• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.493-497
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• 2012

This study was conducted to retrospectively evaluate the pattern of contrast enhancement with SonoVue on gray-scale ultrasonography of hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML). Imaging features of 33 pathologically proven HAML lesions in 33 patients who underwent baseline ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) were assessed retrospectively. All lesions were enhanced in the arterial phase and showed whole-tumor filling in. Thirty-two of 33 (97%) lesions showed early positive enhancement in the arterial phase. Twenty-three of these exhibited isoechoic or hyperechoic features in the portal phase. HAML demonstrate characteristic manifestations with SonoVue-enhanced real-time gray-scale ultrasonography.

• 순환기질환의공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.28-36
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• 2006

The x-ray PIV method was improved for measuring quantitative velocity fields of real blood flows using a coherent synchrotron x-ray source. Without using any contrast media or seeding particles, this method can visualize flow pattern of blood by enhancing the phase-contrast and interference characteristics of blood cells based on a synchrotron x-ray imaging mechanism. The enhanced x-ray images were achieved by optimizing the sample-to-scintillator distance, the sample thickness, and hematocrit. The quantitative velocity fields of blood flows inside opaque tubes were obtained by applying a 2-frame PIV algorithm to the x-ray images of the blood flows. The measured velocity field data show typical features of blood flows such as the yield stress effect. The non-Newtonian flow characteristics of blood flows were analyzed using the x-ray PIV method and the experimental results were compared with hemodynamic models.

• International Journal of Vascular Biomedical Engineering
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

The x-ray PIV method was improved for measuring quantitative velocity fields of real blood flows using a coherent synchrotron x-ray source. Without using any contrast media or seeding particles, this method can visualize flow pattern of blood by enhancing the phase-contrast and interference characteristics of blood cells based on a synchrotron x-ray imaging mechanism. The enhanced x-ray images were achieved by optimizing the sample-to-scintillator distance, the sample thickness, and hematocrit. The quantitative velocity fields of blood flows inside opaque tubes were obtained by applying a 2-frame PIV algorithm to the x-ray images of the blood flows. The measured velocity field data show typical features of blood flows such as the yield stress effect. The non-Newtonian flow characteristics of blood flows were analyzed using the x-ray PIV method and the experimental results were compared with hemodynamic models.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1105-1110
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• 2009

To assess the clinical value of time resolved imaging of contrast kinetics(TRICKS) MRA by comparison with conventional time of flight(TOF) MR angiography. Both TOF-MRA and TRICKS-MRA were performed in 17 patients with cerebrovascular disease and in 6 patients with brain tumor. Among 17 cerebraovascular patients, digital subtraction angiography(DSA) data were also obtained in 11 patients. TOF-MRA showed good spatial resolution but short in temporal resolution. Although TRICKS-MRA showed somewhat low spatial resolution, it showed superior temporal resolution by distinguishing vessel and tumor in all patients. Also, from the analysis of vessel-tumor relationship, TRICKS-MRA showed better performance than TOF-MRA. TRICKS-MRA makes it possible to image arterial, capillary and venous phase sequentially with very speedy manner and therefore, the clinical use of this method is highly suggestive for future use.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.354-365
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and its role as a second-line imaging modality after gadoxetate-enhanced MRI (Gd-EOB-MRI) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among at risk observations. Materials and Methods: We prospectively enrolled participants at risk of HCC with treatment-naïve solid hepatic observations (≥ 1 cm) of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LR)-3/4/5/M during surveillance and performed Gd-EOB-MRI. A total of one hundred and three participants with 103 hepatic observations (mean size, 28.2 ± 24.5 mm; HCCs [n = 79], non-HCC malignancies [n = 15], benign [n = 9]; diagnosed by pathology [n = 57], or noninvasive method [n = 46]) were included in this study. The participants underwent CEUS with sulfur hexafluoride. Arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) and washout on Gd-EOB-MRI and CEUS were evaluated. The distinctive washout in CEUS was defined as mild washout 60 seconds after contrast injection. The diagnostic ability of Gd-EOB-MRI and of CEUS as a second-line modality for HCC were determined according to the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the Korean Liver Cancer Association and National Cancer Center (KLCA-NCC) guidelines. The diagnostic abilities of both imaging modalities were compared using the McNemar's test. Results: The sensitivity of CEUS (60.8%) was lower than that of Gd-EOB-MRI (72.2%, p = 0.06 by EASL; 86.1%, p < 0.01 by KLCA-NCC); however, the specificity was 100%. By performing CEUS on the inconclusive observations in Gd-EOB-MRI, HCCs without APHE (n = 10) or washout (n = 12) on Gd-EOB-MRI further presented APHE (80.0%, 8/10) or distinctive washout (66.7%, 8/12) on CEUS, and more HCCs were diagnosed than with Gd-EOB-MRI alone (sensitivity: 72.2% vs. 83.5% by EASL, p < 0.01; 86.1% vs. 91.1% by KCLA-NCC, p = 0.04). There were no false-positive cases for HCC on CEUS. Conclusion: The addition of CEUS to Gd-EOB-MRI as a second-line diagnostic modality increases the frequency of HCC diagnosis without changing the specificities.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.33-39
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• 2003

