Geriatrics

Background/Aims: Prognostic factors are an important issue in progressive and life-limiting diseases. This study evaluate 3-month mortality in patients admitted to the palliative care unit (PCU). Methods: In this study, the patient’s demographics, comorbidities, nutritional status, and laboratory..

Cardiology

Background/Aims: While distal radial artery (DRA) access is increasingly being used for diagnostic coronary angiography, limited information is available regarding DRA size. We aimed to determine the DRA reference diameters of Korean patients and identify the predictors of DRA diameter < 2.3 mm. Me..

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is pathologically characterized by the loss of exocrine pancreatic parenchyma, irregular fibrosis, cellular infiltration, and ductal abnormalities. Diagnosing CP objectively is difficult because standard diagnostic criteria are insufficient. The change of parenchymal hardne..

Rheumatology

Background/Aims: Double contour sign (DCS) is a representative ultrasonographic finding in gout. DCS is evidence of monosodium urate deposit in gouty arthritis and has been identified in some patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. However, the specific characteristics of asymptomatic hyperuricemi..

Gastroenterology

Background/Aims: The controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), based on transient elastography, is widely used for noninvasive assessment of the degree of hepatic steatosis (HS). We investigated the correlation of the degree HS between CAP and ultrasound (US) in patients with HS. Methods: In total, 9..

Original Article

Background/Aims: Current evidence supports lung ultrasound as a point-ofcare alternative diagnostic tool for various respiratory diseases. We sought to determine the utility of lung ultrasound for early detection of pneumonia and for assessment of respiratory failure among patients with coronavirus ..

Rheumatology

Background/Aims: To define standard reference values for musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) in Korea. Methods: A total of 251 healthy adults were recruited for this study. Ultrasonography was performed by experienced rheumatologists who had undergone four appropriate training programs in Korea..

Cardiology

Background/Aims: After a study comparing drug-eluting stents (DESs) to sequential treatment with drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) and bare metal stents (BMSs), we retrospectively analysed strut malapposition and neointimal hyperplasia in de novo coronary lesions using optical coherence tomography (OCT) ..

Nephrology

Background/Aims: The strategy of access care at out center involves the use of ultrasound (USG) in case of physical examination (PE) abnormality. USG determines the need of angiography. This study investigated the possible association between the need for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) ..

Endocrinology-metabolism

Background/Aims: We evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of thyroid nodules detected by thyroid ultrasound (US) at health checkups and the associated clinical parameters. Methods: A total of 72,319 subjects who underwent thyroid US at three health checkup centers in Korea from January 2004 ..

Pulmonology

Background/Aims: Both diaphragmatic excursion and change in muscle thickening are measured using ultrasonography (US) to assess diaphragm function and mechanical ventilation weaning outcomes. However, which parameter can better predict successful extubation remains to be determined. The aim of this ..

Gastroenterology

Background/Aims: Endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) has become a standard procedure in patients with a biliary obstruction. Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) has emerged as a new tool for managing extrahepatic biliary diseases. IDUS-directed ERBD can be performed without conventional cho..

Endocrinology-metabolism

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic validity of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography (US) when predicting the extrathyroidal extension of papillary thyroid cancer. Methods: All 2D data were interpreted in real time and 3D data were sto..

Background/Aims: The diagnostic accuracy of thyroid dysfunctions is primarily affected by the validity of the reference interval for serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Thus, the present study aimed to establish a reference interval for TSH using a normal Korean population. Methods: This study..

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden cardiac death. The incidence, causes, pathogenesis, and treatment have not been defined clearly, but spontaneous coronary artery dissection should be considered in young patients without major cardiovascu..

Cardiology

Background/Aims: While drug-eluting stents (DESs) have shown favorable outcomes in ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared to bare metal stents (BMSs), there are concerns about the risk of stent thrombosis (ST) with DESs. Because intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance may ..

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a useful diagnostic method that provides valuable information in addition to angiography regarding the coronary vessel lumen, dimensions, plaque burden, and characteristics. The major use of IVUS in coronary intervention is to guide interventional strategies and..

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical analog of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) that can be used to examine the coronary arteries and has 10-fold higher resolution than IVUS. Based on polarization properties, OCT can differentiate tissue characteristics (fibrous, calcified, or lipid-ri..