• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.510-515
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• 2011

This study was performed to quantitatively assess the normal lung volume and density according to the position by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) in dogs. Helical CT of the thorax was performed on 4 different positions with dorsal, left lateral, right lateral and ventral recumbency in 6 Pekingese and 6 Maltese dogs. During CT scanning, dogs were kept hyperventilated. Through the 3-dimensional reconstruction of CT images, the lung parameters were measured as the volume and density of the left, right including accessory lobe, and total lung. 3D images represented the different lung shape between Pekingese and Maltese dogs. Their difference of total lung volume and total lung density was not significant on the each position in both breeds. Right lung volume was significantly higher than left. The difference of left and right volume was $66.91{\pm}25.1$ ml. Linear relationship was shown between body weight and lung volume of ventral recumbency position. The dependent lung had higher density and lower volume than nondependent lung in both breed dogs. The volume of nondependent lung was not changed compared with the volume on ventral or dorsal recumbency. The total lung volume measured with MDCT is correlated with the lung density, and the lung density is useful to predict the normal total lung volume.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2003

As the importance of accuracy in measurings of 3-D anatomical structures continues to be stressed, an objective and quantitative of assessing image quality and accuracy of 3-D volume-rendered images is required. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of 3-D rendered images obtained with MDCT, scanned at various scanning parameters (scan modes, slice thicknesses and reconstruction slice thickness). Twelve clinically significant points that play an important role for the craniofacial bone in plastic surgery and dentistry were marked on the surface of a dry human skull. The direct distances between the reference points were defined as gold standards to assess the measuring errors of 3-D images. Then, we scanned the specimen with acquisition parameters of 300 mA, In kVp, and 1.0 sec scan time in axial and helical scan modes (pitch 3:1 and 6:1) at 1,25 mm, 2.50 mm, 3.75 mm and 5.00 mm slice thicknesses. We performed 3-D visualizations and distance measurements with volumetric analysis software and statistically evaluated the quantitative accuracy of distance measurements. The accuracy of distance measurements on the 3-D images acquired with 1.25, 2.50, 3,75 and 5.00 mm slice thickness were 48%, 33%, 23%, 14%, respectively, and those of the reconstructed 1.25 mm were 53%, 41%, 43%, 36% respectively. Meanwhile, there were insignificant statistical differences (P-value<0.05) in the accuracy of the distance measurements of 3-D images reconstructed with 1.25 mm thickness. In conclusion, slice thickness, rather than scan mode, influenced the quantitative accuracy of distance measurements in 3-D rendered images with MDCT. The quantitative analysis of distance measurements may be a useful tool for evaluating the accuracy of 3-D rendered images used in diagnosis, surgical planning, and radiotherapeutic treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2006

Background: A cervical transforaminal steroid injection is an effective therapeutic modality for radiculopathy of a herniated cervical disc or a cervical foraminal stenosis. However, there is some debate regarding the safety of the transforaminal approach under C-arm guidance compared with the posterior interlaminar approach. We report a new technique for cervical transforaminal steroid injection guided by MDCT. Methods: Patients presenting with radiating pain on their shoulder or arm were diagnosed using CT or MRI of a cervical herniated disc or a foraminal stenosis. Each patient whose symptoms were compatible with the image scan was enrolled in this study. They received a cervical transforaminal steroid injection under CT guidance, and the effectiveness and complications of this technique were evaluated over a 2-month period. Results: According to the CT scan, none of the participants had an internal jugular vein or a carotid artery invasion during the procedure. No vertebral artery injection was noted, and no patient developed a hematoma after the injection. The VAS score had improved significantly by 2, 4 and 8 weeks after the injection. Conclusions: While a conventional C-arm guided cervical transforaminal steroid injection does not appear to differentiate between the major vessels and structures in images, a CT guided approach is a more useful and safer technique for the precise placement of a needle.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.295-301
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• 2017

In this study, We subtracted the calcification blooming artifact from MDCT images of coronary atherosclerosis patients and verified their accuracy and usefulness. We performed coronary artery calcification stenosis phantom and a program to subtract calcification blooming artifact by applying 8 different image segmentation method (Otsu, Sobel, Prewitt, Canny, DoG, Region Growing, Gaussian+K-mean clustering, Otsu+DoG). As a result, In the coronary artery calcification stenosis phantom with the lumen region 5 mm the calcification blooming artifact was subtracted in the application of the mixture of Gaussian filtering and K- Clustering algorithm, and the value was close to the actual calcification region. These results may help to accurately diagnose coronary artery calcification stenosis.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.599-608
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• 2019

