• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권11호
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• pp.1850-1857
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• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether a deep learning (DL) algorithm could enable simultaneous noise reduction and edge sharpening in low-dose lumbar spine CT. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 52 patients (26 male and 26 female; median age, 60.5 years) who had undergone CT-guided lumbar bone biopsy between October 2015 and April 2020. Initial 100-mAs survey images and 50-mAs intraprocedural images were reconstructed by filtered back projection. Denoising was performed using a vendor-agnostic DL model (ClariCT.AI^TM, ClariPI) for the 50-mAS images, and the 50-mAs, denoised 50-mAs, and 100-mAs CT images were compared. Noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and edge rise distance (ERD) for image sharpness were measured. The data were summarized as the mean ± standard deviation for these parameters. Two musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the visibility of the normal anatomical structures. Results: Noise was lower in the denoised 50-mAs images (36.38 ± 7.03 Hounsfield unit [HU]) than the 50-mAs (93.33 ± 25.36 HU) and 100-mAs (63.33 ± 16.09 HU) images (p < 0.001). The SNRs for the images in descending order were as follows: denoised 50-mAs (1.46 ± 0.54), 100-mAs (0.99 ± 0.34), and 50-mAs (0.58 ± 0.18) images (p < 0.001). The denoised 50-mAs images had better edge sharpness than the 100-mAs images at the vertebral body (ERD; 0.94 ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.05 ± 0.24 mm, p = 0.036) and the psoas (ERD; 0.42 ± 0.09 mm vs. 0.50 ± 0.12 mm, p = 0.002). The denoised 50-mAs images significantly improved the visualization of the normal anatomical structures (p < 0.001). Conclusion: DL-based reconstruction may enable simultaneous noise reduction and improvement in image quality with the preservation of edge sharpness on low-dose lumbar spine CT. Investigations on further radiation dose reduction and the clinical applicability of this technique are warranted.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.277-288
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• 2024

Objective: We previously found that the incidence of sarcopenia increased with declining glucose metabolism of muscle in patients with treatment-naïve diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sarcopenia and muscle glucometabolism using ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT at baseline and end-of-treatment, analyze the changes in these parameters through treatment, and assess their prognostic values. Materials and Methods: The records of 103 patients with DLBCL (median 54 years [range, 21-76]; male:female, 50:53) were retrospectively reviewed. Skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebral (L3) level was measured, and skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated to determine sarcopenia, defined as SMI < 44.77 cm²/m² and < 32.50 cm²/m² for male and female, respectively. Glucometabolic parameters of the psoas major muscle, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean), were measured at L3 as well. Their changes across treatment were also calculated as ΔSMI, ΔSUVmax, and ΔSUVmean; Δbody mass index was also calculated. Associations between SMI and the metabolic parameters were analyzed, and their associations with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified. Results: The incidence of sarcopenia was 29.1% and 36.9% before and after treatment, respectively. SMI (P = 0.004) was lower, and sarcopenia was more frequent (P = 0.011) at end-of-treatment than at baseline. The SUVmax and SUVmean of muscle were lower (P < 0.001) in sarcopenia than in non-sarcopenia at both baseline and end-of-treatment. ΔSMI was positively correlated with ΔSUVmax of muscle (P = 0.022). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that sarcopenia at end-of-treatment was independently negatively associated with PFS (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.469 [1.022-5.965]), while sarcopenia at baseline was independently negatively associated with OS (5.051 [1.453-17.562]). Conclusion: Sarcopenic patients had lower muscle glucometabolism, and the muscular and metabolic changes across treatment were positively correlated. Sarcopenia at baseline and end-of-treatment was negatively associated with the prognosis of DLBCL.

• 대한디지털의료영상학회논문지
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.37-43
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• 2007

I. 목적 : 본 연구에서는 복부의 이상적 영상 구현을 위한 Film Screen (F.S) System과 Computed Radiography(C.R) System의 촬영조건의 차이를 비교 분석해 보고, C.R system에서 촬영조건 변화에 따른 영상의 특성을 분석함으로써, C.R 환경에서 촬영조건 설정의 중요성을 살펴보고자 한다. II. 대상 및 방법 : F.S system에서 촬영 조건을 70kVp로 고정시키고, mAs를 단계적으로 변화시켜 복부 단순겸사를 시행하여 영상을 획득한 후, 진단방사선과 전문의와 방사선사로 구성된 영상평가 팀의 정량적, 정성적 분석을 통하여 F.S system 최적의 영상을 선정하였다. 동일 환자를 대상으로 C.R system 에서 위와 동일한 방법으로 영상을 획득한 후, F.S system과 C.R system의 영상의 특성곡선(Characteristic Curves)을 비교분석하고, C.R system에서 촬영조건 변화에 따른 복부 장기의 농도변화 및 영상의 특정을 비교 평가하였다. 마지막으로, F.S system과 C.R system의 최적의 영상 획득을 위한 촬영조건의 차이를 비교 분석하고, C.R 환경에서 촬영조건의 중요성을 살펴보았다. III. 결과 : F.S system에서 영상평가팀의 평가를 통하여 선택된 최적 영상의 촬영 조건은 70kVp, 20mAs로 나타났다. C.R system에서는 촬영조건 12mAs, 70kVp에서 복벽과 직접노출구역의 농도 차이가 최대인, 진단적 가치가 높은 영상을 얻을 수 있었다. C.R system에서는 (70kVp로 고정)변화한 mAs량(3.2mAs, 8mAs, 12mAs, 16mAs, 20mAs)에 상관없이 복부 장기는 거의 통일한 농도를 나타냈으며 12mAs 기준으로 노출 조건의 감소 또는 증가에 따라서 복벽과 직접노출부분의 명확한 구분이 불가능하였으며, mAs량이 낮아질수록 양자반점(Quantum Mottle)으로 인한 artifact는 증가함을 볼 수 있었다. IV. 결론 : 위의 실험 결과 본원 system의 복부단순검사에서는 C.R system 사용 시 F.S system 보다 촬영 조건을 약 40% 감소시킬 수 있었다. C.R환경에서 x-ray장치 Image processing 장치, 자동 감도조절(EDR : exposure data recognition processing) 장치, PACS 등 사용하는 장비들의 특성을 분석하여 적정 노출조건을 재설정한다면, 최소의 피폭선량으로 최대의 영상정보를 지닌 진단적 가치가 높은 영상의 획득이 가능하다고 사료된다.