• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.241-250
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• 2015

Noninvasive temperature monitoring is feasible with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) based on temperature sensitive MR parameters such as $T_1$ and $T_2$ relaxation times, Proton Resonance Frequency shift (PRFs), diffusion, exchange process, magnetization transfer contrast, chemical exchange saturation transfer, etc. While the temperature monitoring is very useful to guide the thermal treatment such as RF hyperthermia or thermal ablation, the optimization of the MR thermometry method is essential because the range of temperature measurement depends on the choice of the measurement methods. Useful temperature range depends on the purpose of treatment methods, for example, $42^{\circ}C$ to $45^{\circ}C$ for RF hyperthermia and over $50^{\circ}C$ for thermal ablation. In this paper, MR thermometry methods using $T_1$ and $T_2$ relaxation times and PRFs-based MR thermometry are tried on a 3.0 T MRI system and their results are reported and compared. In addition, the scanning protocol and temperature calculation algorithms from $T_1$ and $T_2$ relaxation times and PRFs are optimized for the different temperature ranges for the purpose of RF hyperthermia and/or thermal ablation.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2021

Purpose: Differentiating between glioblastoma and solitary metastasis is very important for the planning of further workup and treatment. We assessed the ability of various morphological parameters using conventional MRI and diffusion-based techniques to distinguish between glioblastomas and solitary metastases in tumoral and peritumoral regions. Materials and Methods: We included 38 patients with solitary brain tumors (21 glioblastomas, 17 solitary metastases). To find out if there were differences in the morphologic parameters of enhancing tumors, we analyzed their shape, margins, and enhancement patterns on postcontrast T1-weighted images. During analyses of peritumoral regions, we assessed the extent of peritumoral non-enhancing lesion on T2- and postcontrast T1-weighted images. We also aimed to detect peritumoral neoplastic cell infiltration by visual assessment of T2-weighted and diffusion-based images, including DWI, ADC maps, and exponential DWI, and evaluated which sequence depicted peritumoral neoplastic cell infiltration most clearly. Results: The shapes, margins, and enhancement patterns of tumors all significantly differentiated glioblastomas from metastases. Glioblastomas had an irregular shape, ill-defined margins, and a heterogeneous enhancement pattern; on the other hand, metastases had an ovoid or round shape, well-defined margins, and homogeneous enhancement. Metastases had significantly more extensive peritumoral T2 high signal intensity than glioblastomas had. In visual assessment of peritumoral neoplastic cell infiltration using T2-weighted and diffusion-based images, all sequences differed significantly between the two groups. Exponential DWI had the highest sensitivity for the diagnosis of both glioblastoma (100%) and metastasis (70.6%). A combination of exponential DWI and ADC maps was optimal for the depiction of peritumoral neoplastic cell infiltration in glioblastoma. Conclusion: In the differentiation of glioblastoma from solitary metastatic lesions, visual morphologic assessment of tumoral and peritumoral regions using conventional MRI and diffusion-based techniques can also offer diagnostic information.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2002

Purpose : The differential diagnosis between Modic type I degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis sometimes is difficult, because the affected bone marrows in both disease show similar signal intensity on conventional MR imaging. We evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-wighted MR imaging for differential diagnosis between Modic type I degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis. Materials and methods : The spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MR images of eight patients with Modic type I degenerative spines and 14 patients with infectious spondylitis diagnosed by clinical findings or CT-guided biopsies we re analyzed. The diffusion-weighted imaging sequence was based on reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (PSIF). Signal intensity changes of the vertebral bone marrow on conventional spin-echo and diffusion-weighted MR imaging were compared between degenerative spine and infectious spondylitis. Results : On T1-weighte d images, the affeted bone marrow in both disease showed hypointense signals. On T 2-weighted images, all of type I degenerative spine and 11 of infectious spondylitis showed hyperintensity, and three of infectious spondylitis showed heterogeneo us mixed signal intensity. On diffusion-weighted MR images, all of type I degenerative spine were hypointense with peripheral high signal intensity to normal vertebral body, but infectious spondylitis was hyperintense (n = 11) and hypointense (n=3). Conclusion : Diffusion-weighted MR imaging is useful to differentiate Modic type I degenerative spine from infectious spondylitis. On diffusion-weighted images, the high singal intensity of bone marrow suggests infectious spondylitis, whereas the low signal intensity of bone marrow with peripheral focal high signal intensity suggests type I degenerative spine.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.272-276
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• 1996

