• Advances in biomechanics and applications
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.15-22
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• 2014

Computed tomography (CT) is being utilized in orthopaedics and related research to estimate bone strength. These applications benefit from calibration of Hounsfield units to mineral density typical of long bone, up to $1750mg/cm^3$. This study describes a method for establishing repeatable calibration of Hounsfield units to density, and determines the effects of imaging medium on calibration accuracy. Four hydroxyapatite standards were imaged in air on 7 occasions over 19 weeks using a helical multi-slice CT scanner. Each standard was scanned 5 times in different media: porcine soft tissue, water, and air. Calibrated densities were highly repeatable (CV<3.5%). No difference in density was observed between water and soft tissue conditions (p>0.08). This work provides a model for determining repeatable scanner-specific density calibration, demonstrates that the linear relationship between Hounsfield units and density extends to values typical of cortical bone, and supports the practice of imaging calibration standards in an environment similar to that of the target bone.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.391-396
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• 2006

The CT number is called Hounsfield unit(HU). Generally HU has a score between +1000 from -1000, and it is standardized usingthe air(-1000), water(0), and compact bone(+1000). Hounsfield Unit to standardize the density in computed tomography using the air and water has been used to analysis of lesion in other medical field. Computed tomography is popular method to analysis of lesion in oral & maxillofacial field but the analysis about density of lesion by Hounsfield unit is still obscure. For this study, computed tomography taken in Dankook University Dental Hospital and Hounsfield unit was measured to compare the difference of jaw bone lesion as cystic lesion, benign tumor, malignant tumor.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.115-120
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine a conversion coefficient for Hounsfield Units(HU) to material density ($g\;cm^{-3}$) obtained from cone-beam computed tomography ($CBMercuRay^{TM}$) data and to measure the hard tissue density based on the Hounsfield scale on dental head phantom. Materials and Methods : CT Scanner Phantom (AAPM) equipped with CT Number Insert consists of five cylindrical pins of materials with different densities and teflon ring was scanned by using the $CBMercuRay^{TM}$ (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) volume scanner. The raw data were converted into DICOM format and the HU of different areas of CT number insert measured by using $CBWorks^{TM}$. Linear regression analysis and Student t-test were performed statistically. Results : There was no significant difference (P > 0.54) between real densities and measured densities. A linear regression was performed using the density, $\rho$($g\;cm^{-3}$), as the dependent variable in terms of the HU (H). The regression equation obtained was $\rho=0.00072H-0.01588$ with an $R^2$ value of 0.9968. Density values based on the Hounsfield scale was $1697.1{\pm}24.9\;HU$ in cortical bone, $526.5{\pm}44.4\;HU$ in trabecular bone, $2639.1{\pm}48.7\;HU$ in enamel, $1246.1{\pm}39.4\;HU$ in dentin of dental head phantom. Conclusion : CBCT provides an effective option for determination of material density expressed as Hounsfield Units.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.229-235
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• 2017

상복부초음파검사에서 간실질의 에코 음영증가와 불명확한 혈관경계 등으로 지방간을 진단하는데, 여러 연구들에 의하면 지방간 진단에 84~95%의 특이도와 60~90%의 민감도를 가지나 결과가 검사자에 의존적이어서 차이가 있을 수 있고 지방의 침윤 상태의 정량적인 측정이 불가능하다. 건강검진의 상복부초음파검사와 흉부 전산화단층촬영(computed tomography; CT) 검사를 같은 날에 시행한 수검자중 초음파검사에서 지방간을 진단 받은 환자의 흉부 전산화단층촬영 영상에서 간(Liver) Hounsfield Units(HU)를 측정하여 지방간 진단의 정확성을 연관분석 하고자 하였다. 연구대상 수검자 720명 중 가정의학과 전문의에게 검사를 받고 지방간 판정을 받은 자는 448명으로 62.2%였다. 지방간 판정자의 CT영상에서 간 HU를 측정한 결과 40 HU 이하의 측정값은 720명 중 175명으로 24.3%이며, 초음파에서 진단 받은 448명에 175명 중 173명이 포함되어 98.9%가 일치하였다. 이는 지방간을 초음파로 진단 시 검사자의 주관적 경험과 능력이 병변을 진단하는데 크게 영향을 미친 것으로 생각되며 검진 CT검사에서 간 HU를 측정하여 40 HU 이하는 영상저장을 통하여 지방간 진단 시 참고자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.86-90
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• 2015

