• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.191-197
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• 2013

Conventional CT and MRI scans produce cross-section slices of body that are viewed sequentially by radiologists who must imagine or extrapolate from these views what the 3 dimensional anatomy should be. By using sophisticated algorithm and high performance computing, these cross-sections may be rendered as direct 3D representations of human anatomy. The 2D medical image analysis forced to use time-consuming, subjective, error-prone manual techniques, such as slice tracing and region painting, for extracting regions of interest. To overcome the drawbacks of 2D medical image analysis, combining with medical image processing, 3D visualization is essential for extracting anatomical structures and making measurements. We used the gray-level thresholding, region growing, contour following, deformable model to segment human organ and used the feature vectors from texture analysis to detect harmful cancer. We used the perspective projection and marching cube algorithm to render the surface from volumetric MR and CT image data. The 3D visualization of human anatomy and segmented human organ provides valuable benefits for radiation treatment planning, surgical planning, surgery simulation, image guided surgery and interventional imaging applications.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.195-203
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• 2009

Image registration is a fundamental task in image processing used to match two or more images. It gives new information to the radiologists by matching images from different modalities. The objective of this study is to develop 2D image registration algorithm for PET/CT and CT images acquired by different systems at different times. We matched two CT images first (one from standalone CT and the other from PET/CT) that contain affluent anatomical information. Then, we geometrically transformed PET image according to the results of transformation parameters calculated by the previous step. We have used Affine transform to match the target and reference images. For the similarity measure, mutual information was explored. Use of particle swarm algorithm optimized the performance by finding the best matched parameter set within a reasonable amount of time. The results show good agreements of the images between PET/CT and CT. We expect the proposed algorithm can be used not only for PET/CT and CT image registration but also for different multi-modality imaging systems such as SPECT/CT, MRI/PET and so on.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 2011

Parallel imaging technique can provide several advantages for a multitude of MRI applications. Especially, in SENSE technique, sensitivity maps were always required in order to determine the reconstruction matrix, therefore, a number of difference approaches using sensitivity information from coils have been demonstrated to improve of image quality. Moreover, many filtering methods were proposed such as adaptive matched filter and nonlinear diffusion technique to optimize the suppression of background noise and to improve of image quality. In this study, we performed SENSE reconstruction using computer simulations to confirm the most suitable method for the feasibility of filtering effect and according to changing order of polynomial fit that were applied on variation of spatial resolution of sensitivity map. The image was obtained at 0.32T(Magfinder II, Genpia, Korea) MRI system using spin-echo pulse sequence(TR/TE = 500/20 ms, FOV = 300 mm, matrix = $128{\times}128$, thickness = 8 mm). For the simulation, obtained image was multiplied with four linear-array coil sensitivities which were formed of 2D-gaussian distribution and the image was complex white gaussian noise was added. Image processing was separated to apply two methods which were polynomial fitting and filtering according to spatial resolution of sensitivity map and each coil image was subsampled corresponding to reduction factor(r-factor) of 2 and 4. The results were compared to mean value of geomety factor(g-factor) and artifact power(AP) according to r-factor 2 and 4. Our results were represented while changing of spatial resolution of sensitivity map and r-factor, polynomial fit methods were represented the better results compared with general filtering methods. Although our result had limitation of computer simulation study instead of applying to experiment and coil geometric array such as linear, our method may be useful for determination of optimal sensitivity map in a linear coil array.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2000