1948년 Harvard 대학의 Purcell교수와 Stanford 대학의 Bloch교수가 핵자기 공명(Nuclear Magnetic Resonance : NMR) 현상을 발견한 이래로 NMR은 물질의 분자단위에서 화학적, 물리학적 성질을 밝혀내는 탁월한 방법으로 널리 이용되어 왔다. NMR 현상을 이용한 영상촬영법(Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI)은 1970년대초 Lauterber와 Damadian 교수가 처음 영상을 얻을 수 있다는 가능성을 제시한 이후 급속한 발전을 하여 1980년대 초에는 Moore와 Holland에 의해 의학분야에 응용 가능할 정도의 영상이 얻어졌다. 1980년대 중반부터 상용화 되었으며 최근 그 기법도 NMR현상과 연관된 파라미터인 $T_{1}$, $T_{2}$는 물론 혈류의 속도, 자화율, 확산(Diffusion), Perfusion의 영상기법을 비롯해 혈관조영술(MR Angiography), 뇌기능영상(Functional Imaging)등 과거에는 상상도 할 수 없었던 다양한 영상기법 개발되었다. 여기서는 먼저 MRI의 원리를 설명한 후 MRI의 여러 촬영기법들과 그 응용에 관해 설명하겠다.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.99-99
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• 2003

To exhibit our clinical experience of diffusion-weighted (DW) MR imaging for various brain pathologies and to determine its role in characterizing brain pathologies in children. DW images in 177 children (M：F＝96：81, mean age, 4.7 years) with various brain pathologies were retrospectively collected over past 3 years. DW images (b value： 1000 s/mm) were reviewed along with corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Brain pathologies included cystic or solid brain tumor (n = 55), cerebral infarct (n = 32), cerebritis with or without brain abscess (n = 21), metabolic or toxic brain disorder (n = 19), demyelinating disease (n = 16), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (n = 16), intracerebral hemorrhage including traumatic brain lesion (n = 15), and posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy (n = 3). We reviewed whether DW images and ADCmaps contribute to further characterization of brain pathologies by defining a chronological age of lesions, the presence of cytotoxic edema in lesions, and the nature of cystic lesions.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 2012

Anoperineal tuberculosis is a rare extrapulmonary form of the disease and may present as abscess. We report a case of anoperineal tuberculous abscess, which showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images, high signal intensity on T2-weighted images and diffusion restriction on diffusion weighted images.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.81-100
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• 2020

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) has been increasingly used in recent years for the assessment of peripheral neuropathies. Fat suppression T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) have typically been used to provide high contrast MRN. Isotropic 3-dimensional (3D) sequences with fast spin echo, post-processing imaging techniques, and fast imaging methods, among others, allow good visualization of peripheral nerves that have a small diameter, complex anatomy, and oblique course within a reasonable scan time. However, there are still several issues when performing high contrast and high resolution MRN including standard sequence; fat saturation techniques; balance between resolution, field of view, and slice thickness; post-processing techniques; 2D vs. 3D image acquisition; different T2 contrasts between proximal and distal nerves; high T2 signal intensity of adjacent veins or joint fluid; geometric distortion; and appropriate p-values on DWI. The proper understanding of these issues will help novice radiologists evaluate peripheral neuropathies using MRN.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.183-191
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• 2001

