• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.561-571
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• 2020

Objective: To evaluate the clinical utility of ultrafast dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI compared to conventional DCE-MRI by studying lesion conspicuity and size according to the level of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE). Materials and Methods: This study included 360 women (median age, 54 years; range, 26-82 years) with 361 who had undergone breast MRI, including both ultrafast and conventional DCE-MRI before surgery, between January and December 2017. Conspicuity was evaluated using a five-point score. Size was measured as the single maximal diameter. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare median conspicuity score. To identify factors associated with conspicuity, multivariable logistic regression was performed. Absolute agreement between size at MRI and histopathologic examination was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The median conspicuity scores were 5 at both scans, but the interquartile ranges were significantly different (5-5 at ultrafast vs. 4-5 at conventional, p < 0.001). Premenopausal status (odds ratio [OR] = 2.2, p = 0.048), non-mass enhancement (OR = 4.1, p = 0.001), moderate to marked BPE (OR = 7.5, p < 0.001), and shorter time to enhancement (OR = 0.9, p = 0.043) were independently associated with better conspicuity at ultrafast scans. Tumor size agreement between MRI and histopathologic examination was similar for both scans (ICC = 0.66 for ultrafast vs. 0.63 for conventional). Conclusion: Ultrafast DCE-MRI could improve lesion conspicuity compared to conventional DCE-MRI, especially in women with premenopausal status, non-mass enhancement, moderate to marked BPE or short time to enhancement.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.502-512
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• 2021

Objective: To objectively and subjectively assess and compare the characteristics of monoenergetic images [MEI (+)] and polyenergetic images (PEI) acquired by dual-energy CT (DECT) of patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the images and data of 42 patients with breast cancer who had undergone dual-phase contrast-enhanced DECT from June to September 2019. One standard PEI, five MEI (+) in 10-kiloelectron volt (keV) intervals (range, 40-80 keV), iodine density (ID) maps, iodine overlay images, and Z effective (Z_eff) maps were reconstructed. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were calculated. Multiple quantitative parameters of the malignant breast lesions were compared between the arterial and the venous phase images. Two readers independently assessed lesion conspicuity and performed a morphology analysis. Results: Low keV MEI (+) at 40-50 keV showed increased CNR and SNR_{breast lesion} compared with PEI, especially in the venous phase ([CNR: 40 keV, 20.10; 50 keV, 14.45; vs. PEI, 7.27; p < 0.001], [SNR_{breast lesion}: 40 keV, 21.01; 50 keV, 16.28; vs. PEI, 10.77; p < 0.001]). Multiple quantitative DECT parameters of malignant breast lesions were higher in the venous phase images than in the arterial phase images (p < 0.001). MEI (+) at 40 keV, ID, and Z_eff reconstructions yielded the highest Likert scores for lesion conspicuity. The conspicuity of the mass margin and the visual enhancement were significantly better in 40-keV MEI (+) than in the PEI (p = 0.022, p = 0.033, respectively). Conclusion: Compared with PEI, MEI (+) reconstructions at low keV in the venous phase acquired by DECT improved the objective and subjective assessment of lesion conspicuity in patients with malignant breast lesions. MEI (+) reconstruction acquired by DECT may be helpful for the preoperative evaluation of breast cancer.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.60-65
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• 1999