Purpose : Be aware of clinical possibilities on image quality by comparison of contrast-enhanced dynamic CT and MR imaging applied of MIP technique after the experimentally induced clonorchasis infection in dogs. Materials and Method : Twenty mongrel dogs prepared in zoo-laboratory were followed up with serial CT scans and MR imaging for 13 weeks after the experimental infection in liver. Two-phase helical CT was acquired in the supine position with the following scanning parameters. After the injection of contrast material, the arterial phase was initiated using a bolus-racking method. The portal phase scan was started 15 seconds after the arterial phase scan. CT protocol was determined after single level dynamic scans. MR imaging used the CP body coil and images get a 2D image using HASTE, FLASH, TSE pulse sequence. Bile duct MR imaging were obtained in three plans. Then each image was post processed by using target MIP algorithm. Two experimentation above, as a method of evaluation, one pathologist, three radiologist and five radiological technologist were analyzed visually for evaluation of following findings, enhancement of the bile duct wall, dilatation of bile duct tip, liver parenchyma, background suppression. Results : Five dogs was died of a disease after the infection, the rest one else shows the chronic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct with CT and MR imaging. Contrast administration of CT shows the contrast-enhanced of the bile duct walls with live parenchyma. MR imaging calculated of CNR and CR from pulse sequence for comparative evaluation and shows the pattern of the intrahepatic bile duct, dilatation of bile duct tip using MIP technique. CNR of the clonorchiasis, HASTE was $16{\pm}0.83$, TSE $7.06{\pm}3.0$, FLASH $1.19{\pm}0.2$ and CR, HASTE was 73.3%, TSE 62.3%, FLASH 6.4%. Conclusion : CT and MR imaging is very usefulness in diagnosis of dog clonorchiasis.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2012

To compare the accuracy of breath-hold magnetic resonance imaging sequences to establish the most effective superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced sequence for detection of hepatic metastases. A total of 100 patients(50men and 50women, mean age: 60years) with liver disease(including malignant and benign liver lesions) were investigated at 3.0T machine (GE, General Electric Medical System, Excite HD) with 8Ch body coil. Pulse sequence for MR imaging decided to the FS-T2-FSE-RT(TR/TE/Thick./Freq./Phase=12857ms/100ms/7mm/512/384), MGRE(TR/TE/Thick./Freq./Phase=100ms/9.7ms/7mm/384/288), in-out of phase echo(TR/$TE_1$, $TE_2$/Thick./Freq./Phase=140ms/2.4, 5.8ms/7mm/352/300), Images obtained before the injection of SPIO. Six sequences were optimized for lesion detection: FS-T2-FSE-RT, multigradient recalled echo data image(MGRE), T2-weighted MGRE with an 9.7msec echo time. Images were reviewed independently by five blinded observers. The accuracy of each sequence was measured by using picture archiving communication system analysis. All results were correlated with findings at multidectator computed tomography examination. Differences between the mean results of the six observers were measured by using paired student t-test analysis. Postcontrast T2-weighted MGRE sequences were the most accurate and were significantly superior to postcontrast FS-T2-FSE-RT, T2-weighted MGRE, in-out of phase MR sequences(p < .05). For all lesions that were malignant or smaller than 1 cm, respectively, contrast to noise ratio of pre and postcontrast sequences were -1and -0.3 for T2-weighted FSE, 0.53 and 4.5 in-out of phase, 7, 7.08, 5.08, 3.32, 1.7, 1.16, 0.79, 0.68 for GRE with 2.9, 7.5, 12.1, 16.6, 21.2, 25.8, 30.4, 35.0 TE values. Breath-hold various TE precontrast sequences offer improvement in sensitivity compared with fixed multigradient recalled echo sequences alone.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2001