Background: Although there are several methods for evaluating bone quality, Hounsfield units (HU), a standardized computed tomography (CT) attenuation coefficient, provide a useful tool for estimating focal bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study is to investigate the HU for evaluating the degree of osteoporosis in greater tuberosity with regard to anchor positioning. Methods: Forty patients diagnosed as normal on shoulder CT were included and categorized according to age and gender. Axially sectioned CT images were processed to 3-dimensional models containing information about bone quality using Mimics (14.11 platform v14.1.1.1 Materialise). Three-dimensional anchors were simulated and positioned according to 6 regions of interest (ROI) in the greater tuberosity classified using Tingart's system. Mean HU of intra-anchor volumes in the 6 regions was measured. Results: A significant decrease in HU was observed with increasing age (p=0.0001) and menopause (p<0.001). A significant difference in HU was found between male and female groups with males showing the higher values (p=0.0001). HU of proximal areas of ROI was higher than those of distal areas (p<0.005). However, although mean HU of distal posterior ROI showed the lowest values, no statistically significant difference was found between anterior, middle, and posterior regions (p=0.087). Conclusions: Mean HU of ROIs provides a tool for preoperative assessment of focal BMD, which is a factor of suture anchor stability and can be used to aid decision-making regarding secure anchor positioning for rotator cuff repair. Our data support that the most secure point is the proximal regions of ROI.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제40권3호
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• pp.385-392
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• 2017

본 연구는 전산화단층촬영에서 관전압과 관전류에 따른 화질과 피폭선량을 연구하고 None IR과 IR (Iterative Reconstruction)의 단계에 따른 영상의 SNR(Signal to Noise Ratio)을 비교하여 영상 화질의 개선정도에 대하여 확인해보고자 하였다. Image J를 이용하여 화질을 측정한 결과 관전압의 증가에 따라 HU (Hounsfield units)와 BN(Background Noise)은 감소하였으며, 이와 반대로 SI (Signal Intensity)와 SNR, $CTDI_{vol}$ (CT dose in dex volume)은 관전압이 높아질수록 증가하였으며, BHU(Background Hounsfield Units)의 변화는 없었다. 관전류의 증가로 인해서 BN이 감소하였고, 반대로 SNR과 CTDI은 증가하였다. 또한 IR의 단계가 높아질수록 HU와 SI, BN이 낮아지고, SNR이 약 10~60% 향상됨을 알 수 있었다. 이를 토대로 임상에서 IR 적용 시 단계적 접근 방식으로 관전압과 관전류를 미세 조정하여 점차적으로 방사선량을 줄여 나가야 할 것이다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.135-141
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of present study is to evaluate a possibility of clinical application for the effect of low intensity ultrasound stimulation (LIUS) in mechanical characteristics of bone on osteoporotic fractures prevention. Materials and Methods: Eight virgin ICR mice (14 weeks old, approximate weight 25g) were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteoporosis. The right hind limbs were then stimulated with LIDS (US Group), whereas left hind limbs were not stimulated (CON Group). Both hind limbs of all mice were scanned by in-vivo micro-CT to acquire two-dimensional (2D) images at 0 week before stimulation and 3 weeks and 6 weeks after stimulation. Three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) models generated by scanned 2D images were used to determine quantitatively the effect of LIUS on strength related to bone structure. Additionally, distributions of Hounsfield units and elastic moduli, which are related to the bone quality, for the bones in the US and CON groups were determined to analyze quantitatively a degree of improvement of bone qualities achieved by LIUS. Results: The result of FE analysis showed that the structural strength in US Group was significantly increased over time (p<0.05), while that in CON Group was statistically constant over time (p>0.05). High values of Hounsfield units obtained from voxels on micro-CT images and high values of elastic moduli converted from the Hounsfield units were dominantly appeared in US Group compared with those in CON Group. Conclusion: These finding indicated that LIUS would improve the mechanical characteristics of osteoporotic bone via the effects of bone structure (bone strength) and quality (Hounsfield unit and elastic modulus). Therefore, the LIUS may decrease effectively the risk of osteoporotic fracture in clinics.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.1-4
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ossification and maturation of the midpalatal suture in young Koreans using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 40 patients with ages from 8.2 to 23.6 years who visited the Department of Orthodontics, Chung-Ang University Dental Hospital. CBCT images were taken for diagnosis. From the CBCT image, morphological stages and Hounsfield units (HU) of midpalatal suture were obtained to evaluate the midpalatal suture maturation. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to analyze relationships between chronological age, morphological stage, and HU. Result: There was a wide variation in the morphology of the midpalatal suture in each age group. It showed a modest relationship between the chronological age and the degree of morphological stages. Also there was a modest relationship between the chronological age and HU. In contrast, there was a significant relationship between morphological stages and HU of midpalatal suture (P<0.01). Conclusion: CBCT images can be used for the evaluation of midpalatal suture maturation. For the estimation of the prognosis of rapid maxillary expansion, CBCT may be reliable for the assessment of the maturation of the midpalatal suture.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.178-184
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to determine whether Hounsfield units (HUs), volume, and various void parameters can predict stone fragility in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). HU, volume, porosity, number of voids/stone volume, and void distribution of 30 struvite stones were estimated using helical computed tomography (CT) and micro-CT. The number of shock waves necessary for full fragmentation was accepted as a measure of the stone fragility in ESWL. The correlations between the number of shock waves and the HU, volume, porosity, and number of voids/stone volume were examined. The number of shock waves of the two groups according to the void distribution was also compared. Stone volume correlated with the number of shock waves. Shell-patterned struvite stones were significantly less susceptible to fragmentation in ESWL than non-shell-patterned struvite stones. Stone volume and void distribution may be predictors of the outcome of ESWL treatment.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.421-427
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• 2015

