• Title/Summary/Keyword: Gradient echo sequence

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Analysis and Comparison of MR Signal Strength and SNR Value for Optimal FOV (최적의 FOV를 위한 MR신호강도와 신호 대 잡음비 값의 비교분석)

  • Lee, Sang-Ho
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
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    • v.41 no.2
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    • pp.109-113
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    • 2018
  • Despite the continuous development of software, it is continuously pursued to enlarge the examination area of FOV in order to reduce the factors of inconsistency in images that appear in continuous examination during wide area examination using contrast agent such as whole body angiography. In this study, we investigated the optimal FOV by comparing the SNR values according to the changes of FOV. The change of the FOV was gradually changed to $270{\times}200$, $300{\times}223$, $330{\times}244$, $360{\times}266$ and $380{\times}281$. SE images at TR 450 msec and TE 10 msec, FSE images at TR 2,000 msec, TE 80 msec, and GE images were scanned at TR 117 msec, and TE 16 msec. SNR values were calculated from the mean values of signal intensities of five phantom images and the signal intensity values of four background standard deviations. As a result of the study, the signal intensity and the SNR value according to the change of the FOV value gradually increased as the FOV was increased, but it was found that the SNR value decreased at a constant size. In conclusion, the results are different from previous studies that the SNR increases as the FOV increases. The cause of these results could not be confirmed. However methods that can be imaged and included within the effective FOV should be considered.

A fMRI study on the cerebral activity induced by Electro-acupuncture on K7(Fuliu) (복류(復溜)(K7) 전침자극(電鍼刺戟)이 functional MRI상 뇌기능(腦機能) 변화(變化)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Kang, Jae-hui;Lee, Hyun;Lee, Byung-ryul;Hong, Kwon-eui;Yim, Yun-kyoung;Kim, Yun-jin
    • Journal of Acupuncture Research
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.66-84
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    • 2003
  • Objectve : Recent stuides suggested that there is a strong correlation between acupuncture stimulation and its cortical activation. Another study showed that either positive or negative BOLD effects could be observed depending on anatomical structure in acupuncture. Methods : 1) Subjects and paradigms: Two separate stimulation paradigms were performed in this study. To see the effects of electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu), the experiment was carried out on six healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right K7(Fuliu), 2 Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds, repeated five times, with 30 seconds' intervals. During the intervals while there was no electro-stimulation, the subjects performed motor task as a reference. The image analysis including motion correction, talairach transformation, and smoothing was done using SPM99. Results: The electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu) activated Brodmann's Areas of 9, 19, 23, 24, 31, 32, 39 which may be the central pathways of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu) and those brain areas may be related with the function of the electro-acupuncture stimulation on K7(Fuliu).

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Carotid Intraplaque Hemorrhage is Associated with Acute Cerebral Ischemic Events and Progression of Stenosis on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • Ryu, Hye Ji;Jeon, Se Jeong;Choi, See Sung
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.242-251
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    • 2017
  • Purpose: To investigate the association of carotid intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) with acute cerebral ischemic events and progression of stenosis using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods: From April 2014 to December 2016, 53 patients underwent carotid plaque MR imaging, including magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequence. A total of 66 carotid arteries in 53 patients had carotid stenosis, and they were included in this study. Carotid arteries were classified according to the presence of IPH, the age of hemorrhage, and degree of stenosis. We assessed ipsilateral cerebrovascular event rates and progression of stenosis between the IPH and no-IPH groups. Results: Of the 61 carotid arteries assessed, 34 (56%) had IPH, and 27 (44%) had no IPH. Acute cerebral ischemic events were more frequent in the IPH group (47% vs. 22%, P = 0.045), especially in the < 30%-stenosis group (100% vs. 0%, P = 0.028). However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of ischemic events according to the age of hemorrhage (50% vs. 44%, P = 0.492). Among the 61 carotid arteries, 20 carotid arteries had previously undergone carotid artery imaging and were evaluated for plaque progression. The trend for progression of stenosis favored the IPH group versus the no-IPH group, with a marginal P-value ($20%{\pm}12.7$ vs. $9.6%{\pm}5.7$, P = 0.063). Conclusion: IPH was associated with an increased incidence of acute ischemic events, especially in the mild-stenosis group and it was also associated with progression of stenosis. Evaluation of the carotid IPH by carotid plaque MR could improve discrimination of carotid plaques that cause ischemic events and progression of stenosis.

