PURPOSE: To date, the high spatial frequency algorithm (HSFA) which reduces image smoothing and increases spatial resolution has been used for the evaluation of parenchymal lung diseases in thin-section high-resolution CT. In this study, we compared the ultrahigh spatial frequency algorithm (UHSFA) with the high spatial frequency algorithm in the assessment of thin section images of the lung parenchyma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Three radiologists compared the UHSFA and HSFA on identical CT images in a line-pair resolution phantom, one lung specimen, 2 patients with normal lung and 18 patients with abnormal lung parenchyma. RESULTS: Scanning of a line-pair resolution phantom demonstrated no difference in resolution between two techniques but it showed that outer lines of the line pairs with maximal resolution looked thicker on UHSFA than those on HSFA. Lung parenchymal detail with UHSFA was judged equal or superior to HSFA in 95% of images. Lung parenchymal sharpness was improved with UHSFA in all images. Although UHSFA resulted in an increase in visible noise, observers did not found that image noise interfered with image interpretation. The visual CT attenuation of normal lung parenchyma is minimally increased in images with HSFA. The overall visual preference of the images reconstructed on UHSFA was considered equal to or greater than that of those reconstructed on HSFA in 78% of images. CONCLUSION: The ultrahigh spatial frequency algorithm improved the overall visual quality of the images in pulmonary parenchymal high-resolution CT.
Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Noise

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the high-resolution CT features of Swyer-James syndrome with special attention to the airway lesions and to determine the clinical utility of high-resolution CT compared with that of chest radiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In seven patients with Swyer-James syndrome, we retrospectively reviewed chest radiographs obtained during inspiration and expiration and high-resolution CT scans obtained in inspiration. The high-resolution CT appearance was evaluated and compared with that of chest radiography. RESULTS: On both chest radiographs and high-resolution CT, the affected lung volume was relatively diminished in four patients and normal in three patients. In all seven patients, chest readiographs showed hyperlucency of the lung which was unilateral in four and bilateral in three patients. Unilateral small hilum was seen in six patients and bronchiectasis was demonstrated in one patient on chest radiographs. The hyperlucent lung volume was not diminished on expiratory radiographs in all seven patients. In all patients, high-resolution CT demonstrated low attenuation regions of the lung either bilaterally(n=5) or unilaterally(n=2). Pulmonary vessels were markedly decreased in size and number in the lung parenchyma with low attenuation. Six patients had bronchiectasis on high-resolution CT, which were cylindrical or varicose in five and cystic in one. Bronchiolectasis was observed in three patients on high-resolution CT. CONCLUSION: The high-resolution CT findings are characteristic of Swyer-James syndrome. High-resolution CT is more sensitive than chest radiography in detecting regions of low attenuation and bronchiectasis and may be useful for the diagnosis of Swyer-James syndrome. Our results suggest that bronchiectasis is a frequently associated airway lesion of Swyer-James syndrome and bronchiolectasis may be associated in some cases.
Bronchiectasis ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung, Hyperlucent* ; Radiography ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Orbit*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Microsporum* ; Siblings* ; Tinea Capitis* ; Tinea*

Coronary artery steonosis can be effectively treated by non-operative percutaneous tansluminal coronaryangioplasty(PTCA). We performed PTCA in three patients with coronary artery stenosis, who were referred to thedepartment of radiology, from January to Dec. in 1985. The results were as follows; 1. The locations of coronaryartery stenosis were the proximal anterior descending branch of left coronary artery. 2. The number of stenoticlesions was single without calcium plaque in all three cases. 3. The extent of coronary artery disease is focal,under 2cm in length. 4. PTCA was performed successfully with satisfactory post-dilatation results in all cases. 5.Severe complications such as arterial intimal dissection, acute myocardial infarction, did not occurred. PTCA hasmany advantages over vascular surgery on surgical, economical, and psychological aspects.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Calcium ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction

OBJECTIVES: The craniopharyngioma is a benign tumor located at least in part in the suprasellar cistern. However, the symptoms and signs from this tumor may be determined not only by the location of the tumor but also by its size and the age of the patient. The objective of our study is to analyze retrospectively the clinical manifestations of craniopharyngiomas with regards to tumor characteristics in children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients(16 adults, 7 children) treated for craniopharyngioma between 1990 and 1999 were studied to demonstrate the relationship of tumor size, growth pattern, and its invasiveness with clinical symptoms. As part of the assessment, 16 adults(M:F=8:8, mean age:43.7 years) and 7 children(M:F=5:2, mean age:10.1 years) underwent magnetic resonance(MR) imaging and computerized tomography(CT) scanning with a three-dimensional volume acquisition sequence. RESULTS: The three major cardinal signs were defined to increased intracranial pressure, endocrine dysfunction, and visual problems. The tumor size in child group was larger than that in adult group. Also, visual problems, symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus were more frequently observed in child group. However, endocrine dysfunction and neuropsychological symptoms related with hypothalamic connections to the thalamus, pituitary, frontal lobe, and other cortical areas were more frequent in adult group. Conclusions: In our series, the tumor size and invasiveness of craniopharyngioma revealed to be relevent with initial symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and visual symptoms which were more frequent in child group. As for the growth pattern, we did not find major difference between adults and children.
Adult* ; Child* ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Pressure ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalamus

Cystic retrochiasmatic craniopharyngioma may reach enormous size by expanding into the posterior fossa along the retroclival area, which is very unusual finding. An 11-year-old girl presented with walking disturbance and irritability. On the neurological examination, she had positive Babinski sign, hyperactive deep tendon reflex, and left lateral gaze nystagmus. She also had right hearing disturbance. Initial magnetic resonance(MR) images revealed a huge, thin capsuled cystic mass which extended into the cerebellopontine angle down to the medulla oblongata. Secondary adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and reoperation were necessary after first tumor removal by a suboccipital approach, due to the progression of disease. Finally, neurological condition was much improved without remnant tumor although some sequelae were remained. We report this interesting case because of its rarity, complex clinical presentation, and challenge in its management.
Cerebellopontine Angle ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Female ; Hearing ; Humans ; Medulla Oblongata* ; Neurologic Examination ; Radiotherapy ; Reflex, Babinski ; Reflex, Stretch ; Reoperation ; Walking

PURPOSE: Rat arthritis was induced by bovine type II collagen. To present the remedial effects on type II collagen arthritis and clinical efficacy, a high dose of methotrexate, of a level similar to that used in cancer patients was given to rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy male Brown Norway rats were used, of mean weight; 300 g. There were 7 subgroups: a control group, given collagen only, an orally methotrexate treated (2.5mg/week), high methotrexate dose groups; 10 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and a low dose methotrexate group (0.375 mg/kg/week, 4 times) were included in the present study. Type II collagen was injected for arthritis induction and a single intraperitoneal injection of methotrexate was administered after 15 days. Orally treated group was administered 4 times (2.5 mg/week). Histopathologic findings were evaluated. RESULTS: 50 mg/kg methotrexate was effectively reduced the arthritis index and significantly decreased inflammatory cell number between 2nd and 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: A high dose of methotrexate may be clinically effective in the short period treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Animals ; Arthritis* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cell Count ; Collagen ; Collagen Type II* ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Male ; Methotrexate* ; Norway ; Rats*

We recently encountered an interesting case of acute inferior ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This patient had a rare anatomic variation, single coronary artery. The right coronary artery originate from the left circumflex proper artery, not from aorta, was totally obstructed with thrombi. Though it took more time to figure out the patient's coronary anatomy and the culprit lesion, we successfully performed primary percutaneous coronary intervention within the guideline-recommended time period. We performed left coronary angiography at the beginning. This strategy could be helpful in determining the culprit lesion and preventing unnecessary procedural delay in acute inferior STEMI.
Anatomic Variation ; Aorta ; Arteries ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study are to evaluate clinical characteristics of malnourished patients who received nutritional therapy and to compare their clinical courses according to nutritional support team (NST) consultation in tertiary referral hospital in Korea. METHODS: From June 2014 to May 2015, 43,954 admitted patients who were more than 18 years old were retrospectively investigated. Characteristics of patients who received enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN) for more than 3 days (nutritional therapy group) were compared to the patients without nutritional therapy (control group). In addition, clinical courses according to NST consultation (NST group and non-NST group) were compared through propensity score matching (PSM). RESULTS: EN or PN was applied in 4,599 patients for more than 3 days (nutritional therapy group: 10.5%). For characteristics, there were significant differences between two groups (nutritional therapy group vs. control group) with age, male proportion, body weight, body mass index. All laboratory data at admission were significantly worse in nutritional therapy group. And for clinical courses, there were significant differences in length of stay (LOS), rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, LOS in ICU, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Enquiry (APACHE II) score, days of nutritional therapy, mortality rate. NST consultation was made in 39% of nutritional therapy group. Among departments, Thoracic Surgery showed the highest rate of NST consultation (68.5%) otherwise Neurosurgery showed the lowest rate (18.7%). When PSM between NST group vs. non-NST group were made, significant differences was shown only in the rate of ICU admission, EN or PN support days, cholesterol at discharge. CONCLUSION: In tertiary referral hospital in Korea, more than 10% of patients still needed active nutritional therapy. NST consultation rate varies among departments. We failed to find significant differences between NST group and non-NST group.
Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Enteral Nutrition ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mortality ; Neurosurgery ; Nutrition Therapy ; Nutritional Support ; Parenteral Nutrition* ; Physiology ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Thoracic Surgery ; Treatment Outcome