Purpose : $T_2$-weighted half courier Echo Planar Imaging (T2HEPI) method is proposed to reduce measurement time of existing EPI by a factor of 2. In addition, high $T_2$ contrast is obtained for clinical applications. High resolution single-shot EPI images with $T_2$ contrast are obtained with $128{\times}128$ matrix size by the proposed method. Materials and methods : In order to reduce measurement time in EPI, half courier space is measured, and rest of half courier data is obtained by conjugate symmetric filling. Thus high resolution single shot EPI image with $128{\times}128$ matrix size is obtained with 64 echoes. By the arrangement of phase encoding gradients, high $T_2$ weighted images are obtained. The acquired data in k-space are shifted if there exists residual gradient field due to eddy current along phase encoding gradient, which results in a serious problem in the reconstructed image. The residual field is estimated by the correlation coefficient between the echo signal for dc and the corresponding reference data acquired during the pre-scan. Once the residual gradient field is properly estimated, it can be removed by the adjustment of initial phase encoding gradient field between $70^{\circ}$ and $180^{\circ}$ rf pulses. Results : The suggested T2EPl is implemented in a 1.0 Tela whole body MRI system. Experiments are done with the effective echo times of 72ms and 96ms with single shot acquisitions. High resolution($128{\times}128$) volunteer head images with high $T_2$ contrast are obtained in a single scan by the proposed method. Conclusion : Using the half courier technique, higher resolution EPI images are obtained with matrix size of $128{\times}128$ in a single scan. Furthermore $T_2$ contrast is controlled by the effective echo time. Since the suggested method can be implemented by software alone (pulse sequence and corresponding tuning and reconstruction algorithms) without addition of special hardware, it can be widely used in existing MRI systems.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.1693-1696
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• 2004

Synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor non-invasively the refilling process of water inside the xylem vessels in bamboo leaves. The consecutive phase-contrast X-ray images clearly show both plant anatomy and the transport of water inside the xylem vessels. Traces of water-rise, vapor bubbles and variations of contact angle between the water front and the xylem wall were measured in real time. During the refilling process, air bubbles are removed when the rising water front halts at a vessel end for a while. Subsequently, it starts rising again at a higher velocity than the normal refilling speed. Repeated cavitation seems to deteriorate the refilling ability in xylem vessels. In dark environment, the water refilling process in xylem vessels is facilitated more effectively than in bright illuminated conditions. Finally, X-ray micro-imaging was famed to be a powerful, high resolution, real time imaging tool to investigate the water refilling process in xylem vessels.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.179-184
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect according to the NEX, VENC, targeted cardiac phases on the velocity measurement of 4D phase-contrast MRI. Materials and Methods: The abdominal aortic phantom was made to experiment. The working fluid was mixed with water and glycerin to mimic the density and viscosity of human blood. The inlet velocity was Reynolds number 2000. The experimental conditions were NEX 1 and 4, VENC 102 cm/s and 200 cm/s, and 10 and 15 targeted cardiac phases, respectively. The average flow rate, average velocity, maximum velocity, and cross-section area were measured. Results: As a result of the case-by-case comparison, the error rate was less than 5%. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Conclusion: It is expected that this result will be useful for acquiring blood flow information in clinical practice.