Objective: To document the signal characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at evolving stages on diffusion-weighted images (DWI) by comparison with conventional MR images. Materials and Methods: In our retrospective study, 38 patients with ICH underwent a set of imaging sequences that included DWI, T1-and T2-weighted imaging, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). In 33 and 10 patients, respectively, conventional and echo-planar T2^* gradient-echo images were also obtained. According to the time interval between symptom onset and initial MRI, five stages were categorized: hyperacute (n=6); acute (n=7); early subacute (n=7); late subacute (n=10); and chronic (n=8). We investigated the signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of ICH and compared the signal intensities of hematomas at DWI and on conventional MR images. Results: DWI showed that hematomas were hyperintense at the hyperacute and late subacute stages, and hypointense at the acute, early subacute and chronic stages. Invariably, focal hypointensity was observed within a hyperacute hematoma. At the hyperacute, acute and early subacute stages, hyperintense rims that corresponded with edema surrounding the hematoma were present. The mean ADC ratio was 0.73 at the hyperacute stage, 0.72 at the acute stage, 0.70 at the early subacute stage, 0.72 at the late subacute stage, and 2.56 at the chronic stage. Conclusion: DWI showed that the signal intensity of an ICH may be related to both its ADC value and the magnetic susceptibility effect. In patients with acute stroke, an understanding of the characteristic features of ICH seen at DWI can be helpful in both the characterization of intracranial hemorrhagic lesions and the differentiation of hemorrhage from ischemia.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.296-304
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• 2005

Quantitative analysis compare to dynamic characteristic change of the regional cerebral blood volume(rCBV) after development of cerebral fat embolism in cats using perfusion magnetic resonance(MR) Imaging. Twenty cats were used. Linoleic acid (n=11) were injected into the internal carotid artery using microcatheter through the transfemoral approach. Polyvinyl alcohol (Ivalon) (n=9) was injected as a control group. Perfusion MR images were obtained at 30 minutes and 2 hours after embolization, based on T2 and diffusion-weighted images. The data was time-to-signal intensity curve and ${\Delta}R_2^*$ curve were obtained continuously with the aid of home-maid image process algorithm and IDL(interactive data Banguage, USA) softwares. The ratios of rCBV increased significantly at 2 hours compared with those of 30 minutes (P<0.005). In conclusion, cerebral blood flow decreased in cerebral fat embolism immediately after embolization and recovered remarkably in time course. It is thought that clinically informations to dynamic characteristic change of the cerebral hemodynamics to the early finding in cerebral infarction by diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) and perfusion weighted imaging(PWI).

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2011

Purpose : To compare free-breathing and respiratory-triggered diffusion-weighted imaging on 1.5-T MR system in the detection of hepatic lesions. Materials and Methods: This single-institution study was approved by our institutional review board. Forty-seven patients (mean 57.9 year; M:F = 25:22) underwent hepatic MR imaging on 1.5-T MR system using both free-breathing and respiratory-triggered diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at a single examination. Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed respiratory-triggered and free-breathing sets (B50, B400, B800 diffusion weighted images and ADC map) in random order with a time interval of 2 weeks. Liver SNR and lesion-to-liver CNR of DWI were calculated measuring ROI. Results : Total of 62 lesions (53 benign, 9 malignant) that included 32 cysts, 13 hemangiomas, 7 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), 5 eosinophilic infiltration, 2 metastases, 1 eosinophilic abscess, focal nodular hyperplasia, and pseudolipoma of Glisson's capsule were reviewed by two reviewers. Though not reaching statistical significance, the overall lesion sensitivities were increased in respiratory-triggered DWI [reviewer1: reviewer2, 47/62(75.81%):45/62(72.58%)] than free-breathing DWI [44/62(70.97%):41/62(66.13%)]. Especially for smaller than 1 cm hepatic lesions, sensitivity of respiratory-triggered DWI [24/30(80%):21/30(70%)] was superior to free-breathing DWI [17/30(56.7%):15/30(50%)]. The diagnostic accuracy measuring the area under the ROC curve (Az value) of free-breathing and respiratory-triggered DWI was not statistically different. Liver SNR and lesion-to-liver CNR of respiratory-triggered DWI ($87.6{\pm}41.4$, $41.2{\pm}62.5$) were higher than free-breathing DWI ($38.8:{\pm}13.6$, $24.8{\pm}36.8$) (p value < 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Respiratory-triggered diffusion-weighted MR imaging seemed to be better than free-breathing diffusion-weighted MR imaging on 1.5-T MR system for the detection of smaller than 1 cm lesions by providing high SNR and CNR.