• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2014

목적: 확산강조영상 (DW-MRI)과 역동적 조영증강 자기공명영상 (DCE-MRI)에서 도출한 정량적 매개변수들이 서로 연관되어 있는지 알아보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: 치료시작 전 DWI와 DCE-MRI를 시행한 조직학적으로 혹은 임상적으로 진단된 골전이암을 가진 13명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 주 병변의 겉보기 확산계수 (ADC) 그리고 관류지수 중 $K^{trans}$와 $V_e$ 값을 측정하여 Pearson 연관분석을 사용하여 통계적으로 분석하였다. 결과: 15개의 병변 중 11개는 ADC와 $K^{trans}$ 값 간에 유의한 상관관계를 보였다. 이 중 7개의 병변은 음의 연관성을, 그리고 4개는 양의 연관성을 보였다. 9개의 병변은 ADC와 $V_e$ 값 간에 유의한 상관관계를 보였다. 이 중 4개는 음의 연관성을, 그리고 5개는 양의 연관성을 보였다. 결론: 골전이암의 ADC 값과 $K^{trans}$ 값, 혹은 ADC 값과 $V_e$ 값은 일정한 연관성이 없었다.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.57-62
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• 2013

자기공명영상은 많은 장점에도 불구하고 체내에 정형보철이 있는 경우 자화율 차이로 영상왜곡이 발생한다. 스테인리스와 티타늄 시험편을 $65{\times}15{\times}2mm$로 동일하게 제작하여 phantom과 돼지고기에 부착 한 후 자기공명영상과의 관계를 알아보았다. phantom 영상을 통해 영상왜곡의 길이와 돼지 뼈를 통한 신호강도의 변화, 피하조직의 지방억제 정도를 정량적으로 평가 하였다. 스테인리스는 티타늄에 비해 길이 방향으로 4.4배, 높이 방향으로 2.8배 영상왜곡이 크며, 신호강도는 58.5%로 상대적으로 낮았다. 피하조직 지방억제는 Normal의 56.2%에 비해 스테인리스는 16.04%, 티타늄은 54.53%로 나타났다. 실험 결과 자기공명영상의 영상학적 진단가치는 스테인리스 보다 티타늄 금속이 부착 된 경우 더 우수한 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.241-250
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between quantitative magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers, and clinical performances in chronic phase of carbon monoxide intoxication. Materials and Methods: Eighteen magnetic resonance scans and cognitive evaluations were performed, on patients with carbon monoxide intoxication in chronic phase. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratios of affected versus unaffected centrum semiovale, and corpus callosum were obtained. Signal intensity (SI) ratios between affected centrum semiovale, and normal pons in T2-FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images were obtained. The Mini-Mental State Exam, and clinical outcome scores were assessed. Correlation coefficients were calculated, between MRI and clinical markers. Patients were further classified into poor-outcome and good-outcome groups based on clinical performance, and imaging parameters were compared. T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was compared, with that of 18 sex-matched and age-matched controls. Results: T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was significantly higher in the poor-outcome group, than that in the good-outcome group and was strongly inversely correlated, with results from the Mini-Mental State Exam. ADC ratios of centrum semiovale were significantly lower in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group, and were moderately correlated with the Mini-Mental State Exam score. Conclusion: A higher T2-SI and a lower ratio of ADC values in the centrum semiovale, may indicate presence of more severe white matter injury and clinical impairment. T2-SI ratio and ADC values in the centrum semiovale, are useful quantitative imaging biomarkers for correlation with clinical performance in individuals with carbon monoxide intoxication.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.327-333
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• 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) uses strong magnetic field to image the cross-section of human body and has excellent image quality with no risk of radiation exposure. Because of above-mentioned advantages, MRI has been widely used in clinical fields. However, the noise generated in MRI degrades the quality of medical images and has a negative effect on quick and accurate diagnosis. In particular, examining a object with a detailed structure such as brain, image quality degradation becomes a problem for diagnosis. Therefore, in this study, we acquired T2 weighted 3D data of multiple sclerosis disease using BrainWeb simulation program, and used quantitative evaluation factors to find appropriate slice thickness among 1, 3, 5, and 7 mm. Coefficient of variation and contrast to noise ratio were calculated to evaluate the noise level, and root mean square error and peak signal to noise ratio were used to evaluate the similarity with the reference image. As a result, the noise level decreased as the slice thickness increased, while the similarity decreased after 5 mm. In conclusion, as the slice thickness increases, the noise is reduced and the image quality is improved. However, since the edge signal is lost due to overlapped signal, it is considered that selecting appropriate slice thickness is necessary.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.135-149
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• 2022

Purpose: To assess clinically significant imaging findings of malignant intramammary lymph nodes (IMLNs) in breast cancer patients and to evaluate their diagnostic performance in predicting malignant IMLN. Materials and Methods: A total of 110 cases with IMLN of BI-RADS category 3 or more, not typical benign IMLN, in MR of breast cancer patients between January 2016 and January 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. After excluding 33 cases, 77 cases were finally included. Among them, 58 and 19 were confirmed as benign and malignant, respectively. Qualitative and quantitative MR imaging features of the IMLN were retrospectively analyzed. Sizes and final assessment categories of IMLN on MRI, mammography, and ultrasound were reviewed. Diagnostic performances of imaging features on MRI, mammography, and ultrasound were then evaluated. Results: For qualitative MR features, shape, margin, and preserved central hilum were significantly different between benign and malignant groups (P < 0.05). For quantitative MR features, long diameter over 6 mm, short diameter over 4 mm, and cortical thickening over 3 mm showed high sensitivities in predicting malignant IMLNs (89.5%, 94.7%, and 100%, respectively). Size exceeding 1 cm showed high specificity and accuracy in predicting malignant IMLN on MR, mammography, and ultrasound (91.4% and 80.5%; 96.6% and 79.25; 98.3% and 80.5%, respectively). Conclusion: Various MR imaging features and size can be helpful for predicting malignant IMLN in breast cancer patients.