fMRI study on the cerebral activity induced by Electro-acupuncture on Sanyinjiao(Sp6) (삼음교(三陰交)(Sp6) 전침자극(電針刺戟)이 fMRI상 뇌활성변화(腦活性變化)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Hong, Kwon-eui;Lee, Byung-ryul;Lee, Hyun;Yim, Yun-kyoung;Kim, Yun-jin
    • Journal of Acupuncture Research
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.86-103
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    • 2003
  • Objective : Recently, many studies have showed the evidences of the effect of the acupunture treatment through scientific methods. One of these methods is functional MRI. We performed electro-acupunture on Sp6 and observed the changes of brain activation using fMRI. Methods : To see the effect of electro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6, the experiment was carried out on 12 healthy volunteers, using the gradient echo sequence with the 3.0T whole-body MRI system(ISOL). After the needle insertion on right Sp6, 2Hz of electric stimulation was given for 30 seconds, repeated five times, with 30 seconds' intervals. The Image analysis including motion correction, talairach transformation, and smoothing was done with SPM99. Results : 1. Group averaged brain activation induced by bilateral eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 3, 7, 13. 2. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by bilateral eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 6, 38, 47. 3. Group averaged brain activation induced by unilateral(right side) eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 5, 6, 13, 17, 18, 19, 31, 38, 40 ptoms, back pain(32.5%) was the 4. Group averaged brain deactivation induced by unilateral(right side) eletro-acupunture stimulation on Sp6 activates Brodman Area 3, 4, 18, 21, 36, 38, 39. 5. Brain region activated by motor stimulation activates Brodman Area 3, 4, 6, 18, 19.

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Evaluation of Magnetization Transfer Ratio Imaging by Phase Sensitive Method in Knee Joint (슬관절 부위에서 자화전이 위상감도법에 의한 자화전이율 영상 평가)

  • Yoon, Moon-Hyun;Seung, Mi-Sook;Choe, Bo-Young
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.269-275
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    • 2008
  • Although MR imaging is generally applicable to depict knee joint deterioration it, is sometimes occurred to mis-read and mis-diagnose the common knee joint diseases. In this study, we employed magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) method to improve the diagnosis of the various knee joint diseases. Spin-echo (SE) T2-weighted images (TR/TE 3,400-3,500/90-100 ms) were obtained in seven cases of knee joint deterioration, FSE T2-weighted images (TR/TE 4,500-5,000/100-108 ms) were obtained in seven cases of knee joint deterioration, gradient-echo (GRE) T2-weighted images (TR/TE 9/4.56/$50^{\circ}$ flip angle, NEX 1) were obtained in 3 cases of knee joint deterioration, In six cases of knee joint deterioration, fat suppression was performed using a T2-weighted short T1/tau inverse recovery (STIR) sequence (TR/TE =2,894-3,215 ms/70 ms, NEX 3, ETL 9). Calculation of MTR for individual pixels was performed on registration of unsaturated and saturated images. After processing to make MTR images, the images were displayed in gray color. For improving diagnosis, three-dimensional isotropic volume images, the MR tristimulus color mapping and the MTR map was employed. MTR images showed diagnostic images quality to assess the patients' pathologies. The intensity difference between MTR images and conventional MRI was seen on the color bar. The profile graph on MTR imaging effect showed a quantitative measure of the relative decrease in signal intensity due to the MT pulse. To diagnose the pathologies of the knee joint, the profile graph data was shown on the image as a small cross. The present study indicated that MTR images in the knee joint were feasible. Investigation of physical change on MTR imaging enables to provide us more insight in the physical and technical basis of MTR imaging. MTR images could be useful for rapid assessment of diseases that we examine unambiguous contrast in MT images of knee disorder patients.

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Gaussian Filtering Effects on Brain Tissue-masked Susceptibility Weighted Images to Optimize Voxel-based Analysis (화소 분석의 최적화를 위해 자화감수성 영상에 나타난 뇌조직의 가우시안 필터 효과 연구)

  • Hwang, Eo-Jin;Kim, Min-Ji;Jahng, Geon-Ho
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.275-285
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    • 2013
  • Purpose : The objective of this study was to investigate effects of different smoothing kernel sizes on brain tissue-masked susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) obtained from normal elderly subjects using voxel-based analyses. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy human volunteers (mean $age{\pm}SD$ = $67.8{\pm}6.09$ years, 14 females and 6 males) were studied after informed consent. A fully first-order flow-compensated three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo sequence ran to obtain axial magnitude and phase images to generate SWI data. In addition, sagittal 3D T1-weighted images were acquired with the magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of gradient-echo sequence for brain tissue segmentation and imaging registration. Both paramagnetically (PSWI) and diamagnetically (NSWI) phase-masked SWI data were obtained with masking out non-brain tissues. Finally, both tissue-masked PSWI and NSWI data were smoothed using different smoothing kernel sizes that were isotropic 0, 2, 4, and 8 mm Gaussian kernels. The voxel-based comparisons were performed using a paired t-test between PSWI and NSWI for each smoothing kernel size. Results: The significance of comparisons increased with increasing smoothing kernel sizes. Signals from NSWI were greater than those from PSWI. The smoothing kernel size of four was optimal to use voxel-based comparisons. The bilaterally different areas were found on multiple brain regions. Conclusion: The paramagnetic (positive) phase mask led to reduce signals from high susceptibility areas. To minimize partial volume effects and contributions of large vessels, the voxel-based analysis on SWI with masked non-brain components should be utilized.