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) Hounsfield unit histogram analysis (HUHA) in postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) prediction. Materials and Methods: Fifty-four patients (33 males and 21 females; mean age, 65.6 years; age range, 37-89 years) who had undergone preoperative CT and pancreaticoduodenectomy were included in this retrospective study. Two radiologists measured mean CT Hounsfield unit (CTHU) values by drawing regions of interest (ROIs) at the level of the pancreaticojejunostomy site on preoperative pre-contrast images. The HUHA values were arbitrarily divided into three categories, comprising HUHA-A ≤ 0 HU, 0 HU < HUHA-B < 30 HU, and HUHA-C ≥ 30 HU. Each HUHA value within the ROI was calculated as a percentage of the entire area using commercial 3-dimensional analysis software. Pancreas texture was evaluated as soft or hard by manual palpation. Results: Fifteen patients (27.8%) had clinically relevant PFs. The PF group had significantly higher HUHA-A (p < 0.01) and significantly lower mean CTHU (p < 0.01) values than those of the non-PF group. The HUHA-A value had a moderately strong correlation with PF occurrence (r = 0.60, p < 0.01), whereas the mean CTHU had a weak negative correlation with PF occurrence (r = -0.27, p < 0.01). The HUHA-A and mean CTHU areas under the curve (AUCs) for predicting PF occurrence were 0.86 and 0.65, respectively, with significant difference (p < 0.01). The HUHA-A and mean CTHU AUCs for predicting pancreatic softness were 0.86 and 0.64, respectively, with significant difference (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The HUHA-A values on preoperative pre-contrast CT images demonstrate a strong correlation with PF occurrence.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the variation which based on Celiac axis and SMA using by CT volume rendering images. 613 patients underwent abdominal CTA, there were 552 patients (99.05%, TypeI, II) with normal anatomical form and 61 (9.95%, Type III~XII) with variation. TypeI was 339(55.31%), Type II was 213 (34.74%), Type III was 18 (2.93%), Type IV was 12 patients (1.95%), Type V was 11 patient (1.79%), Type VI was 9 patients (1.46%), Type VII was 6 patients (0.97%), Type VIII was 1 patient (0.16%), Type IX was 1 patient (0.16%), Type X was 1 patient (0.16%), Type XI was 1 patient (0.16%), and Type XII was 1 patient (0.16%) into totally new types of variation. In conclusion, we could found 9 new types of variation by classifying based on celiac axis and superior mesenteric artery. These results were considered to be an important opportunity for a new vessel map.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2015

To image diagnosis in neurovascular diseases using Multi-Detector Computed Tomography(MDCT), injected the same contrast material when inspecting Brain Computed Tomography Angiography(BCTA) to examine radiation dose and Image quality on changing Cerebral Artery CT number by tube voltage. Executed an examination with same condition[Beam Collimation $128{\times}0.6mm$, Pitch 0.6, Rotation Time 0.5s, Slice Thickness 5.0mm, Increment 5.0mm, Delay Time 3.0sec, Care Dose 4D(Demension ; D)] except for tube voltage on 50 call patients for BCTA and divided them into two groups (25 people for a group, group A: 80, group B: 120kVp). From all the acquired images, set a ROI(Region of Interest) on four spots such as left cerebral artery, right cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery and cerebral parenchyma to compare quantitative evaluation, qualitative evaluation and effective dose after measuring CT number value from Picture Archiving Communications System(PACS). Evaluating images with CT number acquired from BCTA examination, images with 80 kVp was 18% higher in Signal to Noise Ratio and 19% in Contrast to Noise Ratio than those with 120 kVp. It was seen that expose dose was decreased by over 50% with tube voltage 80 kVp than with 120 kVp. Group A (25 patients) was examination with tube voltage 80kVp while group B with 120 kVp to examine radiation dose and Image quality. It is considered effective to inspect with lower tube voltage than with conventional high kVp, which can reduce radiation dose without any affect on diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1021-1030
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• 2018

