• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 1997

This study was performed to demonstrate the effect of linear or nonlinear contrast enhancement on subtraction images. Three different textures were radiograped on dental film. The first radiograph was taken without the presence of an object. the second, which showed trabucular bone, was taken of the molar area of a human. the third radiograph was taken of the coronal part of molars. Each film was digitized into a 1312 x 1024 pixel x 8 bit depth matrix by means of a Nikon 35 mm film scanner(LS-3510AF, Japan) with fixed gain and internal dark current correction to maintain constant illumination. The scanner was interfaced to a Macintosh Le ill computer(Apple Computer, Charlotte, N.C) This resulted in three pairs of images, including different textures-plain, bone and enamel. Digital regular, linearly and nonlinearly enhanced subtraction was performed. Computer software was ,used to simulate lesions in the shape of a 2D-Gaussian curve on each of a pair of images. The each subtraction images were presented in a random sequence to two groups of 10 observers(students and dentists). ROC analysis was used to compare observer performance. The following results were obtained ; 1. All of LCE subtraction, equalized subtraction and regular subtraction images of plain texture were diagnosed the best by far. 2. The data revealed a siginificant LCE effect in both the student group and the expert group. 3. Clinical expertise was a helphul factor for the observers in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics B
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• v.31B no.8
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• pp.160-171
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• 1994

The wide dynamic range and severely attenuated contrast in mediastinal area appearing in typical chest radiographs have often caused difficulties in effective visualization and diagnosis of lung diseases. This paper proposes a new adaptive image enhancement technique which potentially solves this problem and there by improves observer performance through image processing. In the proposed method image processing is applied to the chest radiograph with different processing parameters for the lung field and mediastinum adaptively since there are much differences in anatomical and imaging properties between these two regions. To achieve this the chest radiograph is divided into the lung and mediastinum by gray level thresholding using the cumulative histogram and the dynamic range compression and local contrast enhancement are carried out selectively in the mediastinal region. Thereafter a gray scale transformation is performed considering the JND(just noticeable difference) characteristic for effective image displa. The processed images showed apparenty improved contrast in mediastinum and maintained moderate brightness in the lung field. No artifact could be observed. In the visibility evaluation experiment with 5 radiologists the processed images with better visibility was observed for the 5 important anatomical structures in the thorax.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2014

The introduction of cone-beam computed tomography(CBCT) and computer software in orthodontics has allowed orthodontists to provide more accurate diagnosis and treatment. The most common use of CBCT imaging allows orthodontists to visualize the precise position of supernumerary or impacted teeth, especially impacted canines. In doing so, the exact angulation of impaction and proximity of adjacent roots can be evaluated by orthodontists, allowing them to choose vector forces for tooth movement while minimizing root resorption. Even though 2-dimensional panoramic images can be used to view the position of the impacted canines, they have limitations because it is not possible to evaluate the impacted tooth position 3-dimensionally. An accurate knowledge of root position improves the determination of success in orthodontic treatment. Nowadays, considering the fast pace of technological development, a combination of intraoral scanning, digital setups, custommade brackets and wires, and indirect bonding may soon become the orthodontic standard. In this paper, this will be discussed along with the digital models.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2009

Purpose: To detect the progression of experimentally induced periapical lesions on periapical radiograph and cone beam computed tomograph (CBCT) by quantitative analysis. Materials and Methods: After the removal of coronal pulps from premolars of two Beagle dogs, the root canals of premolars were exposed to oral environment during one week and then sealed for 70 days. Digital periapical radiographs and CBCTs were taken at baseline and every 7 days for 77 days after pulp exposure. We examined occurrence and areas of periapical bone resorption. Three comparative groups of CBCT radiographs were prepared by average projection of thin slabs with different bucco-lingual thicknesses (0.1, 3.0, and 8.0 mm) using a 3D visualization software. Radiographic densities were compensated by image normalization. Digital images were processed with mathematical morphology operations. The radiographic density and morphological features of periapical lesions were compared among three groups of CBCT in different time points. Results: In the CBCT group with 0.1 mm thickness, radiographic density (p<0.05) and trabecular bone area (p<0.01) were significantly decreased at the fifth week. However, in the CBCT groups with 3 mm and 8 mm thickness and periapical radiographs, none of densitometric and morphological features showed any significant differences in different time points. Radiographic density of periapical lesion showed increasing tendency at the eleventh week after pulp exposure. Conclusion: Radiographic detection of periapical lesions was possible at the fifth week after pulp contamination by quantitative method and was affected by buccolingual bone thickness.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.199-203
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• 2009

Purpose : To measure dose-width product (DWP) values used for dental panoramic radiography in Anyang city, Korea. Materials and Methods : Thirty-six panoramic dental radiographic sets (17 analogue panoramic sets and 19 digital panoramic sets) in 36 dental clinics in Anyang city were included in the study. Each patient's panoramic exposure parameters were simulated and the panoramic radiation doses were measured at the secondary collimator using a Mult-O-Meter (Unfors Instruments, Billdal, Sweden) at each dental clinic during 2006. The third quartile DWP was determined from 310 surface dose measurements on adult. Results : The third quartile DWP for adult panoramic radiograph was 106.7 mGy mm. For analogue and digital panoramic radiograph, 3/4 DWP were 116.8 mGy mm and 72 mGy mm respectively. The overall third quartile DWP of panoramic radiography was 106.7 mGy mm. Conclusion : The measured 3/4 DWPs were higher than the 3/4 DWP of 65 mGy mm recommended by NRPB. Dentists who are operating above the reference dose should lower their panoramic exposure doses below the recommended reference value by changing the exposure parameters and/or their panoramic equipments.

