• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.292-302
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• 2012

The patient dose in advanced radiotherapy techniques is an important issue. These methods should be evaluated to reduce the dose in diagnostic imaging for radiotherapy. Especially, the Computed Tomography in radiotherapy has been used widely; hence the CT was evaluated for dose and image in this study. The evaluations for dose and image were done in equal condition due to compare the dose and image simultaneously. Furthermore, the possibility of dose and image evaluations by using the Monte Carlo simulation MCNPX was confirmed. We made the iterative reconstruction for low dose CT image to elevate image quality with Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximization; MLEM. The system we developed is expected to be used not only to reduce the patient dose in radiotherapy, also to evaluate the overall factors of image modalities in industrial research.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.645-657
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• 2022

Purpose To evaluate and compare the diagnostic outcomes of ultrasonography (US)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) performed on the same thyroid nodule using a surgical specimen for direct comparison. Materials and Methods We included 89 thyroid nodules from 88 patients from February 2015 to January 2016. The inclusion criterion was thyroid nodules measuring ≥ 20 mm (mean size: 40.0 ± 15.3 mm). Immediately after surgical resection, FNA and subsequent CNB were performed on the surgical specimen under US guidance. FNA and CNB cytopathologic results on the specimen were compared with the surgical diagnosis. Results Among the 89 nodules, 30 were malignant and 59 were benign. Significantly higher inconclusive rates were seen in FNA for malignant than benign nodules (80.0% vs. 39.0%, p < 0.001). For CNB, conclusive and inconclusive rates did not differ between benign and malignant nodules (p = 0.796). Higher inconclusive rates were seen for FNA among cancers regardless of US features, and in the subgroup of size ≥ 40 mm (62.5% vs. 22.9%, p = 0.028). Eleven cancers were diagnosed with CNB (36.7%, 11/30), while none was diagnosed using FNA. Conclusion In this experimental study using surgical specimens, CNB showed a potential to provide improved diagnostic sensitivity for thyroid cancer, especially when a conclusive diagnosis is limited with FNA.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2020

Interventional radiology is performed under real-time fluoroscopy, and patients are exposed to a wide range of exposures for a long period of time depending on the examination and procedure. However, studies on radiation protection for patients during an intervention are insufficient. This study aims to evaluate the doses exposed during the intervention and the applicability of 3D printing materials. The organ dose for each intervention site was evaluated using a monte carlo simulatio. Also, the dose reduction effect of the critical organs was calculated when using a shielding device using 3D printing materials. As a result, the organ dose distribution for each intervention site showed a lower dose distribution for organs located far from the x-ray tube. It was analyzed that the influence of scattered rays was higher in the superficial organs of the back of the human body where x-rays were incident. The dose reduction effect on the critical organ using the 3D printing shield showed the highest testis among the gonads, and in the case of other organs, the dose reduction effect gradually decreased in the order of the eye, thyroid, breast, and ovary. Accordingly, it is judged that the 3D printed shield will be sufficiently usable as a shielding device for the radiation protection of critical organs.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate the reliability and clinical usefulness of ultrasonography in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Materials and Methods : Parasagittal and paracoronal 1.5 T MR images and 7.5 MHz ultrasonographs of 40 TMJs in 20 asymptomatic volunteers were obtained. Disc position using MR imaging was evaluated and the distance between the lateral surface of mandibular condyle and the articular capsule using MR image and ultrasonograph of 27 TMJs with normal disc position was measured and compared. Intraobserver and interobserver measurements reliability was evaluated by using interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and measurement error. Also, the distance measured on ultrasonographs was compared, according to mouth position and disc postion. Results : The normal disc position was found in 27 of 40 asymptomatic joints. At the intraobserver reliability of measurement, ICC at the closed and open mouth position were 0.89 and 0.91. The measurement error was 0.4% and 0.5%. At the interobserver reliability, ICC at the closed and open mouth position were 0.92 and 0.81. The measurement error was 0.4% and 0.7%. At the TMJ with normal disc position, the distances between the lateral surface of mandibular condyle and the articular capsule measured on MR images and ultrasonographs were $2.0{\pm}0.7mm,\;1.8{\pm}0.5mm$, respectively (p<0.05). On the ultrasonographs, the distances at open mouth position were $1.2{\pm}0.5mm$ (p<0.05). At the TMJ with medially displaced disc, the distances at the closed and open mouth position were $1.3{\pm}0.3\;mm\;and\;0.9{\pm}0.2\;mm$ (p<0.05). Conclusion : The results suggest ultrasonography of TMJ is a reliable imaging technique for assessment of normal disc position.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2006