Objective: We evaluated the effect of various patient characteristics and time-density curve (TDC)-factors on the test bolus-affected vessel enhancement on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We also assessed the value of generalized linear regression models (GLMs) for predicting enhancement on CCTA. Materials and Methods: We performed univariate and multivariate regression analysis to evaluate the effect of patient characteristics and to compare contrast enhancement per gram of iodine on test bolus (${\Delta}HUTEST$) and CCTA (${\Delta}HUCCTA$). We developed GLMs to predict ${\Delta}HUCCTA$. GLMs including independent variables were validated with 6-fold cross-validation using the correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. Results: In multivariate analysis, only total body weight (TBW) and ${\Delta}HUTEST$ maintained their independent predictive value (p < 0.001). In validation analysis, the highest correlation coefficient between ${\Delta}HUCCTA$ and the prediction values was seen in the GLM (r = 0.75), followed by TDC (r = 0.69) and TBW (r = 0.62). The lowest Bland-Altman limit of agreement was observed with GLM-3 (mean difference, $-0.0{\pm}5.1$ Hounsfield units/grams of iodine [HU/gI]; 95% confidence interval [CI], -10.1, 10.1), followed by ${\Delta}HUCCTA$ ($-0.0{\pm}5.9HU/gI$; 95% CI, -11.9, 11.9) and TBW ($1.1{\pm}6.2HU/gI$; 95% CI, -11.2, 13.4). Conclusion: We demonstrated that the patient's TBW and ${\Delta}HUTEST$ significantly affected contrast enhancement on CCTA images and that the combined use of clinical information and test bolus results is useful for predicting aortic enhancement.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to develop an assist device that could correct and support patient position during biopsy on computed tomography (CT) using 3D printing technology. The development method was conducted in the order of 3D design, 3D output, intermediate evaluation for product, final assist device evaluation. The 3D design method was conducted in the order of prior research data survey, measurement, primary modeling, 3D printing, output evaluation, and supplementary modeling. The 3D output was the 3D printer (3DWOX 2X, Sindoh, Korea) with additive manufacturing technology and the polylactic acid (PLA) materials. At this time, the optimal strength was evaluated to infill degree of product as the 3D printing factors into 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%. The intermediate evaluation and supplementation was measured noise in the region of interest (ROI) around the beam hardening artifact on the CT images. We used 128-channel MDCT (Discovery 75 HD, GE, USA) to scan with a slice thickness of 100 kVp, 150 mA, and 2.5 mm on the 3D printing product. We compared the surrounding noise of the final 3D printing product with the beginning of it. and then the strength of it according to the degree of infill was evaluated. As a result, the surrounding noise of the final and the early devices were measured at an average of 3.3 ± 0.5 HU and 7.1 ± 0.1 HU, respectively, which significantly reduced the noise of the final 3D printing product (p<0.001). We found that the percentage of infill according to the optimal strength was found to be 60%. Finally, development of assist devices for CT biopsy will be able to minimize artifacts and provide convenience to medical staff and patients.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2008

Our objective was to evaluate the image of spatial domain filtering as an alternative to additional image reconstruction using different kernels in MDCT. Derived from thin collimated source images were generated using water phantom and abdomen B10(very smooth), B20(smooth), B30(medium smooth), B40 (medium), B50(medium sharp), B60(sharp), B70(very sharp) and B80(ultra sharp) kernels. MTF and spatial resolution measured with various convolution kernels. Quantitative CT attenuation coefficient and noise measurements provided comparable HU(Hounsfield) units in this respect. CT attenuation coefficient(mean HU) values in the water were values in the water were $1.1{\sim}1.8\;HU$, air($-998{\sim}-1000\;HU$) and noise in the water($5.4{\sim}44.8\;HU$), air($3.6{\sim}31.4\;HU$). In the abdominal fat a CT attenuation coefficient($-2.2{\sim}0.8\;HU$) and noise($10.1{\sim}82.4\;HU$) was measured. In the abdominal was CT attenuation coefficient($53.3{\sim}54.3\;HU$) and noise($10.4{\sim}70.7\;HU$) in the muscle and in the liver parenchyma of CT attenuation coefficient($60.4{\sim}62.2\;HU$) and noise ($7.6{\sim}63.8\;HU$) in the liver parenchyma. Image reconstructed with a convolution kernel led to an increase in noise, whereas the results for CT attenuation coefficient were comparable. Image scanned with a high convolution kernel(B80) led to an increase in noise, whereas the results for CT attenuation coefficient were comparable. Image medications of image sharpness and noise eliminate the need for reconstruction using different kernels in the future. Adjusting CT various kernels, which should be adjusted to take into account the kernels of the CT undergoing the examination, may control CT images increase the diagnostic accuracy.