Masticatory Performance and the Related Factors in Korean Children and Adolescents / 대한소아치과학회지

This study aimed to evaluate the masticatory performance of Korean children and adolescents and to investigate related factors. Early loss of primary molars, degree of occlusion of first molars, occlusal relationship of first molars, and presence of anterior crossbite were considered. From March 2020 to July 2021, 56 children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 12 were included. The mixing ability index (MAI) was calculated to evaluate the masticatory efficiency of children and adolescents. The subjects were classified into three groups according to the number of early lost primary molars; normal dentition, 1 - 2 teeth lost, more than 3 teeth lost. The number of participants are 23, 18, and 15, respectively. There was no difference in the MAI values between the normal dentition group and the group has 1 - 2 teeth lost. However, when 3 or more primary molars were lost, the MAI value decreased and a significant difference was observed. This study is the first study to evaluate the masticatory performance of children and adolescents in Korea, and it will be helpful to pediatric dentists who evaluate the masticatory performance of children and adolescents and strive to improve the masticatory efficiency of children and adolescents in clinical practice.

Prior to Breast MRI Guidelines in Korea, Where Were We?

Purpose@#To evaluate and analyze the adequacy of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)s taken before publication of the 2018 recommendation in South Korea. @*Materials and Methods@#We enrolled 87 cases of breast MRIs, from January 2010 to November 2013, taken at external hospitals in the study. Breast MRI protocol elements are divided into three categories based on the recommendation by the Breast Imaging Study Group of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance: (1) Essential elements for breast MRI protocol; (2) Element to consider when evaluating imaging quality; and (3) Optional element for breast MRI protocol. Also, we divided enrolled cases into three groups based on their conducting locations -- (1) Primary hospitals, (2) Secondary hospitals, and (3) Tertiary hospitals-and analyzed them for the adequacy of imaging protocols based on the 2018 recommendation. We used a Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test to identify differences between categorical variables. @*Results@#Over 98% of the criteria for 'essential elements for breast MRI protocol' were satisfied when compared with the 2018 Recommendation. Over 96% of the criteria for 'elements to consider when evaluating imaging quality' were also satisfied, except for the slice thickness (83.9%). Optional elements for breast MRI protocol were satisfied with various percentages. There were no statistically significant differences between groups of tertiary, secondary, and primary hospitals; however, 3 tesla of MRI (P = 0.04), subtraction image protocol (P = 0.032), and DWI protocol (P = 0.03) were used more frequently in the tertiary hospitals than in the others. @*Conclusion@#We found that the categories of 'essential elements' and 'elements to consider when evaluating imaging quality' were satisfied at 98% and 96%, respectively, when compared with the 2018 Recommendation by the Breast Imaging Study Group of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance.

Prior to Breast MRI Guidelines in Korea, Where Were We?

Purpose@#To evaluate and analyze the adequacy of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)s taken before publication of the 2018 recommendation in South Korea. @*Materials and Methods@#We enrolled 87 cases of breast MRIs, from January 2010 to November 2013, taken at external hospitals in the study. Breast MRI protocol elements are divided into three categories based on the recommendation by the Breast Imaging Study Group of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance: (1) Essential elements for breast MRI protocol; (2) Element to consider when evaluating imaging quality; and (3) Optional element for breast MRI protocol. Also, we divided enrolled cases into three groups based on their conducting locations -- (1) Primary hospitals, (2) Secondary hospitals, and (3) Tertiary hospitals-and analyzed them for the adequacy of imaging protocols based on the 2018 recommendation. We used a Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test to identify differences between categorical variables. @*Results@#Over 98% of the criteria for 'essential elements for breast MRI protocol' were satisfied when compared with the 2018 Recommendation. Over 96% of the criteria for 'elements to consider when evaluating imaging quality' were also satisfied, except for the slice thickness (83.9%). Optional elements for breast MRI protocol were satisfied with various percentages. There were no statistically significant differences between groups of tertiary, secondary, and primary hospitals; however, 3 tesla of MRI (P = 0.04), subtraction image protocol (P = 0.032), and DWI protocol (P = 0.03) were used more frequently in the tertiary hospitals than in the others. @*Conclusion@#We found that the categories of 'essential elements' and 'elements to consider when evaluating imaging quality' were satisfied at 98% and 96%, respectively, when compared with the 2018 Recommendation by the Breast Imaging Study Group of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance.