosed as osteomyelitis of the jaws through clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic examination. Each CT findings was investigated for frequency, correlation with age and gender. Results : Of the 163 patients, 31 (19.0%) were affected on the maxilla, 135 (82.8%) were affected on the mandible, and 3 (1.8%) were affected on the both jaws simultaneously. The mean age of the patients who were affected on the maxilla was 61.0 years and that of the patients who were affected on the mandible was 56.2 years. On the maxilla, the most frequent site of disease was the posterior area (83.9%) and on the mandible, mandibular body (83.0%), followed by angle (48.1%), ramus (38.5%), condyle (13.3%), incisal area (9.6%), and coronoid process (3.0%). Among the 31 maxillary osteomyelitis, defect in the trabecular bone was observed in 28 (90.3%), osteosclerosis 20 (64.5%), defect in the cortical bone 27 (87.1%), sequestrum 17 (54.8%), and periosteal reaction 2 (6.5%). Among the 135 mandibular osteomyelitis, defect in the trabecular bone was observed in 100 (74.1%), osteosclerosis 104 (77.0%), defect in the cortical bone 116 (85.9%), sequestrum 36 (26.7%), and periosteal reaction 67 (49.6%). Conclusion : Of our cases, the maxillary osteomyelitis was visibly observed more frequently in females than males. The incidence is the highest in seventies (28.8%) and the lowest in teens (3.1%). The osteomyelitis of the jaws was observed more frequently in males than females before the age of 50, and observed more frequently in females after the age of 50. The most noticeable point was that the sequestrum was observed more often on maxillary osteomyelitis and the periosteal reaction was observed more often on mandibular osteomyelitis.