• 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.

• 한국콘텐츠학회논문지
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• 제3권3호
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• pp.85-97
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• 2003

MRI, CT, MRI, PET, SPECT, fMRI 등과 같은 단층의료영상은 병원에서 환자의 진단 및 치료 임상적 연구에서 폭넓게 사용되고 있다. 동일한 대상에 대하여 서로 다른 정보를 얻거나 비교를 하기 위하여 서로 다른 영상양식으로 촬영하거나 시간적 간격을 두고 단층영상을 획득하는 경우가 많다. 3차원 영상정합은 비교하고자 하는 두 영상을 하나의 3차원 좌표 공간으로 지도화하는 것이며, 크게 마커기반 정합과 특징기반 정합으로 분류된다. 뇌 영상의 3차원 정합은 뇌 수술부위 선정, 뇌 기능 연구, 뇌 지도화 연구 등에서 시각적 분석과 정량적 분석에서 중요한 위치를 차지한다. 본 논문에서는 뇌의 단층영상에 대하여 흔히 사용되고 있는 3차원 정합인 마커기반 정합법과 특징기반 정합법에 대하여 소개하고 이에 대한 비교 고찰을 행하고자 한다.

• 대한방사성의약품학회지
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• 제1권2호
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• pp.130-136
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• 2015

We evaluate the influence of MR contrast agent on positron emission tomography (PET) image using phantom, animal and human studies. Phantom consisted of 15 solutions with the mixture of various concentrations of Gd-based MR contrast agent and fixed activity of [$^{18}F$]FDG. Animal study was performed using rabbit and two kinds of MR contrast agents. After injecting contrast agent, CT or MRI scanning was performed at 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 minutes. PET image was obtained using clinical PET/CT scan, and attenuation correction was performed using the all CT images. The values of HU, PET activity and MRI intensity were obtained from ROIs in each phantom and organ regions. In clinical study, patients (n=20) with breast cancer underwent sequential acquisitions of early [$^{18}F$]FDG PET/CT, MRI and delayed PET/CT. In phantom study, as the concentration increased, the CT attenuation and PET activity also increased. However, there was no relationship between the PET activity and the concentration in the clinical dose range of contrast agent. In animal study, change of PET activity was not significant at all time point of CT scan both MR contrast agents. There was no significant change of HU between early and delayed CT, except for kidney. Early and delayed SUV in tumor and liver showed significant increase and decrease, respectively (P<0.05). Under the condition of most clinical study (< 0.2 mM), MR contrast agent did not influence on PET image quantitation.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제14권7호
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• pp.957-964
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• 2020

본 연구는 현재 사용되고 있는 가장 빠른 Pulse Sequence 중 하나인 EPI기법과 T2 FLAIR 기법 두 가지를 함께 적용하여 사용하는 EPI-FLAIR기법을 급성 허혈성 뇌경색 환자에게 적용하여, EPI-FLAIR 기법의 진단적 유용성에 대하여 평가하였다. 연구 결과 정성적, 정량적 분석 결과 EPI-FLAIR 기법이 T2 FLAIR 기법과 비교 시 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 있음을 알 수 있었으며, 결론적으로 EPI-FLAIR 기법은 화질의 저하 없이 영상획득시간을 줄일 수 있어 허혈성 급성 뇌경색 및 뇌출혈, 신경학적 결핍, 경색 시기 진단이 필요한 환자의 여러 가지 뇌 병변 평가와 함께 비협조적인 환자들에게 발생하는 Motion Artifact를 줄일 수 있는 장점 있어 T2 FLAIR와 비교하여 충분한 진단적 가치가 있다고 사료된다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.37-49
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• 2018

Purpose: The effect of global inhomogeneity on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) was investigated. A technique referred to as Simultaneous Unwrapping Phase with Error Recovery from inhomogeneity (SUPER) is suggested as a preprocessing to QSM to remove global field inhomogeneity-induced phase by polynomial fitting. Materials and Methods: The effect of global inhomogeneity on QSM was investigated by numerical simulations. Three types of global inhomogeneity were added to the tissue susceptibility phase, and the root mean square error (RMSE) in the susceptibility map was evaluated. In-vivo QSM imaging with volunteers was carried out for 3.0T and 7.0T MRI systems to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method. Results: The SUPER technique removed harmonic and non-harmonic global phases. Previously only the harmonic phase was removed by the background phase removal method. The global phase contained a non-harmonic phase due to various experimental and physiological causes, which degraded a susceptibility map. The RMSE in the susceptibility map increased under the influence of global inhomogeneity; while the error was consistent, irrespective of the global inhomogeneity, if the inhomogeneity was corrected by the SUPER technique. In-vivo QSM imaging with volunteers at 3.0T and 7.0T MRI systems showed better definition in small vascular structures and reduced fluctuation and non-uniformity in the frontal lobes, where field inhomogeneity was more severe. Conclusion: Correcting global inhomogeneity using the SUPER technique is an effective way to obtain an accurate susceptibility map on QSM method. Since the susceptibility variations are small quantities in the brain tissue, correction of the inhomogeneity is an essential element for obtaining an accurate QSM.