목적 : 뇌백질 신호억제를 위한 중간시간 반전회복(Medium Tau Inversion Recovery, MTIR)영상에서 뇌회질과 뇌배질의 대조도를 다른 기법의 MR영상과 비교해 보고 뇌피질에 이상이 있는 환자에서 MTIR영상의 유용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 2명의 정상 지원자와 뇌피질 이형성증을 포함한 뇌피질 질환이 있는 21명을 대상으로 뇌회질과 뇌백질의 신호의 차이를 관심영역에서 대조도 백분율과 대조도 잡음비로 츠정하여 MTIR영상과 여러 가지 다른 MR영상을 비교하였다. 또한 시각적으로 병변이 뚜렷함, 새로운 병변의 발견여부를 시각적으로 비교 평가하였다. 결과 : MTIR영상은 다른 MR영상에 비해 대조도 백분율, 대조도 잡음비가 높아 뇌회질과 뇌백질의 신호의 차이가 가장 뚜렷하였다. 신경이주이상을 포함한 21명의 뇌피질 환자에서는 MTIR영상에서 다른 영상보다 병변이 뚜려사고 병변의 묘사(delineation)을 증가 시켰으나 새로운 병변은 발견하지 못해다. 결론 : MTIR영상은 뇌회질과 뇌백질의 대조도를 증가시키는 영상 기법이며 뇌피질을 침범한 질환을 특히 뇌피질 이형성증의 병변을 매우 잘 나타냈다. 기존의 T1강조영상 또는 3D-MPRAG에서 뇌피질-백질의 구별이 어려운 경우에는 보완적으로 이용가치가 있는 영상기법으로 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.1036-1044
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the clinical feasibility of synthetic diffusion-weighted imaging (sDWI) at different b-values in patients with breast cancer by assessing the diagnostic image quality and the quantitative measurements compared with conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (cDWI). Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with breast cancer were assessed using cDWI at b-values of 800 and 1500 s/mm² (cDWI₈₀₀ and cDWI₁₅₀₀) and sDWI at b-values of 1000 and 1500 s/mm² (sDWI₁₀₀₀ and sDWI₁₅₀₀). Qualitative analysis (normal glandular tissue suppression, overall image quality, and lesion conspicuity) was performed using a 4-point Likert-scale for all DWI sets and the cancer detection rate (CDR) was calculated. We also evaluated cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratios for each DWI set in 45 patients with the lesion identified on any of the DWI sets. Statistical comparisons were performed using Friedman test, one-way analysis of variance, and Cochran's Q test. Results: All parameters of qualitative analysis, cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratios, and CDR increased with increasing b-values, regardless of the type of imaging (synthetic or conventional) (p < 0.001). Additionally, sDWI₁₅₀₀ provided better lesion conspicuity than cDWI₁₅₀₀ (3.52 ± 0.92 vs. 3.39 ± 0.90, p < 0.05). Although cDWI₁₅₀₀ showed better normal glandular tissue suppression and overall image quality than sDWI₁₅₀₀ (3.66 ± 0.78 and 3.73 ± 0.62 vs. 3.32 ± 0.90 and 3.35 ± 0.81, respectively; p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in their CDR (90.0%). Cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratios were greater in sDWI₁₅₀₀ than in cDWI₁₅₀₀ (0.63 ± 0.17 vs. 0.55 ± 0.18, p < 0.001). Conclusion: sDWI₁₅₀₀ can be feasible for evaluating breast cancers in clinical practice. It provides higher tumor conspicuity, better cancer-to-parenchyma contrast ratio, and comparable CDR when compared with cDWI₁₅₀₀.

• 방사선산업학회지
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.397-403
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to obtain brain MRI images through Heavenly T₂ FLAIR and DWI techniques to find out strengths and weaknesses of each image. Data were analyzed on 13 normal people and 17 brain tumor patients. Philips Ingenia 3.0TCX was used as the equipment used for the inspection, and 32 Channel Head Coil was used to acquire data. Using Image J and Infinity PACS Data, 3mm² of gray matter, white matter, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and tumor areas were set and measured. Quantitative analysis measured SNR and CNR as an analysis method, and qualitative analysis evaluated overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, image distortion, susceptibility artifact and ghost artifact on a 5-point scale. The statistical significance of data analysis was that Wilcox-on Signed Rank Test and Paired t-test were executed, and the statistical program used was SPSS ver.22.0 and the p value was less than 0.05. In quantitative analysis, the SNR of gray matter, white matter, cerebellum, basal ganglia, and tumor of Heavily T₂ FLAIR is 41.45±0.13, 40.52±0.45, 41.44±0.51, 40.96±0.09, 35.28±0.46 and the CNR is 15.24±0.13, 16.75±0.23, 16.28±0.41, 15.83±0.17, 16.63±0.51. In DWI, SNR is 32.58±0.22, 36.75±0.17, 30.21±0.19, 35.83±0.11, 43.29±0.08, and CNR is 13.14±0.63, 14.21±0.31, 12.95±0.32, 11.73±0.09, 17.56±0.52. In normal tissues, Heavenly T₂ FLAIR obtained high results, but in disease evaluation, high results were obtained at DWI, b=1000 (p<0.05). In addition, in the qualitative analysis, overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, image distortion, susceptibility artifact and ghost artifact aspects of the Heavily T₂ FLAIR were evaluated, and 3.75±0.28, 2.29±0.24, 3.86±0.23, 4.08±0.21, 3.79±0.22 values were found, respectively, and 2.53±0.39, 4.13±0.29, 1.90±0.20, 1.81±0.21, 1.52±0.45 in DWI. As a result of qualitative analysis, overall image quality, image distortion, susceptibility artifact and ghost artifact were rated higher than DWI. However, DWI was evaluated higher in lesion conspicuity (p<0.05). In normal tissues, the level of Heavenly T₂ FLAIR was higher, but the DWI technique was higher in the evaluation of the disease (tumor). The two results were necessary techniques depending on the normal site and the location of the disease. In conclusion, statistically significant results were obtained from the two techniques. In quantitative and qualitative analysis, the two techniques had advantages and disadvantages, and in normal and disease evaluation, the two techniques produced useful results. These results are believed to be educational data for clinical basic evaluation and MRI in the future.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.151-156
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• 2014

