• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.20-27
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• 2017

Purpose: To evaluate quantification results of single breath-hold (SBH) magnetic resonance (MR) cine imaging compared to results of conventional multiple breath-hold (MBH) technique for left ventricular (LV) function in patients with cardiac arrhythmia. Materials and Methods: MR images of patients with arrhythmia who underwent MBH and SBH cine imaging at the same time on a 1.5T MR scanner were retrospectively reviewed. Both SBH and MBH cine imaging were performed with balanced steady state free precession. SBH scans were acquired using temporal parallel acquisition technique (TPAT). Fifty patients ($65.4{\pm}12.3years$, 72% men) were included. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), myocardial mass, and LV regional wall motion were evaluated. Results: EF, myocardial mass, and regional wall motion were not significantly different between SBH and MBH acquisition techniques (all P-values > 0.05). EDV, ESV, and SV were significant difference between the two techniques. These parameters for SBH cine imaging with TPAT tended to lower than those in MBH. EF and myocardial mass of SBH cine imaging with TPAT showed good correlation with values of MBH cine imaging in Passing-Bablok regression charts and Bland-Altman plots. However, SBH imaging required significantly shorter acquisition time than MBH cine imaging ($15{\pm}7sec$ vs. $293{\pm}104sec$, P < 0.001). Conclusion: SBH cine imaging with TPAT permits shorter acquisition time with assessment results of global and regional LV function comparable to those with MBH cine imaging in patients with arrhythmia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.367-375
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• 2018

Background: It is unclear whether mitral valve (MV) repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) provides the same advantages in the elderly that it does in the general population. Methods: From 1994 to 2016, 188 elderly patients (mean age, $68.3{\pm}5.50years$) underwent MV repair (n=153) or MV replacement (n=35) for primary degenerative MR. Early and long-term outcomes were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: Before PSM, there was a significant difference in operative mortality (p=0.011). Overall survival and freedom from cardiac-related death (CRD) at 5, 10, and 15 years were significantly higher in patients who underwent MV repair (p=0.039 and p=0.007, respectively). In the multivariable analysis, MV replacement was an independent risk factor of CRD. After PSM, operative mortality was not significantly lower in patients who underwent MV repair (p=0.125). Overall survival and freedom from CRD at 5, 10, and 15 years showed no significant difference between the 2 groups in the PSM cohort (p=0.207, p=0.47, respectively). There was no significant difference in freedom from reoperation before or after PSM (p=0.963 and p=0.575, respectively). Conclusion: MV repair for primary degenerative MR might be a valid option in the elderly population if successful repair is possible.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.159-164
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• 2009

Coronary artery disease is on the rise over the world. Myocardial perfusion SPECT is a well established technique to detect coronary artery disease and to assess left ventricular function. In addition, it has the unique ability to predict the prognosis of the patients. Moreover, the application of ECC-gated images provided the quantitatve data and improved the accuracy. This approach has been proved to be cost-effective and suitable for the emerging economies as well as developed countries. However, the utilization of nuclear cardiology procedures vary widely considering the different countries and region of the world. Korea exits 2-3 times less utilization than Japan, and 20 times than the United States. Recently, with the emerging of new technology, namely cardiac CT, cardiac MR and stress echocardiography, the clinical usefulness of nuclear cardiology has been called in question and its role has been redefined. For the proper promotion of nuclear cardiology, special educations should be conducted since the nuclear cardiology has the contact points between nuclear medicine and cardiology. Several innovations are in horizon which will impact the diagnostic accuracy as well as imaging time and cost savings. Development of new tracers, gamma camera technology and hybrid systems will open the new avenue in cardiac imaging. The future of nuclear cardiology based on molecular imaging is very exciting. The newly defined biologic targets involving atherosclerosis and vascular vulnerability will allow the answers for the key clinical questions. Hybrid techniques including SPECT/CT indicate the direction in which clinical nuclear cardiology may be headed in the immediate future. To what extent nuclear cardiology will be passively absorbed by other modalities, or will actively incorporate other modalities, is up to the present and next generation of nuclear cardiologists.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.94-99
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• 2004

목적 : 인체의 심근 및 간조직의 생체내 $^{31}P$ MRS에서 NOE 효과에 의한 분광신호 세기의 증가를 평가하고자 하였으며 또한 동일 장기에서 대사물질에 따른 NOE 효과의 차이를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 열명의 정상 성인군(남:여=8:2, 연령분포=24-32)을 대상으로 1.5T 자기공명영상/분광 장치에서 $^1H-^{31}P$ 이중 튜닝 표면 코일을 사용하여 생체내 $^{31}P$ MRS를 시행하였다. $^{31}P$ MRS 측정은 이차원 화학변위영상기법을 사용하였으며 동일한 파라미터에서 NOE 효과 없이 그리고 $^1H$ decoupling상태에서 NOE 효과에 의한 $^{31}P$ MRS 데이터를 획득하였다. $^{31}P$ MRS raw data의 postprocessing 후 얻어진 스펙트럼에서 주요 대사물질들의 신호증가를 비교하였다. 결과: 간조직의 $^{31}P$ HRS에서 NOE 효과에 의한 신호증가율은 $\alpha-ATP\;(7\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(9\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(17\%),\;Pi\;(1\%),\;PDE\;(19\%),\;PME\;(31\%)$였다. 간조직의 경우 크리아틴 키나제가 없기 때문에 PCr 신호는 관찰되지 않았다. 심근의 $^{31}P$ MRS은 whole body 코일이 표면 코일보다 우수한 scout 영상을 제공하여 $^{31}P$ MRS의 localization에 유리하였다. $^{31}P$ 심근 다중 체적 스펙트럼에서 , 혈액의 DPG 신호는 심근으로부터 멀어질 수록 증가하는 양상을 나타내었고 NOE 효과에 의한 신호증가율은 $\alpha-ATP\;(12\%),\;\beta-ATP\;(19\%),\;\gamma-ATP\;(30\%),\;PCr\;(34\%),\;Pi\;(20\%),\;PDE\;(51\%),\;DPG\;(72\%)$ 였다. 결론: 간조직에 비해 심근의 경우 큰 신호증가를 보였고 이는 간조직 대사물질들의 $^{31}P$가 심근과는 다른 $^1H$ coupling을 나타냄을 의미한다고 해석할 수 있다.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.224-228
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• 2002

MR영상에 Spatial Modulation of Magnetization (SPAMM)과 같은 lagging 기법을 이용하여 심근의 움직임을 분석하여 임상에 적용하려는 많은 노력들이 이루어지고 있다. Tagging 대조도는 자동 tagline 검출 알고리즘을 사용하는 경우, 그 정확도에 영향을 미칠 수 있으며, 이는 tagline들 간의 간격에 의해 영향을 받을 수 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 SPAMM 영상에서 tagline 간격과 tagging 대조도와의 관계를 생체내 연구를 통해 알아보고자 하였다. 두 명의 건강한 지원자를 대상으로 1.5T MR 시스템에서 SPAMM 기반의 ECG triggered MR 영상을 획득하였다. 영상을 획득할 때, 먼저 3.6 mm에서 9.6 mm 사이의 간격을 가지는 수평 tagging stripe pattern의 tagline을 가하였다. 심실의 영상은 심장주기가 진행되는 동안 field echo EPI (FE-EPI) 기법을 이용하여 심실 중간 부분에서 얻었다 각 영상에 대한 tagging contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)는 IDL을 이용한 프로그램을 사용하여 측정하였다. 분석 결과는, 심근의 수축이 진행되는 동안, tagline 간격이 좁은 경우 CNR은 급격한 감소를 나타내었으나, 간격이 넓은 경우에서는 CNR 감소 현상이 보이지 않았다. 같은 심장 위상에서, CNR은 tagline 간격이 넓어짐에 따라 증가하는 경향을 보였다. 특히, 완전히 수축한 심장 위상에서는, CNR의 변화가 다른 위상일 때와 비교해서 그 증가율이 높음을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 양상은 움직임이 없는 다른 주변 조직에서는 관찰되지 않았다. 결론적으로, 본 연구에서는 lagging 대조도가 tagline 간격 및 심근의 수축에 영향을 받을 수 있음을 알 수 있었으며, 앞으로 정확한 심근 움직임 연구를 위한 기초 자료로 쓰여질 수 있을 것이라 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권8호
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• pp.1266-1278
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• 2021

Objective: We aimed to compare the aortic valve area (AVA) calculated using fast high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance (MR) image acquisition with that of the conventional two-dimensional (2D) cine MR technique. Materials and Methods: We included 139 consecutive patients (mean age ± standard deviation [SD], 68.5 ± 9.4 years) with aortic valvular stenosis (AS) and 21 asymptomatic controls (52.3 ± 14.2 years). High-resolution T2-prepared 3D steady-state free precession (SSFP) images (2.0 mm slice thickness, 10 contiguous slices) for 3D planimetry (3DP) were acquired with a single breath hold during mid-systole. 2D SSFP cine MR images (6.0 mm slice thickness) for 2D planimetry (2DP) were also obtained at three aortic valve levels. The calculations for the effective AVA based on the MR images were compared with the transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) measurements using the continuity equation. Results: The mean AVA ± SD derived by 3DP, 2DP, and TTE in the AS group were 0.81 ± 0.26 cm², 0.82 ± 0.34 cm², and 0.80 ± 0.26 cm², respectively (p = 0.366). The intra-observer agreement was higher for 3DP than 2DP in one observer: intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-0.97) and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82-0.91), respectively, for observer 1 and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.96-0.98) and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97-0.99), respectively, for observer 2. Inter-observer agreement was similar between 3DP and 2DP, with the ICC of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.89-0.94) and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88-0.93), respectively. 3DP-derived AVA showed a slightly higher agreement with AVA measured by TTE than the 2DP-derived AVA, with the ICC of 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82-0.91) vs. 0.85 (95% CI, 0.79-0.89). Conclusion: High-resolution 3D MR image acquisition, with single-breath-hold SSFP sequences, gave AVA measurement with low observer variability that correlated highly with those obtained by TTE.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제56권6호
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• pp.571-584
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• 2004

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most advanced imaging techniques in clinical and research medicine. However, clinical application of MRI to the lung or thorax has been limited due to various drawbacks. Low signal intensity of the lung and cardiac and respiratory movements are the most serious problems with MRI in thorax. Nevertheless, MRI is superior to CT in some selected patients with thoracic diseases. The role of clinical MRI in thoracic disease has been widened with improvement of MR equipments and development of new pulse sequences. Otherwise, functional assessment of lung by MRI has been studied for the last decade. These include perfusion MRI with or without contrast enhancement and ventilation MRI with oxygen-enhancement or hyperpolarized noble gas, $^3He$ and $^{129}Xe$.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

목적: 본 연구의 목적은 환자에서 임상적으로 사용되는 영상 프로토콜을 이용하여 시행된 3.0 T 심장자기공명영상을 1.5 T 와 비교하여 그 유용성을 알아보고자 하는데 있다. 대상과 방법: 10개월간 30명의 환자에서 얻은 1.5 T 자기공명영상과 20명의 3.0 T 영상을 후향적으로 비교하였다. 각각의 영상에 대하여 신호 대 잡음비 (signal-to-noise ratio: SNR), 대조도 대 잡음비 (contrast-to-noise ratio: CNR), 영상 화질 (artifact의 정도에 따라서 5단계로 분류)을 평가하고 비교하였다. 결과: T1심장 형태 영상 및 심근 생존능 평가 영상에서는 3.0 T 자기공명영상에서 영상화질 (T1: $3.8{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.9{\pm}0.7$, p=0.438; T2-SPAIR: $3.8{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.9{\pm}0.5$, p=0.744; 지연기 조영 증강 영상: $4.5{\pm}0.8$ vs. $4.7{\pm}0.6$, p=0.254)의 유의한 저하 없이 SNR과 CNR의 향상을 보였다 (T1: SNR 29%, p < 0.001, CNR 37%, p < 0.001; T2-SPAIR: SNR 13%, p=0.068, CNR 18%, p=0.059; 지연기 조영 증강 영상: SNR 45%, p=0.017, CNR 37%, p=0.135). 심장Cine 영상에서 3.0 T 심장영상이 1.5 T 영상과 비교하여 영상화질($3.6{\pm}0.7$ vs. $4.2{\pm}0.6$, p < 0.001)이 다소 떨어졌으나 SNR과 CNR의 유의한 상승을 보였다 (SNR 143% 상승, CNR 108% 상승, p < 0.001). 심근관류영상에서는 SNR (11% 감소, p=0.172)과 CNR (7% 감소, p=0.638) 이 통계적으로 유의하지 않은 정도로 감소되었으나 영상화질($4.6{\pm}0.5$ vs. $4.0{\pm}0.8$, p=0.006)은 유의한 향상을 보였다. 결론: 실제 임상영역에서 사용되는 영상 프로토콜로 시행된 3.0 T 심장자기공명영상은 1.5T 영상과 비교하여 충분한 영상의 질을 제공하였다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.100-107
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• 2003

목적 : 급성심근경색을 진단하는데 있어 심장자기공명영상의 유용성을 알아보고, 생존심근을 평가하는데 있어 Tl-201 심근관류 SPECT와 비교하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 흉통 및 호흡곤란이 있는 환자 중 심장자기공명영상과 Tl-201 SPECT를 시행한 17명을 후향적으로 조사하였다. 심장자기공명영상에서는 T2강조영상에서 심벽의 고신호 강도 유무, 영화영상에서 심벽 운동, Gd-DTPA 조영 증강 후 좌심실 벽의 관류 결손 및 주입 15분 후의 지연조영증강 유무를 평가하였다. T1-201 SPECT에서는 아데노신 부하 영상과 휴식기 영상을 얻어 관류 결손 유무와 관류 결손시 가역성 여부를 평가하였다. 결과 심장자기공명영상과 T1-201 SPECT 모두 급성심근경색을 진단하는데 통계적으로 의미가 있었고, T2강조영상, T1-201 SPECT, 지연조영증강 및 심벽운동 순으로 연관성이 있는 것으로 나타났고, 관류 결손은 통계적 유의성이 없었다. 생존심근 평가에 있어서는 두 검사간 유의한 차이가 없었으며, T2강조영상과 관류영상에서 T1-201 SPECT와 높은 일치율, 지연조영증강 및 심벽운동은 낮은 일치율을 보였다. 결론 : 심장자기공명영상은 급성심근경색을 진단하는데 매우 유의한 진단율을 보였고, 생존 심근여부의 판단에 있어 SPECT와 높은 일치율을 보였다. 그러나 각 검사별 판독 기준과 방법에서 많은 연구가 필요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1525-1536
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of cine three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) imaging combined with a non-local means (NLM) algorithm for image denoising in evaluating cardiac function in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with rTOF (mean age, 12 years; range, 7-18 years) were enrolled to undergo cardiac cine image acquisition, including two-dimensional (2D) b-SSFP, 3D b-SSFP, and 3D b-SSFP combined with NLM. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) of the two ventricles were measured and indexed by body surface index. Acquisition time and image quality were recorded and compared among the three imaging sequences. Results: 3D b-SSFP with denoising vs. 2D b-SSFP had high correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF of the left (0.959-0.991; p < 0.001) as well as right (0.755-0.965; p < 0.001) ventricular metrics. The image acquisition time ± standard deviation (SD) was 25.1 ± 2.4 seconds for 3D b-SSFP compared with 277.6 ± 0.7 seconds for 2D b-SSFP, indicating a significantly shorter time with the 3D than the 2D sequence (p < 0.001). Image quality score was better with 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than with 3D b-SSFP (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Signal-to-noise ratios for blood and myocardium as well as contrast between blood and myocardium were higher for 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than for 3D b-SSFP (p < 0.05 for all but septal myocardium). Conclusion: The 3D b-SSFP sequence can significantly reduce acquisition time compared to the 2D b-SSFP sequence for cine imaging in the evaluation of ventricular function in children with rTOF, and its quality can be further improved by combining it with an NLM denoising method.