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Seonwoo Kim

Publications and source records attributed to Seonwoo Kim.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Interchanging scores between clinical dementia rating scale and global deterioration scale.

Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) are commonly used to measure the severity of dementia. However, no specific rules are available to convert the scores of CDR into those of GDS and vice versa. Using a semi-structured interview, two examiners independently rated CDR and GDS in 78 patients with dementia and 34 controls. Regression analysis showed a curvilinear relationship between CDR and GDS. This curve may provide a rule to interchange the scores of GDS and CDR (or Sum of Boxes of CDR).

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Additional coronal images using low-milliamperage multidetector-row computed tomography: effectiveness in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis.

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of additional coronal images using low-milliamperage multidetector-row computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis. METHODS: Helical volumetric CT scans (120 kVp, 70 mA, 2.5-mm collimation, table speed of 15 mm/s, table rotation time of 1 second) using low-milliamperage multidetector-row CT were obtained through the thorax in 110 patients who were suspected of bronchiectasis. Both axial (2.5-mm section thickness) and coronal (1.3-2.0-mm section thickness) reformatted images were made and sent to picture archiving and communication system (PACS) monitors. Two independent observers assessed CT scans twice; with axial images only and with both axial and coronal images. The detection rates of bronchiectasis were compared between readings with axial images only and with both axial and coronal images by using a nonparametric method of clustered data. Confidence grades were given to the distribution and type of bronchiectasis. RESULTS: With axial images only, the detection rates of bronchiectasis on a per-patient basis were 97% (213/220 patients, kappa = 0.888) whereas with both axial and coronal images, the detection rates were 100% (220/220 patients, kappa = 1.000) (P = 0.0001). Confidence to the distribution of bronchiectasis was greater with both axial and coronal images than with axial images only (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Additional coronal images using low-milliamperage multidetector-row CT are effective in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis by providing enhanced detection rates and confidence to the distribution of lesions.

Adult↗

Computed tomography in pulmonary artery sarcoma: distinguishing features from pulmonary embolic disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to present the computed tomography (CT) findings of pulmonary artery sarcoma in 7 patients with a focus on the distinguishing features of pulmonary embolic disease. METHODS: For the 9 years from December 1993 to November 2002, we treated 7 patients with pathologically proven pulmonary artery sarcoma, and during the 2 years from December 2000 to November 2002, we treated 40 patients with acute (n = 33) or chronic (n = 7) pulmonary embolism. In these patients, pulmonary embolism was diagnosed from serial CT or clinical findings. Two chest radiologists, blinded to the diagnoses, independently reviewed the scans of all 47 patients in random order, and the so-documented CT features of sarcoma and pulmonary embolism were compared by using Fisher exact test or the generalized estimating equations test. RESULTS: The two most frequent CT findings of pulmonary artery sarcomas were a low-attenuation filling defect occupying the entire luminal diameter of the main (n = 1) or proximal (n = 6) pulmonary artery and an expansion of any segment of the pulmonary artery with extensive intraluminal filling defect, as observed in six (86%) of 7 patients. In contrast, the finding of a lesion occupying the entire luminal diameter at the level of proximal pulmonary arteries was absent in all 40 patients with pulmonary embolism (P < 0.0001) (kappa = 0.9111). Expansion of the pulmonary arteries was seen in one (3%) of 40 patients with pulmonary embolism (P < 0.0001) (kappa = 0.9108). Extraluminal extension was observed in 5 of 7 (71%) patients with sarcoma, but in no patient with an embolism (P < 0.0001) (kappa = 0.8773). CONCLUSION: CT can help differentiate pulmonary artery sarcoma from pulmonary embolism by indicating a low-attenuation filling defect occupying the entire luminal diameter of the proximal or main pulmonary artery, expansion of the involved arteries, or extraluminal tumor extension.

Adult↗

Evaluation of small pulmonary arteries by 16-slice multidetector computed tomography: Optimum slab thickness in condensing transaxial images converted into maximum intensity projection images.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal slab thickness for condensing transaxial images into maximum intensity projection (MIP) images in the evaluation of small pulmonary arteries using 16-slice multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: Helical computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained from lung apices to bases using 16-slice MDCT [120 kV(peak), 180 mA, beam width of 10 mm, beam pitch of 1.375, and reconstruction thickness of 1.25 mm] in 29 patients suspected of having a pulmonary embolism. Four kinds of image series (1.25-mm thick original transaxial source images and 3 kinds of reconstructed images using the MIP technique with slab thicknesses of 2.5 mm, 5 mm, and 10 mm) were obtained from each patient and forwarded to monitors of a picture archiving and communication system for analysis by 2 independent observers. The observers recorded the name of the segmental (20 total; 10 in each lung) and subsegmental (40 total; 20 in each lung) arteries that were traceable in each image series. Image quality of the 4 image types were graded into 5 scales based on their degree of vascular opacification, the sharpness of the vascular margins of the contrast-enhanced CT angiograms, and the visibility of lung parenchyma (excellent [5] to nondiagnostic [1]) and compared. RESULTS: In both the 1.25-mm thick original transaxial and 2.5-mm thick MIP images, a higher percentage of subsegmental arteries was traceable (91.3% [2119/2320 observations] and 87.2% [2023/2320 observations], respectively; P <0.05) than in the 5-mm and 10-mm thick MIP images (66.4% [1540/2320] and 40.5% [940/2320], respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed between the 1.25-mm thick transaxial and 2.5-mm thick MIP images in this respect. Image quality of 2.5-mm thick MIP images was superior to that of the 5-mm and 10-mm thick MIP images (P < 0.0001). No statistically significant difference was found between the scores of the image quality of the 1.25-mm thick original transaxial images and the 2.5-mm thick MIP images. CONCLUSION: After reducing the image number by one half, 2.5-mm thick MIP images using 16-slice MDCT are found to provide satisfactory images, which are comparable to 1.25-mm thick transaxial images for the analysis of subsegmental pulmonary arteries in patients suspected of pulmonary embolism.

Adult↗

Usual interstitial pneumonia and non-specific interstitial pneumonia: serial thin-section CT findings correlated with pulmonary function.

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to demonstrate and compare the serial high-resolution CTs (HRCT) and the pulmonary function test (PFT) findings of the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and the non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serial HRCT scans and the PFT results were retrospectively analysed and compared for 35 patients having UIP without significant honeycombing (UIP-w/o hc, < 5% of honeycombing at CT), 35 patients having UIP with honeycombing (UIP-w/i hc, > or = 5% of honeycombing), and 25 patients with NSIP. The mortality rates were also compared. Follow-up CT scans were available in 75 patients (29 UIP-w/o hc patients, 22 UIP-w/i hc patients and 24 NSIP patients) and the follow-up periods ranged from 150 to 2,370 days. The initial and follow-up PFT data were available for 71 patients. RESULTS: On the initial CT, significant differences were present between the UIP-w/i hc patients and both the UIP-w/o hc patients and the NSIP patients in the overall extent, ground-glass opacity (GGO) away from the reticulation, reticulation and honeycombing (all p < 0.05). Improvement was noticed in five (17%) of 29 UIP-w/o hc patients, none of 22 UIP-w/i hc patients, and 9 (37%) of 24 NSIP patients; deterioration was noted in six (21%) UIP-w/o hc patients, two (9%) UIPw/i hc patients and three (13%) NSIP patients (p = 0.044 between UIP-w/o and UIP-w/i hc; p = 0.637 between UIP-w/o hc and NSIP; p = 0.007 between UIP-w/i hc and NSIP). The serial changes of the pulmonary function in the NSIP patients were different from those noted for the UIP-w/i hc and UIP-w/o hc patients (p = 0.440 between UIP-w/o and UIP-w/i hc; p = 0.022 between UIP-w/o hc and NSIP; p = 0.003 between UIP-w/i hc and NSIP). Five (14%) of the 35 patients with UIPw/o hc, 16 (46%) of the 35 patients with UIP-w/i hc and three (12%) of the 25 patients with NSIP died (p = 0.002, comparison for the three groups). CONCLUSION: On CT, NSIP and UIP-w/o hc patients have similar patterns of parenchymal abnormalities and a similar likelihood of change in the extent of disease on follow-up. Patients with UIP-w/i hc have distinctive features and a worst prognosis.

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