Purpose : To investigate clusterin expression in the acini and ductal cells of rat submandibular glands after Co-60 gamma irradiation. Materials and Methods : The male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing approximately 250 gm were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group was irradiated with a single absorbed dose of 2, 5, 10, and 15 Gy on the head and neck region. All the rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after irradiation. The specimens including the submandibular gland were sectioned and observed using a immunohistochemical method. Results : In the 2 Gy group, clusterin expression was similar to that of the control group at 1 day after irradiation and it was observed in the striated ductal cells at 3 days after irradiation. In the 5 Gy group, clusterin expression was observed in the striated ductal cells at 1 day after irradiation and gradually increased in the 10 and 15 Gy groups. In the 15 Gy group, clusterin expression was prominent in the striated ductal cells at 1 day after irradiation, but it gradually decreased with the experimental period. The destruction of the striated ductal cells was observed in the 2 Gy group at 21 days after irradiation and in the 5, 10, and 15 Gy groups at 7 days after irradiation. The destruction of the acinar cells was observed in the 2 Gy group at 28 days after irradiation and in the 5, 10, and 15 Gy groups at 14 days after irradiation. Conclusion : Clusterin expression was induced by low doses of irradiation and it appeared to be involved in the regulation of cellular response to irradiation.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to provide comparative measurements of the effective dose from direct and indirect digital panoramic units according to phantoms and exposure parameters. Materials and Methods: Dose measurements were carried out using a head phantom representing an average man (175 cm tall, 73.5 kg male) and a limbless whole body phantom representing an average woman (155 cm tall, 50 kg female). Lithium fluoride thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips were used for the dosimeter. Two direct and 2 indirect digital panoramic units were evaluated in this study. Effective doses were derived using 2007 International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommendations. Results: The effective doses of the 4 digital panoramic units ranged between $8.9{\mu}Sv$ and $37.8{\mu}Sv$. By using the head phantom, the effective doses from the direct digital panoramic units ($37.8{\mu}Sv$, $27.6{\mu}Sv$) were higher than those from the indirect units ($8.9{\mu}Sv$, $15.9{\mu}Sv$). The same panoramic unit showed the difference in effective doses according to the gender of the phantom, numbers and locations of TLDs, and kVp. Conclusion: To reasonably assess the radiation risk from various dental radiographic units, the effective doses should be obtained with the same numbers and locations of TLDs, and with standard hospital exposure. After that, it is necessary to survey the effective doses from various dental radiographic units according to the gender with the corresponding phantom.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2003

