• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 1997

The mapping of the spin-spin relaxation time T2 in pixed-by-pixel was suggested as a quantitative diagnostic tool in medicine. Although the CPMG pulse sequence has been known to be the best pulse sequence for T2 measurement in physics NMR, the supplied pulse sequence by the manufacture of MRI system was able to obtain the maximum of 4 CPMG images. Eight or more images with different echo time TEs are required to construct a reliable T2 map, so that two or more acquisitions were required, which easily took more than 10 minutes. 4-echo CPMG imaging pulse sequence was modified to generate the maximum of 8 MR images with evenly spaced echo time TEs. In human MR imaging, since patients tend to move at least several pixels between the different acquisitions, 8-echo CPMG imaging sequence reduces the acquisition time and may remove any misregistration of each pixel's signal for the fitting T2. The resultant T2 maps using the theoretically simulated images and using the MR images of the human brain suggested that 8 echo CPMG sequence with short echo spacing such as 17∼20 msec can give the reliable T2 map.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.136-136
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• 2001

Purpose： Subclavian steal refers to the retrograde flow of blood in a vertebral artery that supplies t ipsilateral shoulder and arm caused by proximal subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion. T purpose of this exhibit is to demonstrate MR findings of subclavian steal on contrast-enhanc 3D (CE 3DMRA) and 2D TOF MR angiography. Method： Four patients(men 3 and women 1, age： 28-78years) with subclavian steal obtained both CE 3DMRA and digital subtraction angiography(DSA) including subclavian arterie Sequential imaging was undertaken during first pass after double dose of Gd-DTPA (0 mM/kg) Injected by a power injector. Coronal source images were obtained with coronal D-fast low angle shot sequence(TR/TE/flip angle=3.8/l.3/35, acquisition time= 10sec/one measurement). Precontrast imaging was subtracted from enhanced images and maximu intensity projection was done. 2D time-of-flight MR angiography(2D TOF) of the carot bifurcation was added in all cases with post-saturation. All studies were review retrospectively.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigated the usefulness of MR perfusion image comparing with SPECT image. A total of pediatric 30 patients(average age : 7.8) with Moyamoya disease were performed MR Perfusion with 32 channel body coil at 3T from March 01, 2010 to June 10, 2010. The MRI sequences and parameters were as followed : gradient Echo-planar imaging(EPI), TR/TE : 2000ms/50ms, FA : $90^{\circ}$, FOV : $240{\times}240$, Matrix : $128{\times}128$, Thickness : 5mm, Gap : 1.5mm. Images were obtained contrast agent administrated at a rate of 1mL/sec after scan start 10s with a total of slice 1000 images(50 phase/1 slice). It was measured with visual color image and digitize data using MRDx software(IDL version 6.2) and also, it was compared of measurement with values of normal and abnormal ratio to analyze hemodynamic change, and a comparison between perfusion MR with technique using Warm Color at SPECT examination. On MR perfusion examination, the color images from abnormal region to the red collar with rCBV(relative cerebral blood volume) and rCBF(relative cerebral blood flow) caused by increase cerebral blood flow with brain vascular occlusion in surrounding collateral circulation advancement, the blood speed relatively was depicted slowly with blue in MTT(Mean Transit Time) and TTP(Time to Peak) images. The region which was visible abnormally from MR perfusion examination visually were detected as comparison with the same SPECT examination region, would be able to confirm the identical results in MMD(Moyamoya disease)judgments. Hymo-dynamic change in MR perfusion examination produced by increase and delay cerebral blood flow. This change with digitize data and being color imaging makes enable to distinguish between normal and abnormal area. Relatively, MR perfusion examination compared with SPECT examination could bring an excellent image with spatial resolution without radiation expose.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2012

In the present study, changes in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the diffusion-weighted images in the normal livers were investigated using changes in b values in 1.5 T MR (magnetic resonance) instruments. Respective diffusion-weighted images and ADC map images were obtained from 20 healthy individuals by increasing b values from 50 to 400 and 800 $s/mm^2$ using 1.5T MR scanner between January 2011 and November 2011. At each ADC map image obtained at each b value, ADCs in the right hepatic lobe, spleen and kidney were measured. As a result, ADCs of the right hepatic lobe, spleen and kidney have gradually decreased in the diffusion-weighted images in accordance with the reduced b value. This outcome may be used as preliminary data for applications to various abdominal diseases.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.341-350
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• 2019

