• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2015

Purpose: Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is a new magnetic resonance technique that can exploit the magnetic susceptibility differences of various tissues. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) looks a dark blooming on the magnitude images of SWI. However, the pattern of ICH on phase images is not well known. The purpose of this study is to characterize hemorrhagic lesions on the phase images of SWI. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with ICH, who underwent both SWI and precontrast CT, between 2012 and 2013 (n = 95). An SWI was taken, using the 3-tesla system. A phase map was generated after postprocessing. Cases with an intracranial hemorrhage were reviewed by an experienced neuroradiologist and a trainee radiologist, with 10 years and 3 years of experience, respectively. The types and stages of the hemorrhages were determined in correlation with the precontrast CT, the T1- and T2-weighted images, and the FLAIR images. The size of the hemorrhage was measured by a one- directional axis on a magnitude image of SWI. The phase values of the ICH were qualitatively evaluated: hypo-, iso-, and hyper-intensity. We summarized the imaging features of the intracranial hemorrhage on the phase map of the SWI. Results: Four types of hemorrhage are observed: subdural and epidural; subarachnoid; parenchymal hemorrhage; and microbleed. The stages of the ICH were classified into 4 groups: acute (n = 34); early subacute (n = 11); late subacute (n = 15); chronic (n = 8); stage-unknown microbleeds (n = 27). The acute and early subacute hemorrhage showed heterogeneous mixed hyper-, iso-, and hypo-signal intensity; the late subacute hemorrhage showed homogeneous hyper-intensity, and the chronic hemorrhage showed a shrunken iso-signal intensity with the hyper-signal rim. All acute subarachnoid hemorrhages showed a homogeneous hyper-signal intensity. All parenchymal hemorrhages (> 3 mm) showed a dipole artifact on the phase images; however, microbleeds of less than 3 mm showed no dipole artifact. Larger hematomas showed a heterogeneous mixture of hyper-, iso-, and hypo-signal intensities. Conclusion: The pattern of the phase value of the SWI showed difference, according to the type, stage, and size.

• 디지털콘텐츠학회 논문지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.275-282
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• 2013

의료 영상처리 분야에서의 일반적인 객체 인식 방법은 픽셀들의 밝기 정보, 형태 정보, 패턴 정보 등 다양한 컴퓨팅 처리 방법으로 수행되어 진다. 그러나 컴퓨팅 방법에 사용되는 다양한 정보들이 의미가 없을 경우 객체인식에 많은 제약이 따르게 된다. 따라서 본 논문은 이러한 컴퓨팅 처리의 근본적인 제약사항을 해결하고자, MR 의료 영상에서의 물리적인 이론에 기반한 영상처리 방법을 전처리에 활용하고자 한다. 제안된 방법은 대비 개선 작업을 주된 목적으로 하는 SWI(Susceptibility Weighted Imaging) 처리를 통해 의미 있는 전처리 작업을 수행하고, 이에 대한 결과를 텍스처 분석을 통해 MR 뇌 영상의 회백질을 효과적으로 검출하는 과정으로 구성된다. 실험결과 제안 방법은 평균 영역차이가 5.2%로 기존의 대표적인 영역분할 방법에 비해 보다 효율적임을 증명하였다.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1993년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.21-24
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• 1993

The experimental results of visual stimulation with the tailored RF pulse are reported. Tailored RF pulse is used for the susceptibility effect imaging. Around 25% signal change of visual cortex area is detected during photic stimulation. Interestingly, with the tailored RF pulse, the signal intensity of visual cortex is deceased during photic stimulation. It is, however, increased with normal $T_2$ weighted imaging. The comparison between normal $T_2$ weighted imaging and the tailored RF pulse imaging are performed with 4T NMR system and the results with human volunteer are also presented.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.662-670
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• 2019

Objective: A developmental venous anomaly (DVA) is a vascular malformation of ambiguous clinical significance. We aimed to quantify the susceptibility of draining veins (χ_vein) in DVA and determine its significance with respect to oxygen metabolism using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). Materials and Methods: Brain magnetic resonance imaging of 27 consecutive patients with incidentally detected DVAs were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the presence of abnormal hyperintensity on T2-weighted images (T2WI) in the brain parenchyma adjacent to DVA, the patients were grouped into edema (E+, n = 9) and non-edema (E-, n = 18) groups. A 3T MR scanner was used to obtain fully flow-compensated gradient echo images for susceptibility-weighted imaging with source images used for QSM processing. The χ_vein was measured semi-automatically using QSM. The normalized χ_vein was also estimated. Clinical and MR measurements were compared between the E+ and E- groups using Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations between the χ_vein and area of hyperintensity on T2WI and between χ_vein and diameter of the collecting veins were assessed. The correlation coefficient was also calculated using normalized veins. Results: The DVAs of the E+ group had significantly higher χ_vein (196.5 ± 27.9 vs. 167.7 ± 33.6, p = 0.036) and larger diameter of the draining veins (p = 0.006), and patients were older (p = 0.006) than those in the E- group. The χ_vein was also linearly correlated with the hyperintense area on T2WI (r = 0.633, 95% confidence interval 0.333-0.817, p < 0.001). Conclusion: DVAs with abnormal hyperintensity on T2WI have higher susceptibility values for draining veins, indicating an increased oxygen extraction fraction that might be associated with venous congestion.