A Study of Changes of Inversion Time Effect on Brain Volume of Normal Volunteers (반전 시간의 변화가 정상인의 뇌 체적에 미치는 영향에 대한 고찰)

  • Kim, Ju Ho;Kim, Seong-Hu;Shin, Hwa Seon;Kim, Ji-Eun;Na, Jae Boem;Park, Kisoo;Choi, Dae Seob
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.286-293
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    • 2013
  • Purpose : The objective of this study was to analyze the brain volume according to the brain image of healthy adults in the 20s taken with different inversion time (TI). Materials and Methods: Brain images of healthy adults in the 20 s were acquired using magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE) pulse sequence with 1.5 mm thickness of pieces and four inversion times (1100 ms, 1000 ms, 900 ms, 800 ms). The acquired brain images were analyzed to measure the volume of white matter (WM), gray matter (GM), intracranial volume (ICV). The statistical difference according to brain volume and gender was analyzed for each TI. Results: The brain volume calculated using Freesurfer was WM$486.52{\pm}48.64cm^3$ and GM=$646.83{\pm}57.12cm^3$ in mean when adjusted by mean ICV=$1278.94{\pm}154.92cm^3$. Men's brain volume(WM, GM, ICV) was larger than women's brain volume. In the intrarater reliability test, all of the intraclass correlation coefficients were high (0.992 for WM, 0.988 for GM, and 0.997 for ICV). In the repeated measures analysis of variance, GM and ICV did not show a significant difference at each TI (GM p=0.143, ICV p=0.052), but WM showed a significant (p=0.001). In the linear structure relation analysis, all of the Pearson correlation coefficients were high. Conclusion: WM, GM, and ICV indicated high reliability and solid linear structure relations, but WM showed significant differences at each TI. The brain volume of healthy adults in the 20s could be used in comparison with that of patients for reference purposes and to predict the structural change of brain. It would be needed to conduct additional studies to examine the contract, SNR, and lesion detection ability according to variable TI.

The Study of in Vivo Visual Pathway Tracing using Magnetic Magnanese Tracer (자성 망간 추적자를 이용한 in Vivo 시신경경로 추적에 관한 연구)

  • Bae, Sung-Jin;Chang, Yong-Min
    • Progress in Medical Physics
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.42-47
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    • 2007
  • Purpose: To evaluate the tracing of optic nerve tract using manganese enhanced magnetic resonance Imaging. Materials and Methods: After injecting $30{\mu}l$ of $MnCl_2(1mol)$ (1 mol) Into the retina of female New Zealand white rabbit, the contrast enhancements at major anatomical structures of optic nerve tract were evaluated by high resolution T1-weighted Images 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after $MnCl_2(1mol)$ Injection using 3D FSPGR (Fast Speiled Gradient Recalled echo) pulse sequence at 1.5T clinical MR scanner with high performance gradient system. Also, for quantitative evaluation, the signal-to-noise ratios of circular ROI on anatomical locations were measured. Results: The major structures on the optic nerve tract were enhanced after injecting $MnCl_2(1mol)$. The structures, which showed enhancement, were right optic nerve, optic chiasm, left optic tract, left lateral geniculate nucleus, left superior colliculus. The structures on the contralateral optic pathway to the right retina were enhanced whereas the structures on the ipsilateral pathway did not show enhancement. Conclusion: The Mn transport through axonal pathway of optic nerve sys)em was non- invasively observed after injecting injecting $MnCl_2$ at the retina, which is the end terminal of optic nerve system. This Mn transport seems to occur by voltage gated calcium $(Ca^{2+})$ channel and In case of direct Injection Into the retina, the fast transpori pathway of voltage gated calcium channel seems to be responsible for Mn transport.