Purpose: To determine the MR parameters affecting India ink artifacts on opposed-phase chemical shift magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Materials and Methods: The use of a female Sprague-Dawley rat was approved by our Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Using an iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) images, which is a modified Dixon method, axial opposed-phase images of the abdominal cavity were obtained with different MR parameters: series 1, different repetition times (TRs; 400, 2000, and 4000 ms); series 2, different echo times (TEs; 10, 50, and 100 ms); series 3, different field of views (FOVs; 6, 8, 16, and 24 cm); series 4, different echo train lengths (ETLs; 2, 4, and 8); series 5, different bandwidths (25, 50, and 85); and series 6, different slice thicknesses (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 mm). Artifacts on opposed images obtained with different parameters were compared subjectively by two radiologists. For objective analysis, the thickness of the artifact was measured. Spearman's correlation between altered MR parameters and thicknesses of India ink artifact was obtained via objective analysis. Results: India ink artifact was increasingly apparent using shorter TE, larger FOV and ETL, and thicker slices upon subjective analysis. The objective analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between the thickness of the artifact and TE (r = -0.870, P < 0.01); however, strong positive correlations were found between FOV (r = 0.854, P < 0.01) and slice thickness (r = 0.971, P < 0.01). Conclusion: India ink artifact was thicker with shorter TE, larger FOV, and larger slice thickness.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.351-362
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• 2024

Objective: To measure inter-reader agreement and identify associated factors in interpreting complete response (CR) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for rectal cancer. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 10 readers from seven hospitals with experience of 80-10210 cases, and 149 patients who underwent surgery after CRT for rectal cancer. Using MRI-based tumor regression grading (mrTRG) and methods employed in daily practice, the readers independently assessed mrTRG, CR on T2-weighted images (T2WI) denoted as mrCR_T2W, and CR on all images including diffusion-weighted images (DWI) denoted as mrCR_overall. The readers described their interpretation patterns and how they utilized DWI. Inter-reader agreement was measured using multi-rater kappa, and associated factors were analyzed using multivariable regression. Correlation between sensitivity and specificity of each reader was analyzed using Spearman coefficient. Results: The mrCR_T2W and mrCR_overall rates varied widely among the readers, ranging 18.8%-40.3% and 18.1%-34.9%, respectively. Nine readers used DWI as a supplement sequence, which modified interpretations on T2WI in 2.7% of cases (36/1341 [149 patients × 9 readers]) and mostly (33/36) changed mrCR_T2W to non-mrCR_overall. The kappa values for mrTRG, mrCR_T2W, and mrCR_overall were 0.56 (95% confidence interval: 0.49, 0.62), 0.55 (0.52, 0.57), and 0.54 (0.51, 0.57), respectively. No use of rectal gel, larger initial tumor size, and higher initial cT stage exhibited significant association with a higher interreader agreement for assessing mrCR_overall (P ≤ 0.042). Strong negative correlations were observed between the sensitivity and specificity of individual readers (coefficient, -0.718 to -0.963; P ≤ 0.019). Conclusion: Inter-reader agreement was moderate for assessing CR on post-CRT MRI. Readers' varying standards on MRI interpretation (i.e., threshold effect), along with the use of rectal gel, initial tumor size, and initial cT stage, were significant factors associated with inter-reader agreement.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-59
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• 2010