• 대한자기공명의과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한자기공명의과학회 2003년도 제8차 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.37-37
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• 2003

To assess the merits and demerits of postcontrast fat-suppressed (FS) brain MR imaging in children in the evaluation of various enhancing lesions, compared with postcontrast conventional or Magnetization Transfer (MT) imaging. 대상 및 방법： We reviewed patients with enhancing lesion on brain MR imaging who underwent both FS imaging and one of conventional or MT imaging as a postcontrast T1-weighted brain MR imaging. Inclusion criteria of our study were as follows： MR studies should be peformed within one-year interval and showed no significant interval change of imaging findings. Thirty-four patients (21 male, 13 female; mean age, 8 years) with 43 enhancing lesions (19 intra-axial, 19 extra-axial, and 5 orbital location) were included in this study, Twenty-one pairs of FS and conventional imaging, and 15 pairs of FS and MT imaging were available. Two radiologists visually assessed the lesion conspicuity and the presence of flow or susceptibility artifacts in a total of 36 pairs of MR imaging by consensus. For 21 measurable lesions (19 pairs of FS and conventional imaging, 5 pairs of FS and MR imaging), contrast ratio between the lesion and the normal brain( ［SIlesion-SIwater］/[SInormal brain-SIwater]) were calculated and compared.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.38-45
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• 2020

Background: Differentiation of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) schwannoma from meningioma is often a difficult process to identify. Purpose: To identify imaging features for distinguishing CPA schwannoma from meningioma and to investigate the usefulness of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in differentiating them. Materials and Methods: Between March 2010 and January 2015, this study pathologically confirmed 11 meningiomas and 20 schwannomas involving CPA with preoperative SWI were retrospectively reviewed. Generally, the following MRI features were evaluated: 1) maximal diameter on axial image, 2) angle between tumor border and adjacent petrous bone, 3) presence of intratumoral dark signal intensity on SWI, 4) tumor consistency, 5) blood-fluid level, 6) involvement of internal auditory canal (IAC), 7) dural tail, and 8) involvement of adjacent intracranial space. On CT, 1) presence of dilatation of IAC, 2) intratumoral calcification, and 3) adjacent hyperostosis were evaluated. All features were compared using Chi-squared tests and Fisher's exact tests. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify imaging features that differentiate both tumors. Results: The results noted that schwannomas more frequently demonstrated dark spots on SWI (P = 0.025), cystic consistency (P = 0.034), and globular angle (P = 0.008); schwannomas showed more dilatation of internal auditory meatus and lack of calcification (P = 0.008 and P = 0.02, respectively). However, it was shown that dural tail was more common in meningiomas (P < 0.007). In general, dark spots on SWI and dural tail remained significant in multivariate analysis (P = 0.037 and P = 0.012, respectively). In this case, the combination of two features showed a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 100% respectively, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9. Conclusion: In conclusion, dark spots on SWI were found to be helpful in differentiating CPA schwannoma from meningioma. It is noted that combining dural tail with dark spots on SWI yielded strong diagnostic value in differentiating both tumors.

• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.31-38
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• 2008

0.32 T 자기공명영상시스템에서 선주사영상기법(line scan imaging)을 이용한 확산강조영상(diffusion weighted imaging; DWI) 펄스열(pulse sequence)을 개발하였다. 선주사영상은 단면선택 경사자장과 함께 90도 펄스를 가하여 단면을 선택한 후 y 방향으로 경사자장을 가한 후 180도 라디오파 펄스를 가하여 단면영상의 y-방향 픽셀크기와 같은 너비의 x축에 평행한 띠를 따라 에코가 발생하게 한 뒤 x-방향으로 주파수부호화해서 1차원 k-공간 데이터를 획득하며 이를 1차원 푸리에변환하여 영상을 재구성하였다. 또한 선주사확산강조영상(line scan diffusion weighted image)을 위해서 한 쌍의 사다리꼴모양의 경사자장을 선주사영상기법의 180도 펄스 전후에 대칭으로 배치하였으며 사용된 확산경사자장기울기의 최대값은 G = 15 mT/m 이었고 최대 b 값은 $301.50s/mm^2$이었다. 본 연구에서 개발된 선주사확산강조펄스열을 이용하여 0.32 T 자기공명영상 장비에서 트리아실글리세롤 팬텀(triacylglycerol, TAG) 및 염화나트륨 수용액 (NaCl = 0.1w/v%) 팬텀 영상을 획득하였다. 또한 1.5 T 자기공명영상시스템에서 단일여기에코평면영상화(single shot echo planar imaging)로 동일한 팬텀의 확산강조영상을 구하였다. 선주사확산강조영상은 가장 널리 이용되고 있는 에코평면영상을 이용한 확산강조영상과 비교하여 자화율차이에 의한 영상왜곡이나 화학이동에 의한 허상들이 없음을 확인하였다. 특히 선주사확산강조영상에서 측정한 염화나트륨 수용액 팬텀의 확산계수($963.90{\pm}79.83{\times}10^{-6}mm^2/s$)는 1.5 T에서 계산된 확산계수($956.77{\pm}4.12{\times}10^{-6}mm^2/s$)와 오차범위 내에서 일치하였다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.209-217
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• 2018

Purpose: The objective of this study was to obtain improved susceptibility weighted images (SWI) of the cervical spinal cord using respiratory-induced artifact compensation. Materials and Methods: The artifact from $B_0$ fluctuations by respiration could be compensated using a double navigator echo approach. The two navigators were inserted in an SWI sequence before and after the image readouts. The $B_0$ fluctuation was measured by each navigator echoes, and the inverse of the fluctuation was applied to eliminate the artifact from fluctuation. The degree of compensation was quantified using a quality index (QI) term for compensated imaging using each navigator. Also, the effect of compensation was analyzed according to the position of the spinal cord using QI values. Results: Compensation using navigator echo gave the improved visualization of SWI in cervical spinal cord compared to non-compensated images. Before compensation, images were influenced by artificial noise from motion in both the superior (QI = 0.031) and inferior (QI = 0.043) regions. In most parts of the superior regions, the second navigator resulted in better quality (QI = 0.024, P < 0.01) compared to the first navigator, but in the inferior regions the first navigator showed better quality (QI = 0.033, P < 0.01) after correction. Conclusion: Motion compensation using a double navigator method can increase the improvement of the SWI in the cervical spinal cord. The proposed method makes SWI a useful tool for the diagnosis of spinal cord injury by reducing respiratory-induced artifact.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.267-276
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• 2024

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of susceptibility map-weighted imaging (SMwI) taken in different acquisition planes for discriminating patients with neurodegenerative parkinsonism from those without. Materials and Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-institution study enrolled consecutive patients who visited movement disorder clinics and underwent brain MRI and ¹⁸F-FP-CIT PET between September 2021 and December 2021. SMwI images were acquired in both the oblique (perpendicular to the midbrain) and the anterior commissure-posterior commissure (AC-PC) planes. Hyperintensity in the substantia nigra was determined by two neuroradiologists. ¹⁸F-FP-CIT PET was used as the reference standard. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using Cohen;s kappa coefficient. The diagnostic performance of SMwI in the two planes was analyzed separately for the right and left substantia nigra. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations was applied to compare the diagnostic performance of the two planes. Results: In total, 194 patients were included, of whom 105 and 103 had positive results on ¹⁸F-FP-CIT PET in the left and right substantia nigra, respectively. Good inter-rater agreement in the oblique (κ = 0.772/0.658 for left/right) and AC-PC planes (0.730/0.741 for left/right) was confirmed. The pooled sensitivities for two readers were 86.4% (178/206, left) and 83.3% (175/210, right) in the oblique plane and 87.4% (180/206, left) and 87.6% (184/210, right) in the AC-PC plane. The pooled specificities for two readers were 83.5% (152/182, left) and 82.0% (146/178, right) in the oblique plane, and 83.5% (152/182, left) and 86.0% (153/178, right) in the AC-PC plane. There were no significant differences in the diagnostic performance between the two planes (P > 0.05). Conclusion: There are no significant difference in the diagnostic performance of SMwI performed in the oblique and AC-PC plane in discriminating patients with parkinsonism from those without. This finding affirms that each institution may choose the imaging plane for SMwI according to their clinical settings.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권1호
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• pp.99-115
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• 2021

자기공명영상 기술의 개발에 따라 다양한 종류의 시퀀스가 개발되어 방사선 진단에 큰 도움이 되었다. 다양한 자기공명영상 시퀀스 중에서 자기화율 강조 영상은 고 공간 분해능 3차원 경사 에코 시퀀스를 발전시킨 것으로 국소 자기장 왜곡에 의한 디옥시헤모글로빈, 페리틴, 헤모시데린 및 골, 광물 검출에 매우 민감하다. 이러한 영상 특징으로 인해 자기화율 강조 영상은 다양한 신경 장애의 진단과 치료에 사용되어 왔으며, 영상 화질이 향상되어 방사선 전문의에게 보다 유용한 정보를 제공할 수 있게 되었다. 다양한 신경 장애에서 발생할 수 있는 자기화율 강조 영상에 나타날 수 있는 다양한 신호의 원리를 설명하고, 독특한 영상의학적 특징을 가진 질환 혹은 물질에 대해 임상적 또는 병리학적으로 진단된 환자들에 관하여 각각의 질병에 맞추어 조사하였다. 또한 자기화율 강조 영상에서 각각의 신경 장애에서 보일 수 있는 영상의학적 특징에 대해 질환의 전반적인 정보를 함께 요약하여 정리하였다. 뇌 실질 및 주변 조직에 생기는 다양한 신경계 질환들은 자기화율 강조 영상에서 뚜렷하게 구분되는 다양한 영상학적 특징을 보인다. 이에 의해 자기화율 강조 영상은 다양한 보조적 정보를 통해 적절한 진단에 도움을 준다.