• The Journal of Korea Assosiation for Disability and Oral Health
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.87-90
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• 2007

It's important that detect early caries of deciduous and permanent teeth to prevent dental caries and prevserve teeth, especially on proximal surface of deciduous teeth. The reason is that their prominent pulp horn lead to pulp treatment easily due to rapid caries progression. There are conventional exploring, visual inspection and radiographic exam for early caries detection. But, the standard method for diagnosing dental caries is subject and cavitation may be accelerated during exploring procedure. Caries can be diagnosed up to 40% mineral loss with radiograph. $DIFOTI^{(R)}$ (Digital Imaging Fiber-Optic TransIllumination) is diagnostic imaging system for early caries detection using fiber-optic illumination. It is possible that remineralize the tooth surface without tooth preparation and conserve the tooth structure by using $DIFOTI^{(R)}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.442-445
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• 2002

We present an algorithm for automatic anatomically adaptive image enhancement of digital chest radiographs. Chest images were exposed using digital radiography system with a 0.143 mm pixel pitch, l4-bit gray levels, and 3121 ${\times}$ 3121 matrix size. A chest radiograph was automatically divided into two classes (lung field and mediastinum) by using a maximum likelihood method. Each pixel in an image was processed using fuzzy domain transformation and enhancement of both the dynamic range and local gray level variations. The lung fields were enhanced appropriately to visualize effectively vascular tissue, the bronchus, and lung tissue, etc as well as pneumothorax and other lung diseases at the same time with the desired mediastinum enhancement. A prototype implementation of the algorithm is undergoing trials in the clinical routine of radiology department of major Korean hospital.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.340-348
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• 2012

To evaluate the usefulness of tomosynthesis in the chest area, simple radiograph, low-dose CT, and tomosynthesis examinations were performed, and their absorbed doses were compared, and finally the images were evaluated. The absorbed dose recorded with the simple Radiograph examination was $0.33{\pm}0.27$ mGy, that of low-dose CT $1.26{\pm}0.56$ mGy, and that of tomosynthesis $0.55{\pm}0.02$ mGy, which indicate significance differences in absorbed doses among the examinations(p<0.001). Based on the evaluations of the images, The simple radiograph scores were $1.66{\pm}0.72$, $1.61{\pm}0.63$, and $1.57{\pm}0.73$, respectively; low-dose CT scores were $2.92{\pm}0.26$, $2.91{\pm}0.29$, and $2.88{\pm}0.32$, respectively; and tomosynthesis scores were $2.69{\pm}0.51$, $2.76{\pm}0.43$, and $2.66{\pm}0.61$, respectively. That is, there were statistically significant differences among the examinations(p<0.001), although there was no significant difference between low-dose CT and tomosynthesis examinations. Therefore, tomosynthesis is judged to be a useful examination that can minimize radiation doses to patients during chest examinations and enhance diagnostic efficacy.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.364-372
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• 2010

Objective: This study was designed to assess the diagnostic validity of digital panoramic radiographs compared to cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. Methods: Panoramic radiograph and CBCT were taken from a total of 212 joints from 106 subjects. The joints were examined by two dentists and divided into the following six groups: normal, flattening, osteophyte formation, erosion, sclerosis, and unclassified. The sensitivity and specificity of each observer and inter-observer reliability were statistically analyzed. Results: The results showed relatively high intra-observer reliability in the diagnosis of both panoramic and CBCT images and the weighted Kappa indices of panoramic and CBCT images were 0.714 and 0.727, respectively. The sensitivities of panoramic images of observer A and B to CBCT images was 82.35% and 84.30%, respectively, while the specificity of observer A and B was 58.06% and 61.54%, respectively. However, guided diagnosis from panoramic and CBCT images were statistically different (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The present study suggests that the panoramic radiograph could be used as a primary diagnostic device to detect bony changes of temporomandibular joints in clinical orthodontics, because panoramic images showed relatively high sensitivity compared to CBCT images. However, CBCT images may be one of the best choices when a more accurate diagnosis is necessary.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.243-247
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the inverted digital images and film-based images of dry pig mandibles to measure the periodontal bone defect depth. Materials and Methods: Forty 2-wall bone defects were made in the proximal region of the premolar in the dry pig mandibles. The digital and conventional radiographs were taken using a Schick sensor and Kodak F-speed intraoral film. Image manipulation (inversion) was performed using Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software. Four trained examiners made all of the radiographic measurements in millimeters a total of three times from the cementoenamel junction to the most apical extension of the bone loss with both types of images: inverted digital and film. The measurements were also made in dry mandibles using a periodontal probe and digital caliper. The Student's t-test was used to compare the depth measurements obtained from the two types of images and direct visual measurement in the dry mandibles. A significance level of 0.05 for a 95% confidence interval was used for each comparison. Results: There was a significant difference between depth measurements in the inverted digital images and direct visual measurements (p>|t|=0.0039), with means of 6.29 mm ($IC_{95%}$:6.04-6.54) and 6.79 mm ($IC_{95%}$:6.45-7.11), respectively. There was a non-significant difference between the film-based radiographs and direct visual measurements (p>|t|=0.4950), with means of 6.64mm($IC_{95%}$:6.40-6.89) and 6.79mm($IC_{95%}$:6.45-7.11), respectively. Conclusion: The periodontal bone defect measurements in the inverted digital images were inferior to film-based radiographs, underestimating the amount of bone loss.