목적: T1강조 MR영상은 뇌의 해부학적 구조와 병리학적 이상을 보여 주는 기본적인 영상기법의 하나로, 전통적으로 스핀에코(SE) 기법을 이용하여 획득하고 있다. 최근 FLAIR 기법을 이용하여 T1강조영상을 얻을 수 있게 되었으며, SE보다 높은 대조도의 영상을 제공한다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 조영증강을 보이는 뇌종양의 평가에 있어 T1 FLAIR 영상의 유용성에 대해서는 논란이 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 조영증강을 보이는 두개 내 종양의 평가에 있어 SE T1강조영상과 비교하여 T1 FLAIR영상의 유용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: 총 52명 환자의 79개 병변을 대상으로 하였다. 각 환자에서 조영증강 후 SE T1강조영상과 T1 FLAIR 영상을 획득하였다. 정량적 분석으로 각각의 영상에서 병변, 뇌회색질(GM), 뇌백질(WM), 뇌척수액(CSF), 배경(background)의 신호강도를 측정하였고, 이를 바탕으로 병변과 WM, 병변과 GM, 병변과 CSF, WM와 GM의 contrast ratio(CR), contrast-to-noise(CNR)를 계산하였다. 정성적 분석으로 두 명의 영상의학과 의사가 각 영상에서 병변의 명확도(lesion conspicuity)를 비교 하였다. 결과: 정량적 분석 결과에서 T1 FLAIR영상의 병변과 GM, 병변과 CSF, WM와 GM의 CR, CNR 모두 SE T1강조영상보다 우월하였으며 이는 통계적으로 유의하였다. 그러나 병변과 WM의 CR, CNR은 비슷하였으며 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 정성적 분석에서 두 영상의학과 의사 모두 병변의 명확도에 있어 T1 FLAIR영상이 SE영상보다 우월하다고 평가하였다. 결론: 조영증강을 보이는 뇌종양의 평가에 있어 T1 FLAIR영상은 SE T1강조영상보다 우수하거나 필적한 결과를 보였다.

• 대한자기공명의과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한자기공명의과학회 2003년도 제8차 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.37-37
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• 2003

To assess the merits and demerits of postcontrast fat-suppressed (FS) brain MR imaging in children in the evaluation of various enhancing lesions, compared with postcontrast conventional or Magnetization Transfer (MT) imaging. 대상 및 방법： We reviewed patients with enhancing lesion on brain MR imaging who underwent both FS imaging and one of conventional or MT imaging as a postcontrast T1-weighted brain MR imaging. Inclusion criteria of our study were as follows： MR studies should be peformed within one-year interval and showed no significant interval change of imaging findings. Thirty-four patients (21 male, 13 female; mean age, 8 years) with 43 enhancing lesions (19 intra-axial, 19 extra-axial, and 5 orbital location) were included in this study, Twenty-one pairs of FS and conventional imaging, and 15 pairs of FS and MT imaging were available. Two radiologists visually assessed the lesion conspicuity and the presence of flow or susceptibility artifacts in a total of 36 pairs of MR imaging by consensus. For 21 measurable lesions (19 pairs of FS and conventional imaging, 5 pairs of FS and MR imaging), contrast ratio between the lesion and the normal brain( ［SIlesion-SIwater］/[SInormal brain-SIwater]) were calculated and compared.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.402-412
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• 2022

Objective: To evaluate the image quality and lesion detectability of lower-dose CT (LDCT) of the abdomen and pelvis obtained using a deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm compared with those of standard-dose CT (SDCT) images. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 123 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 63 ± 11 years; male:female, 70:53) who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic LDCT between May and August 2020 and had prior SDCT obtained using the same CT scanner within a year. LDCT images were reconstructed with hybrid iterative reconstruction (h-IR) and DLIR at medium and high strengths (DLIR-M and DLIR-H), while SDCT images were reconstructed with h-IR. For quantitative image quality analysis, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio were measured in the liver, muscle, and aorta. Among the three different LDCT reconstruction algorithms, the one showing the smallest difference in quantitative parameters from those of SDCT images was selected for qualitative image quality analysis and lesion detectability evaluation. For qualitative analysis, overall image quality, image noise, image sharpness, image texture, and lesion conspicuity were graded using a 5-point scale by two radiologists. Observer performance in focal liver lesion detection was evaluated by comparing the jackknife free-response receiver operating characteristic figures-of-merit (FOM). Results: LDCT (35.1% dose reduction compared with SDCT) images obtained using DLIR-M showed similar quantitative measures to those of SDCT with h-IR images. All qualitative parameters of LDCT with DLIR-M images but image texture were similar to or significantly better than those of SDCT with h-IR images. The lesion detectability on LDCT with DLIR-M images was not significantly different from that of SDCT with h-IR images (reader-averaged FOM, 0.887 vs. 0.874, respectively; p = 0.581). Conclusion: Overall image quality and detectability of focal liver lesions is preserved in contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic LDCT obtained with DLIR-M relative to those in SDCT with h-IR.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.49-54
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• 2008

