• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.10-19
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• 2007

기존 MRI, 즉 T1 강조-, T2 강조-, 확산-, 관류-, 기능적-, 등의 영상법은 조직의 물리적 파라미터 그리고 기능적 특성을 알려주는 역할을 한다. 본 종설에서는 최근 관심이 높아지고 있는 영상기법의 하나로 MRE (Magnetic Resonance Elastography, 자기공명탄성법)를 소개하고자 한다. MRE는 기존의 물리적, 기능적 측정을 벗어나 조직의 기계적 특성에 관한 정보를 제공해준다는 면에서 MRI를 이용한 새로운 modality로서의 가능성을 시사해 준다. 예로부터 진단의 가장 기초적인 방법중 하나로서 촉진을 이용하여 조직의 경도를 가늠하여 왔다. MRE는 조직의 경도를 MRI를 이용하여 객관적으로 수치화해준다. MRE 임상실험을 성공적으로 수행하기 위해서는 몇 가지 하드웨어와 소프트웨어(트랜스듀서, 펄스대열, 영상처리 알고리즘)가 구비되어야 한다. 트랜스듀서는 인체에 진동을 전달해주는 부분으로서 MRE 응용을 가능하게 하는 핵심적인 역할을 한다. 따라서 MRI 시스템의 자기장과 인체의 골격, 피부와 트랜스듀서 접촉면의 압력, 마찰을 고려하여 제작하여야 한다. 트랜스듀서를 통해서 인체 내부에 진동이 전달되고 있으면 최적의 영상을 얻기 위하여 고려되어야 할 사항이 펄스대열을 조정하는 것이다. 마지막으로 여러 가지 물질에 대한 가정(등방성, 균질성, 비압축성)하에서 영상처리 알고리즘은 파동방정식(Helmholtz equation)으로 표현되며 이로부터 탄성도(Elasticity or Modulus)를 구할 수 있다. 본 종설에서는 이에 대한 리뷰 및 MRE를 이용한 응용분야에 대하여 살펴본다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.880-893
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• 2019

Objective: To assess the technical performance of two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) for measuring liver stiffness. Materials and Methods: The Ovid-MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for studies reporting the technical performance of 2D-SWE, including concerns with technical failures, unreliable measurements, interobserver reliability, and/or intraobserver reliability, published until June 30, 2018. The pooled proportion of technical failure and unreliable measurements was calculated using meta-analytic pooling via the random-effects model and inverse variance method for calculating weights. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore potential causes of heterogeneity. The pooled intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for interobserver and intraobserver reliability were calculated using the Hedges-Olkin method with Fisher's Z transformation of the correlation coefficient. Results: The search yielded 34 articles. From 20 2D-SWE studies including 6196 patients, the pooled proportion of technical failure was 2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-3.9%). The pooled proportion of unreliable measurements from 20 studies including 6961 patients was 7.5% (95% CI, 4.7-11.7%). In the subgroup analyses, studies conducting more than three measurements showed fewer unreliable measurements than did those with three measurements or less, but no intergroup difference was found in technical failure. The pooled ICCs for interobserver reliability (from 10 studies including 517 patients) and intraobserver reliability (from 7 studies including 679 patients) were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82-0.90) and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.95), respectively, suggesting good to excellent reliability. Conclusion: 2D-SWE shows good technical performance for assessing liver stiffness, with high technical success and reliability. Future studies should establish the quality criteria and optimal number of measurements.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.959-969
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of preoperative two-dimensional (2D) shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing the stages of liver fibrosis in patients with suspected biliary atresia (BA) and compared its diagnostic performance with those of serum fibrosis biomarkers. Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the ethical committee, and written informed parental consent was obtained. Two hundred and sixteen patients were prospectively enrolled between January 2012 and October 2018. The 2D SWE measurements of 69 patients have been previously reported. 2D SWE measurements, serum fibrosis biomarkers, including fibrotic markers and biochemical test results, and liver histology parameters were obtained. 2D SWE values, serum biomarkers including, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRi), and other serum fibrotic markers were correlated with the stages of liver fibrosis by METAVIR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC (AUROC) curve analyses were used. Results: The correlation coefficient of 2D SWE value in correlation with the stages of liver fibrosis was 0.789 (p < 0.001). The cut-off values of 2D SWE were calculated as 9.1 kPa for F1, 11.6 kPa for F2, 13.0 kPa for F3, and 15.7 kPa for F4. The AUROCs of 2D SWE in the determination of the stages of liver fibrosis ranged from 0.869 to 0.941. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of 2D SWE in the diagnosis of ≥ F3 was 93.4% and 96.0%, respectively. The diagnostic performance of 2D SWE was superior to that of APRi and other serum fibrotic markers in predicting severe fibrosis and cirrhosis (all p < 0.005) and other serum biomarkers. Multivariate analysis showed that the 2D SWE value was the only statistically significant parameter for predicting liver fibrosis. Conclusion: 2D SWE is a more effective non-invasive tool for predicting the stage of liver fibrosis in patients with suspected BA, compared with serum fibrosis biomarkers.