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Software development for the visualization of brain fiber tract by using 24-bit color coding in diffusion tensor image

  • Oh, Jung-Su;Song, In-Chan;Ik hwan Cho;Kim, Jong-Hyo;Chang, Kee-Hyun;Park, Kwang-Suk
    • Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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    • 2002.11a
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    • pp.133-133
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    • 2002
  • Purpose: The purpose of paper is to implement software to visualize brain fiber tract using a 24-bit color coding scheme and to test its feasibility. Materials and Methods: MR imaging was performed on GE 1.5 T Signa scanner. For diffusion tensor image, we used a single shot spin-echo EPI sequence with 7 non-colinear pulsed-field gradient directions: (x, y, z):(1,1,0),(-1,1,0),(1,0,1),(-1,0,1),(0,1,1),(0,1,-1) and without diffusion gradient. B-factor was 500 sec/$\textrm{mm}^2$. Acquisition parameters are as follows: TUTE=10000ms/99ms, FOV=240mm, matrix=128${\times}$128, slice thickness/gap=6mm/0mm, total slice number=30. Subjects consisted of 10 normal young volunteers (age:21∼26 yrs, 5 men, 5 women). All DTI images were smoothed with Gaussian kernel with the FWHM of 2 pixels. Color coding schemes for visualization of directional information was as follows. HSV(Hue, Saturation, Value) color system is appropriate for assigning RGB(Red, Green, and Blue) value for every different directions because of its volumetric directional expression. Each of HSV are assigned due to (r,$\theta$,${\Phi}$) in spherical coordinate. HSV calculated by this way can be transformed into RGB color system by general HSV to RGB conversion formula. Symmetry schemes: It is natural to code the antipodal direction to be same color(antipodal symmetry). So even with no symmetry scheme, the antipodal symmetry must be included. With no symmetry scheme, we can assign every different colors for every different orientation.(H =${\Phi}$, S=2$\theta$/$\pi$, V=λw, where λw is anisotropy). But that may assign very discontinuous color even between adjacent yokels. On the other hand, Full symmetry or absolute value scheme includes symmetry for 180$^{\circ}$ rotation about xy-plane of color coordinate (rotational symmetry) and for both hemisphere (mirror symmetry). In absolute value scheme, each of RGB value can be expressed as follows. R=λw|Vx|, G=λw|Vy|, B=λw|Vz|, where (Vx, Vy, Vz) is eigenvector corresponding to the largest eigenvalue of diffusion tensor. With applying full symmetry or absolute value scheme, we can get more continuous color coding at the expense of coding same color for symmetric direction. For better visualization of fiber tract directions, Gamma and brightness correction had done. All of these implementations were done on the IDL 5.4 platform.

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Ferucarbotran-Enhanced Hepatic MRI at 3T Unit: Quantitative and Qualitative Comparison of Fast Breath-hold Imaging Sequences (간의 3T 자기공명영상에서 초상자성산화철 조영증강 급속호흡정지영상기법들간의 양적 및 질적 비교평가)

  • Cho, Kyung-Eun;Yu, Jeong-Sik;Chung, Jae-Joon;Kim, Joo-Hee;Kim, Ki-Whang
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.31-40
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    • 2010
  • Purpose : To compare the relative values of various fast breath-hold imaging sequences for superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO)-enhanced hepatic MRI for the assessment of solid focal lesions with a 3T MRI unit. Materials and Methods : 102 consecutive patients with one or more solid malignant hepatic lesions were evaluated by spoiled gradient echo (GRE) sequences with three different echo times (2.4 msec [GRE_2.4], 5.8 msec [GRE_5.8], and 10 msec [GRE_10]) for $T2^*$-weighted imaging in addition to T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence following intravenous SPIO injection. Image qualities of the hepatic contour, vascular landmarks and artifacts were rated by two independent readers using a four-point scale. For quantitative analysis, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was measured in 170 solid focal lesions larger than 1 cm (107 hepatocellular carcinomas, nine cholangiocarcinomas and 54 metastases). Results : GRE_5.8 showed the highest mean points for hepatic contour, vascular anatomy and imaging artifact presence among all of the subjected sequences (p<0.001) and was comparable (p=0.414) with GRE_10 with regard to lesion conspicuity. The mean CNRs were significantly higher (p<0.001) in the following order: GRE_10 ($24.4{\pm}14.5$), GRE_5.8 ($14.8{\pm}9.4$), TSE ($9.7{\pm}6.3$), and GRE_2.4 ($7.9{\pm}6.4$). The mean CNRs of CCCs and metastases were higher than those of HCCs for all imaging sequences (p<0.05). Conclusion : Regarding overall performances, GRE using a moderate echo time of 5.8 msec can provide the most reliable data among the various fast breath-hold SPIO-enhanced hepatic MRI sequences at 3T unit despite the lower CNR of GRE_5.8 compared to that of GRE_10.