목적 : 저산소성-허혈성 뇌증(HIE)의 확산강조영상(DWI) 소견을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 심폐기능 정지에 의한 뇌손상으로 심폐소생술을 통하여 소생된 6명의 환자를 대상으로 하였으며 뇌손상 후 MR검사까지의 시간 간격은 4일에서부터 32일까지 평균 11.8일 이었다. 전 예에서 T1 및 T2강조영상, FLAIR, DWI 및 현성확산계수영상을 얻었다. 병변의 분포, 각 영상에서의 신호 강도를 분석하였으며, T2 및 FLAIR영상과 비교한 DWI에서의 병변의 명확도를 분석하였다. 결과 : 전 예에서 T2, FLAIR 및 DWI에서 기저핵에 양측으로 대칭적인 고신호 강도의 병변을 볼 수 있었다. 현성확산계수영상에서는 이중 4예가 저신호 강도를, 2예는 동등신호 강도를 보였다. 병변의 명확도는 6예 중 4예에서 T2 및 FLAIR영상과 비교하여 DWI에서 뚜렷한 고신호 강도를 보였고, 2예에서는 비슷하였다. 대뇌 피질과 피질하 백질의 경우 6예 중 5예에서 T2, FLAIR 및 DWI에서 양측으로 대칭적인 고신호 강도를 보였고, 그 중 3예에서는 T2 및 FLAIR 영상과 비교하여 DWI에서 명확하게 보였다. 현성확산계수영상에서는 3예가 저신호 강도를, 나머지는 동등신호 강도를 보였다. 대뇌 심부백질의 경우 6예 중 4예에서 T2, FLAIR 및 DWI에서 양측으로 대칭적인 고신호 강도를 보였고, 그 중 1예에서만 T2 및 FLAIR 영상과 비교하여 DWI에서 명확하게 보였다. 결론 : HIE의 DWI 소견은 기저핵 및 대뇌 피질과 백질의 대칭적인 고신호 강도가 특징이며, T2 및 FLAIR영상보다 명확하였다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.922-930
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• 2021

Objective: It is uncertain why a b-value range of 1500-2000 s/mm² is optimal. This study was aimed at qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing the optimal b-value range of synthetic diffusion-weighted imaging (sDWI) for evaluating prostatic index lesions. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 92 patients who underwent DWI and targeted biopsy for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-suggested index lesions. We generated sDWI at a b-value range of 1000-3000 s/mm² using dedicated software and true DWI data at b-values of 0, 100, and 1000 s/mm². We hypothesized that lesion conspicuity would be best when the background (i.e., MRI-suggested benign prostatic [bP] and periprostatic [pP] regions) signal intensity (SI) is suppressed and becomes homogeneous. To prove this hypothesis, we performed both qualitative and quantitative analyses. For qualitative analysis, two independent readers analyzed the b-value showing the best visual conspicuity of an MRI-suggested index lesion. For quantitative analysis, the readers assessed the b-value showing the same bP and pP region SI. The 95% confidence interval (CI) or interquartile range of qualitatively and quantitatively selected optimal b-values was assessed, and the mean difference between qualitatively and quantitatively selected b-values was investigated. Results: The 95% CIs of optimal b-values from qualitative and quantitative analyses were 1761-1805 s/mm² and 1640-1771 s/mm² (median, 1790 s/mm² vs. 1705 s/mm²; p = 0.003) for reader 1, and 1835-1895 s/mm² and 1705-1841 s/mm² (median, 1872 s/mm² vs. 1763 s/mm²; p = 0.022) for reader 2, respectively. Interquartile ranges of qualitatively and quantitatively selected optimal b-values were 1735-1873 s/mm² and 1573-1867 s/mm² for reader 1, and 1775-1945 s/mm² and 1591-1955 s/mm² for reader 2, respectively. Bland-Altman plots consistently demonstrated a mean difference of less than 100 s/mm² between qualitatively and quantitatively selected optimal b-values. Conclusion: b-value range showing a homogeneous background signal may be optimal for evaluating prostatic index lesions on sDWI. Our qualitative and quantitative data consistently recommend b-values of 1500-2000 s/mm².