Purpose: To compare the effects of the conservative treatment and operative treatment by observation of osseous changes of the TMJ and mandibular asymmetry in condylar fracture patients. Materials and Methods: 33 condylar fracture patients (17 with conservative and 16 with operative treatment) were included in this study. After a minimum of 6 months after the surgical procedure, patients were given a follow up examination of the osseous changes using a transcranial view. Differences in the osseous changes of both groups were compared and the asymmetry indices were calculated on a postero-anterior skull view. Results: The TMJ of the operative treatment group showed more significant osseous changes than the conservative treatment group. The affected TMJ showed more significant osseous changes than the unaffected TMJ in the both groups. The unaffected TMJ of the conservative group and the affected TMJ of the operative group showed significant osseous changes. The mandibular asymmetry indices in the conservative and operative group were 5.12 and 7.30 respectively at the time of treatment, and 2.39 and 3.41 respectively at the follow-up. But the mandibular asymmetry between the both groups showed no statistical differences. Conclusion: The TMJ of the operative group showed more significant osseous changes than the conservative group, but the mandibular asymmetry between the both groups showed no statistical difference.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and usefulness of newly developed personal computer-based software to eliminate the linear artifacts by the metal restorations. Materials and Methods: A 3D CT image was conventionally reconstructed using ADVANTAGE WINDOWS 2.0 3D Analysis software (GE Medical System, Milwaukee, USA) and eliminated the linear artifacts manually. Next, a 3D CT image was reconstructed using V-works 4.0/sup TM/(Cybermed Inc., Seoul, Korea) and the linear artifacts eliminated manually in the axial images by a skillful operator using a personal computer. A 3D CT image was reconstructed using V-works 4.0/sup TM/(Cybermed Inc., Seoul, Korea) and the linear artifacts were removed using a simplified algorithm program to eliminate the linear artifacts automatically in the axial images using a personal computer, abbreviating the manual editing procedure. Finally, the automatically edited reconstructed 3D images were compared to the manually edited images. Results and Conclusion: We effectively eliminated the linear artifacts automatically by this algorithm, not by the manual editing procedures, in some degree. But programs based on more complicated and accurate algorithms may lead to a nearly flawless elimination of these linear artifacts automatically.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2013

Purpose: Tonsilloliths are calcifications found in the crypts of the palatal tonsils and can be detected on routine panoramic examinations. This study was performed to highlight the benefits of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of tonsilloliths appearing bilaterally on panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: The sample group consisted of 7 patients who had bilateral radiopaque lesions at the area of the ascending ramus on panoramic radiographs. CBCT images for every patient were obtained from both sides of the jaw to determine the exact locations of the lesions and to rule out other calcifications. The calcifications were evaluated on the CBCT images using Ez3D2009 software. Additionally, the obtained images in DICOM format were transferred to ITK SNAP 2.4.0 pc software for semiautomatic segmentation. Segmentation was performed using contrast differences between the soft tissues and calcifications on grayscale images, and the volume in mm3 of the segmented three dimensional models were obtained. Results: CBCT scans revealed that what appeared on panoramic radiographs as bilateral images were in fact unilateral lesions in 2 cases. The total volume of the calcifications ranged from 7.92 to $302.5mm^3$. The patients with bilaterally multiple and large calcifications were found to be symptomatic. Conclusion: The cases provided the evidence that tonsilloliths should be considered in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque masses involving the mandibular ramus, and they highlight the need for a CBCT scan to differentiate pseudo- or ghost images from true bilateral pathologies.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm activated at different times during cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) acquisition on the magnitude of artifacts generated by a zirconium implant. Materials and Methods: Volumes were obtained with and without a zirconium implant in a human mandible, using the OP300 Maxio unit. Three modes were tested: without MAR, with MAR activated after acquisition, and with MAR activated before acquisition. Artifacts were assessed in terms of the standard deviation (SD) of gray values and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in 6 regions of interest with different distances (10 to 35 mm, from the nearest to the farthest) and angulations(70° to 135°) from the implant region. Results: In the acquisitions without MAR, the regions closer to the implant(10 and 15mm) had a higher SD and lower CNR than the farther regions. When MAR was activated (before or after), SD values did not differ among the regions (P>0.05). The region closest to the implant presented a significantly lower CNR in the acquisitions without MAR than when MAR was activated after the acquisition; however, activating MAR before the acquisition did not yield significant differences from either of the other conditions. Conclusion: Both modes of MAR activation were effective in decreasing the magnitude of CBCT artifacts, especially when the effects of the artifacts were more noticeable.