To examine among patients with vertebral compression fracture the extent to which signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values at the lumbar vertebral compression fracture site vary on diffusion-weighted MR images according to varying b values on the 1.5T MR device. Diffusion-weighted MR images of 30 patients with compression fracture due to chronic osteoporosis who underwent vertebral MRI from Jan. 2008 to Nov. 2009 were respectively obtained using a 1.5-T MR scanner with the b values increased from 400, 600, 800, 1,000 to $1,200\;s/mm^2$. For diffusion-weighted MR images with different b values, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was assessed at three sites: the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body at L1 to L5, and both the upper and lower discs of the said fracture site, while for ADC map images with different b values, the SNR and ADC were respectively assessed at those three sites. As a quantitative analysis, diffusion-weighted MR images and ADC map images with b value of $400\;s/mm^2$ (the base b values) were respectively compared with the corresponding images with each different b value. As far as qualitative analysis is concerned, for both diffusion-weighted MR and ADC map images with b value of $400\;s/mm^2$, the extent to which signal intensity values obtained at the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body at L1 to L5 vary according to the increasing b values were examined. The quantitative analysis found that for both diffusion-weighted MR and ADC map images, as the b values increased, the SNR were relatively lowered at all the three sites, compared to the base b value. Also, it was found that as the b values increased, ADC valueswere relatively lowered at all the three sites on ADC map images. On the other hand, the qualitative analysis found that as the b values increased to more than $400\;s/mm^2$, the signal intensity gradually decreased at all the sites, while at the levels of more than $1,000\;s/mm^2$, severe image noises appeared at all of the three sites. In addition, higher signal intensity was found at the site of compression fracture of the lumbar vertebral body than at the discs. Findings showed that with the b value being increased, both the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values gradually decreased at all the sites of the lumbar vertebral compression fracture and both the upper and lower discs of the fracture site, suggesting that there is a possibility of a wider range of applications to assessment of various vertebral pathologies by utilizing multi b values in the diffusion-weighted MRI examination.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.104-107
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• 2004

In this study, using brain phantom for multi-modality imaging, we acquired CT, MR and PET images and performed registration of these anatomical images and nuclear medicine functional images. The algorithms and program applied for registration were Chamfer Matching and Mutual Information Maximization algorithm which have been using frequently in clinic and verified accuracy respectively. In result, both algorithms were useful methods for CT-MR, CT-PET and MR-PET. But Mutual Information Maximization was more effective algorithm for low resolution image as nuclear medicine functional image.

• Proceedings of the Korea Multimedia Society Conference
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• 2002.05c
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• pp.160-163
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• 2002

본 연구는 의료영상 중에 가장 많이 사용하는 의료 영상인 MR영상 중에서 머리 부위의 질병인 뇌종양에 대한 진단을 돕기 위한 연구이다. 뇌 MR영상의 T2강조 영상을 살펴보면, 종양 영역은 명암이 밝게 나타나고 종양 영역의 주변은 어둡게 나타나는 특성을 볼 수 있다. 따라서 제안된 방법은 뇌종양 특성인 명암의 밝기 정보를 기반으로 비정상 영역 내에서 명암 정보가 유사한 영역끼리 그룹화하고 그 중에 가장 밝은 영역을 종양 후보 영역으로 추출한 후 각 후보 영역들 중에서 MBR이 가장 큰 것을 종양으로 검출한다.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-323
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• 2013

Spinal cord infarction is becoming recognized as an important cause of acute myelopathy in cats. Although the definitive diagnosis is confirmed through postmortem histopathologic examination, MR imaging features provide valuable informations for the diagnosis of spinal cord infarction. The aim of this report is to describe MR findings of acute spinal cord infarction in two cats and to evaluate usefulness of low field MRI (0.3Tesla) as a potential diagnostic tool of acute spinal cord infarction. A cat (unknown age, neutered male mixed breed cat) was referred one day after the acute onset of non-ambulatory spastic tetraparesis and the other cat (a 9-year-old, neutered female domestic short hair cat) was presented due to the acute onset of non-ambulatory paraparesis and one day later paraplegia. The lesions of the MR images were shown on the spinal cord parenchyma over C2 to C6 in case 1 and L2 to L5 in case 2. The MR images in these two cases were characterized by focal intramedullary lesions, mainly involving grey matter which were hyperintense T2 weighted and FLAIR images and hyperintense on DWI and hypointense on ADC map. The MR findings in both cases were highly suggestive of acute spinal cord infarctions, based upon previous reported small animal cases and human cases. In conclusion, based on MR features, together with the history and clinical examination findings, MRI modality can be used as an antemortem tool for the diagnosis of acute spinal cord infarction in cats.