• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2016

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of varying resolutions of cone-beam computed tomography images on the accuracy of linear measurements of edentulous areas in human cadaver heads. Intact cadaver heads were used to simulate a clinical situation. Materials and Methods: Fiduciary markers were placed in the edentulous areas of 4 intact embalmed cadaver heads. The heads were scanned with two different CBCT units using a large field of view ($13cm{\times}16cm$) and small field of view ($5cm{\times}8cm$) at varying voxel sizes (0.3 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.16 mm). The ground truth was established with digital caliper measurements. The imaging measurements were then compared with caliper measurements to determine accuracy. Results: The Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed no statistically significant difference between the medians of the physical measurements obtained with calipers and the medians of the CBCT measurements. A comparison of accuracy among the different imaging protocols revealed no significant differences as determined by the Friedman test. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.961, indicating excellent reproducibility. Inter-observer variability was determined graphically with a Bland-Altman plot and by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient. The Bland-Altman plot indicated very good reproducibility for smaller measurements but larger discrepancies with larger measurements. Conclusion: The CBCT-based linear measurements in the edentulous sites using different voxel sizes and FOVs are accurate compared with the direct caliper measurements of these sites. Higher resolution CBCT images with smaller voxel size did not result in greater accuracy of the linear measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2017

Objectives: Localization of the mandibular canal (MC) and measurement of the height and width of the available alveolar bone at the proposed implant site in the posterior segment of the mandible using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with a single missing tooth. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed where CBCT scans of the patients with a single missing tooth in the posterior segment of the mandible-premolar, I (1st) molar, and II (2nd) molar were used. The scans were assessed using OnDemand3D software (version 1.0; CyberMed Inc., Seoul, Korea) for localization of the MC asnd remaining alveolar bone both vertically (from the superior position of the MC to the crest of the alveolar ridge) and horizontally (buccolingual, 3 mm below the crest of the alveolar ridge). The findings were statistically analyzed using independent t-test. Results: A total of 120 mandibular sites (40 sites for each of the three missing premolar, I molar, and II molar) from 91 CBCT scans were analyzed. The average heights (from the alveolar crest to the superior margin of the MC) at the premolar, I molar, and II molar areas were $15.19{\pm}2.12mm$, $14.53{\pm}2.34mm$, and $14.21{\pm}2.23mm$, respectively. The average widths, measured 3 mm below the crest of the alveolar ridge, at the premolar, I molar, and II molar areas were $6.22{\pm}1.96mm$, $6.51{\pm}1.75mm$, and $7.60{\pm}2.08mm$, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females regarding the vertical and horizontal measurements of the alveolar ridges. Conclusion: In the study, the measurements were averaged separately for each of the single missing teeth (premolar, I molar, or II molar), giving more accurate information for dental implant placement.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2017

Purpose: Evaluation of alveolar bone is important in the diagnosis of dental diseases. The periodontal ligament space is difficult to clearly depict in cone-beam computed tomography images because the reconstruction filter conditions during image processing cause image blurring, resulting in decreased spatial resolution. We examined different reconstruction filters to assess their ability to improve spatial resolution and allow for a clearer visualization of the periodontal ligament space. Materials and Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography projections of 2 skull phantoms were reconstructed using 6 reconstruction conditions and then compared using the Thurstone paired comparison method. Physical evaluations, including the modulation transfer function and the Wiener spectrum, as well as an assessment of space visibility, were undertaken using experimental phantoms. Results: Image reconstruction using a modified Shepp-Logan filter resulted in better sensory, physical, and quantitative evaluations. The reconstruction conditions substantially improved the spatial resolution and visualization of the periodontal ligament space. The difference in sensitivity was obtained by altering the reconstruction filter. Conclusion: Modifying the characteristics of a reconstruction filter can generate significant improvement in assessments of the periodontal ligament space. A high-frequency enhancement filter improves the visualization of thin structures and will be useful when accurate assessment of the periodontal ligament space is necessary.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.98-105
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• 2021

