Sectioned and segmented images of the male whole body, female whole body, male head, and female pelvis from the Visible Korean.

In the Visible Korean, serially sectioned images with real color and high resolution have been prepared from four cadaveric subjects: male whole body, female whole body, male head, and female pelvis. Recently, segmented images of the female whole body were manufactured, permitting the distribution of the complete four data sets. The purpose of this report was to promote the applications of sectioned and segmented images from the Visible Korean by announcing them. Reduced image data were loaded to self-developed browsing software; using the browsing software, the contents could be quickly grasped and evaluated by other investigators. The four data sets were compared to disclose the individual merits and demerits. The sectioned and segmented images showed the possibility to be used to reconstruct the stereoscopic volume and surface models of body structures. The Visible Korean is expected to contribute to the interactive simulation of medical learning and clinical practice.

Hip joint ligaments, a cadaver imaging study for education / Ligamentos de cadera, un estudio cadavérico imagenológico para educación

The stereoscopic morphology of the iliofemoral, pubofemoral, and ischiofemoral ligaments in hip joint is hard to understand, either in anatomy books or from cadaver dissection. To aid in understanding, three-dimensional models were built from the sectioned images of cadaver hip, which demonstrate fine components better than CTs and MRIs. In the female data of Visible Korean project, the ligaments and neighboring structures were recognized and outlined in detail. Successively, the outlines were stacked and reconstructed to manufacture their surface models by using the sophisticated computer method. The surface models were overlapped with the original sectioned images, which enhanced comprehension of the hip joint anatomy. With the surface models, hip joint was hyperextended to suggest the function of the ligaments. The graphic data of the surface reconstructed hip ligaments are expected to be the source of interactive simulators for anatomy and surgery of the hip joint.

La morfología estereoscópica de los ligamentos iliofemoral, pubofemoral e isquiofemoral de la articulación de la cadera es difícil de entender, ya sea a partir de lo hallado en los libros de anatomía como en la disección de cadáveres. Para ayudar en su comprensión, se construyeron modelos tridimensionales a partir de imágenes de secciones cadavéricas de la cadera, que demuestran de mejor manera los componentes finos, en comparación a las imágenes de tomografía axial computada y resonancia magnética nuclear. En los datos obtenidos del "Visible Korean Project", correspondientes a mujeres, los ligamentos de la articulación y sus estructuras vecinas fueron reconocidos y descritos en detalle. Sucesivamente, se identificaron los contornos y se reconstruyeron para la fabricación de modelos de superficie, mediante el uso de un sofisticado método informático. Los modelos de superficie se asociaron con las imágenes de sección originales, que aumentaron la comprensión de la anatomía de la articulación de la cadera. En los modelos de superficie se provocó la hipertensión de la articulación de la cadera para permitir evidenciar la función de los ligamentos. Se espera que los datos gráficos obtenidos de los modelos de superficie de los ligamentos de la cadera sirvan como fuente para el desarrollo de simuladores interactivos que permitan el estudio de la anatomía y la cirugía de la articulación de la cadera.

HDRK-Woman: whole-body voxel model based on high-resolution color slice images of Korean adult female cadaver.

In a previous study, we constructed a male reference Korean phantom; HDRK-Man (High-Definition Reference Korean-Man), to represent Korean adult males for radiation protection purposes. In the present study, a female phantom; HDRK-Woman (High-Definition Reference Korean-Woman), was constructed to represent Korean adult females. High-resolution color photographic images obtained by serial sectioning of a 26 year-old Korean adult female cadaver were utilized. The body height and weight, the skeletal mass, and the dimensions of the individual organs and tissues were adjusted to the reference Korean data. The phantom was then compared with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) female reference phantom in terms of calculated organ doses and organ-depth distributions. Additionally, the effective doses were calculated using both the HDRK-Man and HDRK-Woman phantoms, and the values were compared with those of the ICRP reference phantoms.

Two-dimensional sectioned images and three-dimensional surface models for learning the anatomy of the female pelvis.

In the Visible Korean project, serially sectioned images of the pelvis were made from a female cadaver. Outlines of significant structures in the sectioned images were drawn and stacked to build surface models. To improve the accessibility and informational content of these data, a five-step process was designed and implemented. First, 154 pelvic structures were outlined with additional surface reconstruction to prepare the image data. Second, the sectioned and outlined images (in a browsing software) as well as the surface models (in a PDF file) were placed on the Visible Korean homepage in a readily-accessible format. Third, all image data were visualized with interactive elements to stimulate creative learning. Fourth, two-dimensional (2D) images and three-dimensional (3D) models were superimposed on one another to provide context and spatial information for students viewing these data. Fifth, images were designed such that structure names would be shown when the mouse pointer hovered over the 2D images or the 3D models. The state-of-the-art sectioned images, outlined images, and surface models, arranged and systematized as described in this study, will aid students in understanding the anatomy of female pelvis. The graphic data accompanied by corresponding magnetic resonance images and computed tomographs are expected to promote the production of 3D simulators for clinical practice.