Purpose : We examined the patients to evaluate the radiologic findings of solitary plasmacytoma of the bone. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed radiologic findings of 9 cases with solitary plasmacytoma of the bone (SPB) for recent 5 years, but 2 cases were not included this study due to an abnormal finding of bone marrow and another 2 cases were not included due to an abnormal manifestations of computed tomography (n=1) and MRI (n=1). Results : Among 5 cases, 4 cases had an osteolytic bone destruction and 1 case had an osteosclerotic bone destruction on the plain radiograph. Computed tomography and MRI showed more informations about trabeculated bone destruction and the soft-tissue extension of the lesion comparing to plain radiographs. The MRI finding of SPB in 4 cases showed a relatively high signal intensity on T1-weighted image and intermediate signal intensity on T2-weighted image, on which the signal intensity of the lesion is slightly higher than that of the muscle. One case had an extensive soft-tissue involvement and multiple necrosis, which presented iso to low signal intensity on T1-weighted image and high heterogeneous signal intensity on T2-weighted image. The Gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images of 5 cases showed diffusely strong enhancement of the lesion except on the necrosis areas. Conclusion : Computed tomography and MRI may present some characteristics of SPB and demonstrate another foci of plasma cell infiltrates, so these can be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment of SPB.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the result of arthroscopic excision of painful Os subtibiale and Os subfibulare. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients who had accessory bone in the ankle joint were treated by arthroscopy. Os subtibiale was four cases and os subfibulare twelve. The average follow-up period was 9 months$(range:6{\sim}42months)$. All patients were evaluated clinically with physical examination and radiologically with simple X-ray and for further evaluation, eight with bone scan, three with computed tomography and twelve with magnetic resonance image. We estimated the result of resection with Ogilvie-Harris's criteria. Results: All parameters of subjective and functional evaluation were improved with statistical significance(p<0.05). At final evaluation, eight patients still complained of mild pain and among them, three patients for synovitis, three for tendinitis on MRI and two for incomplete resection. Conclusion: The arthroscopic resection is a very effective method for painful os subtibiale and subfibulare using small incisions and for treatment of associated lesion. The preoperative radiological evaluation is essential and magnetic resornance image is useful for detecting of associated lesion.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to figure out how uptake counts of technetium ($^{99m}Tc$) among radioisotopes in the human body are affected if computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and isotope examination are performed consecutively. $^{99m}Tc$ isotope material, iodinated contrast media for CT and paramagnetic contrast media for magnetic resonance (MR) were used as experimental materials. First, $^{99m}Tc$ was added to 4 cc normal saline in a test tube. Then, 2 cc of CT contrast media such as $Iopamidol^{(R)}$ and $Dotarem^{(R)}$ were diluted with 2 cc normal saline, and 2cc of MRI contrast media such as $Primovist^{(R)}$ and $Gadovist^{(R)}$ were diluted with 2 cc normal saline. Each distributed contrast media was a total of 4 cc and included 10m Ci of $^{99m}Tc$. A gamma camera, a LEHR (Low energy high resolution) collimator and a pin-hole collimator were used for image acquisition. Image acquisition was repeated a total of 6 times and 120 frames were obtained and uptake counts of $^{99m}Tc$ were measured (from this procedure). In this study, as a result of measuring the uptake counts of $^{99m}Tc$ using the LEHR collimator, the uptake counts were less measured in all contrast media than normal saline as a reference. In particular, the lowest uptake counts were measured when $Gadovist^{(R)}$, contrast media for MRI, was used. However, the result of measuring the uptake counts of $^{99m}Tc$ using the pin-hole collimator showed higher uptake counts in all contrast media, except for $Iopamidol^{(R)}$, than normal saline as a reference. The highest uptake counts were measured particularly when $Primovist^{(R)}$, contrast media for MRI, was used. In performing the gamma camera examination using contrast media and $^{99m}Tc$, it is considered significant to check the changes in the uptake counts to improve various diagnosis values.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 2012

Used as an ingredient in the hospital for orthopedic prosthetic stainless and titanium metal the same size as on the MRI diagnostic value of imaging were compared. Center of images, background high band portion of the video signal is converted into a weighted intensity values Normal images and compared. The area of normal slice and also the distortion of images and cross-sectional imaging of a range of quantitative and sagittal planes were compared. As a result, the periphery high band signal intensity values of Stainless video phantom 2, pig bone 1.8, Titanium imaging of phantom 1.7 has higher value than Normal video pig bone 1.3 times the signal strength rivers. MRI distortion of the shape and the distortions of the range, if the cross-sectional area compared to Normal Slice Stainless case of phantom 65.8 %, pig bone 61.5 %, Titanium distortion phantom 23.1 %, pig bone 38.5 % of the range of community found. In this experiment, as a result, MRI was found to be Titanium more diagnostic value than the specimen with respect to the signal intensity weighted value and low distortion range, Stainless.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.328-340
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• 2019