Background: In recent events of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, computed tomography (CT) scans are being globally used as a complement to the reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. It will be important to be aware of major organ dose levels, which are more relevant quantity to derive potential long-term adverse effect, for Korean pediatric and adult patients undergoing CT for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: We calculated organ dose conversion coefficients for Korean pediatric and adult CT patients directly from Korean pediatric and adult computational phantoms combined with Monte Carlo radiation transport techniques. We then estimated major organ doses delivered to the Korean child and adult patients undergoing CT for COVID-19 combining the dose conversion coefficients and the international survey data. We also compared our Korean dose conversion coefficients with those from Caucasian reference pediatric and adult phantoms. Results and Discussion: Based on the dose conversion coefficients we established in this study and the international survey data of COVID-19-related CT scans, we found that Korean 7-year-old child and adult males may receive about 4-32 mGy and 3-21 mGy of lung dose, respectively. We learned that the lung dose conversion coefficient for the Korean child phantom was up to 1.5-fold greater than that for the Korean adult phantom. We also found no substantial difference in dose conversion coefficients between Korean and Caucasian phantoms. Conclusion: We estimated radiation dose delivered to the Korean child and adult phantoms undergoing COVID-19-related CT examinations. The dose conversion coefficients derived for different CT scan types can be also used universally for other dosimetry studies concerning Korean CT scans. We also confirmed that the Caucasian-based CT organ dose calculation tools may be used for the Korean population with reasonable accuracy.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.595-602
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• 2018

Quality control (QC) of Computed Tomography (CT) devices is based on image quality measurement on AAPM CT phantom which is a standard phantom. Although it is possible to control the accuracy of the CT apparatus, it is expensive and has a disadvantage of low penetration rate. Therefore, in this study, we make image quality measurement phantom at low cost using FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) type three-dimensional printer and try to analyze the usefulness, compare it with existing standard phantom. To print a phantom, We used three-dimensional printer of the FFF system and PLA (Poly Lactic Acid, density: $1.24g/cm^3$) filament, and the CT device of 64 MDCT (Aquilion CX, Toshiba, Japan). In addition, we printed a phantom using three-dimensional printer after design using various tool based on existing standard phantom. For image quality evaluation, AAPM CT phantom and self-generated phantom were measured 10 times for each block. The measured data were analyzed for significance using the Mannwhiteney U-test of SPSS (Version 22.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). As a result of the analysis, phantom fabricated with three-dimensional printer and standard phantom showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Furthermore, we confirmed that image quality measurement performance of a phantom using three-dimensional printer is similar to the existing standard phantom. In conclusion, we confirmed the possibility of low cost phantom fabrication using three dimensional printer.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.112-117
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the thickness of the roof of the glenoid fossa (RGF) in Korean adult population without symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: CBCT Data from 111 Korean adult patients aged ${\geq}25years$ (55 males and 56 females) without signs and symptoms of TMD were analyzed retrospectively in this study. The thickness of the RGF was determined as the perpendicular distance between the 'glenoid fossa line' and 'middle cranial fossa line' on parasagittal and paracoronal reconstructions, respectively. The thickness of the RGF according to sex and age was analyzed using t-tests (p<0.05). Differences were also examined between the right and left sides, and between the paracoronal and parasagittal sides. Results: The mean thickness of the RGF in all subjects was $0.75{\pm}0.39mm$; there was no significant difference in thickness between male ($0.78{\pm}0.36mm$) and female ($0.72{\pm}0.30mm$). We found no correlation between age and the mean thickness of the RGF, when age was grouped by decade. However, when subjects were divided into >40 years and ${\leq}40years$ age groups, the thickness of the RGF was significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: We found that the thickness of the RGF did not differ by sex, but might be affected by aging. Further studies with larger numbers of subjects are needed to confirm the results of this study.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.59-69
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• 2021