Outlining of the detailed structures in sectioned images from Visible Korean.

PURPOSE: Sectioned images of cadavers enable creation of realistic three-dimensional (3D) models. In order to build a 3D model of a structure, the structure has to be outlined in the sectioned images. The outlining process is time consuming; therefore, users want to be provided with outlined images. The more detailed structures are outlined, the greater potential for wider application of the outlined images. METHODS: In the Visible Korean, sectioned images (intervals 0.2 mm) of the entire body of a male cadaver were prepared. In the available 1,702 sectioned images (intervals 1 mm), 937 structures were outlined over a period of 8 years. The outlined images were altered to black-filled images for each structure; black-filled images were selected for distribution in order to maintain small file sizes. RESULTS: We attempted to determine whether black-filled images could be used in various situations. The outlines of these images were interpolated for production of new images at 0.2 mm intervals. The outlines were then filled with different colors for construction of color-filled images of all structures. Volume and surface reconstructions of the black-filled images were executed in order to build volume and surface models. CONCLUSION: The black-filled images with corresponding sectioned images presented here are the source of realistic 3D models for use in medical simulation systems.

Browsing software of the Visible Korean data used for teaching sectional anatomy.

The interpretation of computed tomographs (CTs) and magnetic resonance images (MRIs) to diagnose clinical conditions requires basic knowledge of sectional anatomy. Sectional anatomy has traditionally been taught using sectioned cadavers, atlases, and/or computer software. The computer software commonly used for this subject is practical and efficient for students but could be more advanced. The objective of this research was to present browsing software developed from the Visible Korean images that can be used for teaching sectional anatomy. One thousand seven hundred and two sets of MRIs, CTs, and sectioned images (intervals, one millimeter) of a whole male cadaver were prepared. Over 900 structures in the sectioned images were outlined and then filled with different colors to elaborate each structure. Software was developed where four corresponding images could be displayed simultaneously; in addition, the structures in the image data could be readily recognized with the aid of the color-filled outlines. The software, distributed free of charge, could be a valuable tool to teach medical students. For example, sectional anatomy could be taught by showing the sectioned images with real color and high resolution. Students could then review the lecture by using the sectioned and color-filled images on their own computers. Students could also be evaluated using the same software. Furthermore, other investigators would be able to replace the images for more comprehensive sectional anatomy.

A polygon-surface reference Korean male phantom (PSRK-Man) and its direct implementation in Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation.

Even though the hybrid phantom embodies both the anatomic reality of voxel phantoms and the deformability of stylized phantoms, it must be voxelized to be used in a Monte Carlo code for dose calculation or some imaging simulation, which incurs the inherent limitations of voxel phantoms. In the present study, a voxel phantom named VKH-Man (Visible Korean Human-Man), was converted to a polygon-surface phantom (PSRK-Man, Polygon-Surface Reference Korean-Man), which was then adjusted to the Reference Korean data. Subsequently, the PSRK-Man polygon phantom was directly, without any voxelization process, implemented in the Geant4 Monte Carlo code for dose calculations. The calculated dose values and computation time were then compared with those of HDRK-Man (High Definition Reference Korean-Man), a corresponding voxel phantom adjusted to the same Reference Korean data from the same VKH-Man voxel phantom. Our results showed that the calculated dose values of the PSRK-Man surface phantom agreed well with those of the HDRK-Man voxel phantom. The calculation speed for the PSRK-Man polygon phantom though was 70-150 times slower than that of the HDRK-Man voxel phantom; that speed, however, could be acceptable in some applications, in that direct use of the surface phantom PSRK-Man in Geant4 does not require a separate voxelization process. Computing speed can be enhanced, in future, either by optimizing the Monte Carlo transport kernel for the polygon surfaces or by using modern computing technologies such as grid computing and general-purpose computing on graphics processing units programming.

Technique of semiautomatic surface reconstruction of the visible Korean human data using commercial software.

This article describes the technique of semiautomatic surface reconstruction of anatomic structures using widely available commercial software. This technique would enable researchers to promptly and objectively perform surface reconstruction, creating three-dimensional anatomic images without any assistance from computer engineers. To develop the technique, we used data from the Visible Korean Human project, which produced digitalized photographic serial images of an entire cadaver. We selected 114 anatomic structures (skin [1], bones [32], knee joint structures [7], muscles [60], arteries [7], and nerves [7]) from the 976 anatomic images which were generated from the left lower limb of the cadaver. Using Adobe Photoshop, the selected anatomic structures in each serial image were outlined, creating a segmented image. The Photoshop files were then converted into Adobe Illustrator files to prepare isolated segmented images, so that the contours of the structure could be viewed independent of the surrounding anatomy. Using Alias Maya, these isolated segmented images were then stacked to construct a contour image. Gaps between the contour lines were filled with surfaces, and three-dimensional surface reconstruction could be visualized with Rhinoceros. Surface imperfections were then corrected to complete the three-dimensional images in Alias Maya. We believe that the three-dimensional anatomic images created by these methods will have widespread application in both medical education and research.