Purpose: To generate phase images with free of motion-induced artifact and susceptibility-induced distortion using 3D radial ultrashort TE (UTE) MRI. Materials and Methods: The field map was theoretically derived by solving Laplace's equation with appropriate boundary conditions, and used to simulate the image distortion in conventional spin-warp MRI. Manufacturer's 3D radial imaging sequence was modified to acquire maximum number of radial spokes in a given time, by removing the spoiler gradient and sampling during both rampup and rampdown gradient. Spoke direction randomly jumps so that a readout gradient acts as a spoiling gradient for the previous spoke. The custom raw data was reconstructed using a homemade image reconstruction software, which is programmed using Python language. The method was applied to a phantom and in-vivo human brain and abdomen. The performance of UTE was compared with 3D GRE for phase mapping. Local phase mapping was compared with T₂* mapping using UTE. Results: The phase map using UTE mimics true field-map, which was theoretically calculated, while that using 3D GRE revealed both motion-induced artifact and geometric distortion. Motion-free imaging is particularly crucial for application of phase mapping for abdomen MRI, which typically requires multiple breathold acquisitions. The air pockets, which are caught within the digestive pathway, induce spatially varying and large background field. T₂* map, that was calculated using UTE data, suffers from non-uniform T₂* value due to this background field, while does not appear in the local phase map of UTE data. Conclusion: Phase map generated using UTE mimicked the true field map even when non-zero susceptibility objects were present. Phase map generated by 3D GRE did not accurately mimic the true field map when non-zero susceptibility objects were present due to the significant field distortion as theoretically calculated. Nonetheless, UTE allows for phase maps to be free of susceptibility-induced distortion without the use of any post-processing protocols.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 1997

In this paper, we have reported two interesting flow effects arising in the TRFGE sequence using water flow phantom. First, we have shown that the TRFGE sequence is indeed not affected by "in-flow" effect from the unsaturated spins flowing into the imaging slice. Second, the enhancement of "in-plane flow" signal in the readout gradient direction was observed when the TRFGE sequence was used without flow compensation. These two results have many interesting applications in MR imaging other than fMRI. Results obtained were also compared with the results obtained by the conventional gradient echo(CGE) imaging. Experiments were performed at 4.7T MRI/S animal system (Biospec, BRUKER, Switzerland). A cylindrical phantom was made using acryl and a vinyl tube was inserted at the center(Fig. 1). The whole cylinder was filled with water doped with $MnCl_2$ and the center tube was filled with saline which flows in parallel to the main magnetic field along the tube. Tailored RF pulse was designed to have quadratic ($z^2$) phase distribution in slice direction(z). Imaging parameters were TR/TE = 55~85/10msec, flip angle = $30^{\circ}$, slice thickness = 2mm, matrix size = 256${\times}$256, and FOV= 10cm. In-flow effect : Axial images were obtained with and without flow using the CGE and TRFGE sequences, respectively. The flow direction was perpendicular to the image slice. In-plane flow : Sagittal images were obtained with and without flow using the TRGE sequence. The readout gradient was applied in parallel to the flow direction. We have observed that the "in-flow" effect did not affect the TRFGE image, while "in-plane flow" running along the readout gradient direction enhanced the signal in the TRFGE sequence when flow compensation gradient scheme was not used.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.1523-1528
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• 2020

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly that can be difficult to detect and often remains undiagnosed. PAPVR is diagnosed using non-invasive imaging techniques such as echocardiography, CT, and MRI. Image data are reviewed on a 2-dimensional (D) monitor, which may not facilitate a good understanding of the complex 3D heart structure. In recent years, 3D printing technology, which allows the creation of physical cardiac models using source image datasets obtained from cardiac CT or MRI, has been increasingly used in the medical field. We report a case involving a 3D-printed model of PAPVR with a biatrial connection. This model demonstrated separate drainages of the right upper and middle pulmonary veins into the lower superior vena cava (SVC) and the junction between the SVC and the right atrium, respectively, with biatrial communication through the right middle pulmonary vein.