Purpose: The relationship between computed tomography (CT) number and electron density (ED) has been investigated in previous studies. However, the role of these measures for guiding cancer treatment remains unclear. Methods: The CT number was plotted against ED for different imaging protocols. The CT number was imported into ED tables for the Pinnacle treatment planning system (TPS) and was used to determine the effect on dose calculations. Conversion tables for radiation dose calculations were generated and subsequently monitored using a dosimeter to determine the effect of different CT scanning protocols and treatment sites. These tables were used to retrospectively recalculate the radiation therapy plans for 41 patients after an incorrect scanning protocol was inadvertently used. The gamma index was further used to assess the dose distribution, percentage dose difference (DD), and distance-to-agreement (DTA). Results: For densities <1.1 g/cm³, the standard deviation of the CT number was ±0.6% and the greatest variation was noted for brain protocol conditions. For densities >1.1 g/cm³, the standard deviation of the CT number was ±21.2% and the greatest variation occurred for the tube voltage and head and neck (H&N) protocol conditions. These findings suggest that the factors most affecting the CT number are the tube voltage and treatment site (brain and H&N). Gamma index analyses for the 41 retrospective clinical cases, as well as brain metastases and H&N tumors, showed gamma passing rates >90% and <90% for the passing criterion of 2%/2 and 1%/1 mm, respectively. Conclusions: The CT protocol should be carefully decided for TPS. The correct protocol should be used for the corresponding TPS based on the treatment site because this especially affects the dose distribution for brain metastases and H&N tumor recognition. Such steps could help reduce systematic errors.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2021

Objective: To evaluate the mandibular buccal shelf (MBS) in terms of the angulation and bone depth and thickness according to sex, age, and sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns in a Colombian population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Accordingly, the optimal site for miniscrew insertion in this area was determined. Methods: This descriptive, retrospective study included 64 hemi-arches of 34 patients. On CBCT images, the angulation, buccal bone depth (4 and 6 mm from the cementoenamel junction [CEJ] of MBS), and buccal bone thickness (6 and 11 mm from the CEJ of MBS) were measured at the mesial and distal roots of the mandibular first and second molars. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the angulation, depth, and thickness of MBS between male and female patients. The values for the bone around the distal root of the mandibular second molar were significantly greater than the other values. The osseous characteristics were significantly better in participants aged 16-24 years. Class III patients exhibited the best osseous characteristics, with the bone depth at 6 mm being significantly different from that in Class I and Class II patients. Although values tended to be greater in patients with low angles, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: MBS provides an optimal bone surface for miniscrew insertion, with better osseous characteristics at the distal root of the mandibular second molar, 4 mm from CEJ. Adolescent patients, Class III patients, and patients with a low angle exhibit the most favorable osseous characteristics in the MBS area.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2021

Purpose: Kilovoltage computed tomography (kV-CT) is essential for radiation treatment planning. However, kV-CT images are significantly distorted by artifacts when a metallic prosthesis is present in the patient's body. Thus, the accuracies of target delineation and treatment dose calculation are inevitably lowered. We evaluated the accuracy of the calculated doses using an image restoration method with hybrid CT, which was introduced in our previous study. Methods: A cylindrical phantom containing four metals, namely, silver, copper, tin, and tungsten, was scanned using kV-CT and megavoltage CT to produce hybrid CT images. We created six verification plans for three head and neck patients on kV-CT and hybrid CT images of the phantom and calculated their doses. The actual doses were measured with film patches during beam delivery using tomotherapy. We used the gamma evaluation method to compare dose distribution between kV-CT and hybrid CT with three gamma criteria, namely, 3%/3 mm, 2%/2 mm, and 1%/1 mm. Results: The gamma pass rates decreased as the gamma criteria were strengthened, and the pass rate of hybrid CT was higher than that of kV-CT in all cases. When the 1%/1 mm criterion was used, the difference in gamma pass rates between them was up to 13%p. Conclusions: According to our findings, we expect that the use of hybrid CT can be a suitable approach to avoid the effect of severe metal artifacts on the accuracy of dose calculation and contouring.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to study the relationship of unintentionally extended split in the distal segment during the bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) and skeletal relapse. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with mandibular prognathism were divided into two groups according to whether or not unintentionally extended split had occurred. Cone-beam computed tomography images were taken before surgery (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), and postoperatively at 6 months (T2). The stability was evaluated by measuring the change of Nasion perpendicular-Pogonion (N-Pog) distance. Result: Both groups showed mild advancement of Pog during follow-up. In both groups, the condyle head rotated inward and moved posterioinferiorly after surgery, but tended to return to their original position during follow-up. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in mandible position. Moreover, the condylar position was stable. If it is difficult to proceed reduction of the unintentionally extended split, careful inspection should be performed to prevent subsequent complications during follow-up.