본 연구에서는 3차원(dimension, D) 프린터로 자체 제작한 팬톰을 이용하여 관전압과 관전류량 변화 중심으로 균일한 조직의 물리적 영역 크기 변화에 의한 관심영역(region of interest, ROI)와 설정치 영역 크기 변화에 의한 ROI 내에서의 하운스필드(hounsfield units, HU)의 변화를 알아보고자 하였다. 본 실험에서는 단면영상과 HU를 획득하기 위해 4-다중 검출기 전산화단층영상장비를 이용하였다. 팬톰 제작은 용융적층조형술(fused deposition modeling, FDM) 프린팅 방식의 3D 프린터 기기를 사용하였다. 팬톰의 구조는 $160{\times}160{\times}50mm$의 원통형으로 33 mm, 24 mm, 19 mm, 16 mm, 9 mm 크기의 원형 구멍을 대칭되도록 두 쌍으로 설계하였다. 구멍에는 증류수를 혼합한 조영제를 충전하였다. X선의 관전압과 관전류량는 각각 90 kVp, 120 kVp, 140 kVp 그리고 50 mAs, 100 mAs, 150 mAs로 변화시켜 단면영상을 획득하였다. 획득된 영상의 ROI 내 HU 측정은 image J 프로그램를 이용하였다. 그 결과, 관전류량보다는 관전압이 HU에 영향을 주고 있음을 확인하였다. 그리고 균일한 밀도를 갖는 물질이라도 물리적 영역 크기가 작아질수록 HU는 감소하였으며 ROI 설정 영역 크기가 작아질수록 HU는 증가하여 HU가 변화한다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 5 HU 이내의 노이즈 수준에서 ROI를 최대한 크게 설정하는 것이 물리적 영역 크기와 ROI 설정 영역 크기에 의한 변이를 최소화시킬 수 있는 방법이라고 판단된다.