Granular cell tumors of the abdominal wall.

Granular cell tumors (GCT) are found in virtually any body site, including the tongue, skin, subcutaneous tissue, breast, rectum and vulva. However, they are rarely seen in the abdominal wall. We report here on a rare case of GCT in the rectus muscle of the abdominal wall. A 44-year-old woman presented with a non-tender, hard mass in the right lower abdominal wall. Upon microscopic examination, the tumor was found to comprise of large polygonal cells with an abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and round to oval nuclei. Upon immunohistochemical staining, the large cells showed S-100 and CD68 positive granular aggregates in the cytoplasm. Many lysosomes of variable size were observed in the cytoplasm.

Visible Korean Human: its techniques and applications.

Three recent studies have offered an unprecedented view of the human body. The Visible Human Project, the Visible Korean Human (VKH), and the Chinese Visible Human have featured the serial sectioning of whole cadavers, producing cross-sectional images that methodically catalogue gross human anatomy. By volumetric reconstruction, these cross-sectional images can be transformed into three-dimensional (3D) images of anatomic structures. Compiling these 3D images would create an invaluable library for medical education and research. The goal of this report is to promote the expansion of such a library of 3D anatomic images and to help users fully understand and utilize the serially sectioned images. To do this, we will discuss the fundamental techniques and equipment used in the VKH and its preliminary experiments. We will also address new applications of the VKH, including virtual brain surgery, virtual endoscopy, and virtual cardiopulmonary resuscitation via the development of virtual dissection software.

Method for preparing permanent brain slices and serial slice images for education and MRI correlation.

It is important to understand the anatomical structures of the human brain in horizontal planes. Serially sectioned brain slices can easily be made with a meat slicer. The objective of this research was to enhance the educational value of serial brain slices made with a meat slicer through various applications. Two brains were taken out of two cadavers and embedded with gelatin solution to make two brain blocks. The first brain block was serially sectioned at 5 mm thickness using a meat slicer to make 28 horizontal brain slices. Each brain slice was embedded with a synthetic resin mixture to make 28 permanent specimens. The second brain block was magnetic resonance-scanned at 1.4 mm thickness to make 130 horizontal magnetic resonance images, then serially sectioned at the same thickness using the meat slicer to make 130 horizontal brain slices. Each brain slice was scanned into a computer to make a series of slice images. Ten anatomical structures in the slice images were outlined to make segmented images. Corresponding magnetic resonance images, slice images, and segmented images were stacked and volume-reconstructed to make three-dimensional images, which were sectioned and rotated at free angles. We show that the serial brain slices made with a meat slicer can be permanently preserved and used in a variety of educational settings. Anat Rec (Part B: New Anat) 289B:64-71, 2006. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Technical report on semiautomatic segmentation using the Adobe Photoshop.

The purpose of this research is to enable users to semiautomatically segment the anatomical structures in magnetic resonance images (MRIs), computerized tomographs (CTs), and other medical images on a personal computer. The segmented images are used for making 3D images, which are helpful to medical education and research. To achieve this purpose, the following trials were performed. The entire body of a volunteer was scanned to make 557 MRIs. On Adobe Photoshop, contours of 19 anatomical structures in the MRIs were semiautomatically drawn using MAGNETIC LASSO TOOL and manually corrected using either LASSO TOOL or DIRECT SELECTION TOOL to make 557 segmented images. In a similar manner, 13 anatomical structures in 8,590 anatomical images were segmented. Proper segmentation was verified by making 3D images from the segmented images. Semiautomatic segmentation using Adobe Photoshop is expected to be widely used for segmentation of anatomical structures in various medical images.

Visible Korean human: improved serially sectioned images of the entire body.

The data from the Visible Human Project (VHP) and the Chinese Visible Human (CVH), which are the serially sectioned images of the entire cadaver, are being used to produce three-dimensional (3-D) images and software. The purpose of our research, the Visible Korean Human (VKH), is to produce an enhanced version of the serially sectioned images of an entire cadaver that can be used to upgrade the 3-D images and software. These improvements are achieved without drastically changing the methods developed for the VHP and CVH; thus, a complementary solution was found. A Korean male cadaver was chosen without anything perfused into the cadaver; the entire body was magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) scanned at 1.0-mm intervals to produce MR and CT images. After scanning, entire body of the cadaver was embedded and serially sectioned at 0.2-mm intervals; each sectioned surface was inputted into a personal computer to produce anatomical images (pixel size: 0.2 mm) without any missing images. Eleven anatomical organs in the anatomical images were segmented to produce segmented images. The anatomical and segmented images were stacked and reconstructed to produce 3-D images. The VKH is an ongoing research; we will produce a female version of the VKH and provide more detailed segmented images. The data from the VHP, CVH, and VKH will provide valuable resources to the medical image library of 3-D images and software in the field of medical education and clinical trials.