• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.131-134
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• 2018

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is well known for detecting the presence of hemorrhagic transformation, microbleeds and the susceptibility of vessel signs in acute ischemic stroke. But in some cases, it can provide the tissue perfusion state as well. We describe a case of a patient with hyperacute ischemic infarction that had a slightly hypodense, patchy lesion at the left thalamus on the initial SWI, with a left proximal posterior cerebral artery occlusion on a magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and delayed time-to-peak on an MR perfusion performed two hours after symptom onset. No obvious abnormal signals at any intensity were found on the initial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). On a follow-up MR image (MRI), an acute ischemic infarction was seen on DWI, which is the same location as the lesion on SWI. The hypointensity on the initial SWI reflects the susceptibility artifact caused by an increased deoxyhemoglobin in the affected tissue and vessels, which reflects the hypoperfusion state due to decreasing arterial flow. It precedes the signal change on DWI that reflects a cytotoxic edema. This case highlights that, in some hyperacute stages of ischemic stroke, hypointensity on an SWI may be a finding before the hyperintensity is seen on a DWI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.146-152
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associated brain parenchymal abnormalities of developmental venous anomalies (DVA) with susceptibility-weighted image (SWI). Materials and Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 2356 patients underwent brain MR examinations with contrast enhancement. We retrospectively reviewed their MR examinations and data were collected as per the following criteria: incidence, locations, and associated parenchymal signal abnormalities of DVAs on T2-weighted image, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), and SWI. Contrast enhanced T1-weighted image was used to diagnose DVA. Results: Of the 2356 patients examined, 57 DVAs were detected in 57 patients (2.4%); 47 (82.4%) were in either lobe of the supratentorial brain, 9 (15.7%) were in the cerebellum, and 1 (1.7%) was in the pons. Of the 57 DVAs identified, 20 (35.1%) had associated parenchymal abnormalities in the drainage area. Among the 20 DVAs which had associated parenchymal abnormalities, 13 showed hemorrhagic foci on SWI, and 7 demonstrated only increased parenchymal signal abnormalities on T2-weighted and FLAIR images. In 5 of the 13 patients (38.5%) who had hemorrhagic foci, the hemorrhagic lesions were demonstrated only on SWI. Conclusion: The overall incidence of DVAs was 2.4%. Parenchymal abnormalities were associated with DVAs in 35.1% of the cases. On SWI, hemorrhage was detected in 22.8% of DVAs. Thus, we conclude that SWI might give a potential for understanding of the pathophysiology of parenchymal abnormalities in DVAs.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.105-113
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• 2016

Purpose: Susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on gradient echo image, which is caused by MR signal loss due to arterial thrombosis, has been reported in acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. However, the reported sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of SVS have been variable. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a newly developed MR sequence. Recent studies have found that SWI may be useful in the field of cerebrovascular diseases, especially for detecting the presence of prominent veins, microbleeds and the SVS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of SWI for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients (37 males, 32 females; 46-89 years old [mean, 69.1]) with acute stroke involving the MCA territory underwent MR imaging within 6 hours after the symptom onset. MR examination included T2, FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery), DWI, SWI, PWI (perfusion-weighted imaging), contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) and contrast-enhanced T1. Of these patients, 28 patients also underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within 2 hours after MR examination. Presence or absence of SVS on SWI was assessed without knowledge of clinical, DSA and other MR imaging findings. Results: On MRA or DSA, 34 patients (49.3%) showed MCA occlusion. Of these patients, SVS was detected in 30 (88.2%) on SWI. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of SWI were 88.2%, 97.1%, 96.8%, 89.5% and 92.8%, respectively. Conclusion: SWI was sensitive, specific and accurate for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion.

• 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.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.120-132
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• 2014

목적: 원발성 뇌종양환자에서 방사선 치료 후 추적 자기공명영상에서 새로 생긴 조영증강 뇌병변에 대해 종양재발과 지연성 방사선치료연관변화의 감별에 있어서 확산강조영상 (DWI), 역동적조영관류영상 (DSC PWI), 자화율강조영상 (SWI)의 진단적 가치를 서로 비교하고자 한다. 대상과 방법: 원발성 뇌종양으로 이전에 방사선치료를 받았던 환자 중, 방사선치료 종료 최소 1년 이후에 추적 자기공명영상에서 새롭게 조영증강 되는 병변을 가진 24명의 환자를 대상으로 연구하였다. 새롭게 조영증강 되는 병변은 14명의 종양재발과 10명의 방사선치료연관변화로 확인되었다. 종양재발과 방사선치료연관변화 두 환자 군의 여러변수들은 비대응표본 t 검정을 실시하여 비교 분석하였다. 다중변수 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 이용하여 DWI, DSC PWI, SWI 각 영상의 정량 분석을 통해 얻은 apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), normalized cerebral blood volume (nCBV), proportion of dark signal intensity (proSWI) 값 중 두 군을 감별해 내는 최상의 예측 변수 (best predictor)를 정하였다. 이후 수신자 조작 특성 (Receiver operating characteristics, ROC) 분석을 통하여 best predictor의 정확도, 민감도, 특이도를 평가하였다. 결과: 방사선치료연관변화 군과 비교하여 종양재발 군에서 평균 nCBV 값이 유의하게 높았고 (P=.004), 평균 proSWI 값은 유의하게 낮았다 (P<.001). 반면, 평균 ADC 값은 두 군간에 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 다중변수 로지스틱 회귀 분석 결과 proSWI 값만이 통계적으로 유의한, 감별 가능한 독립변수였으며, 민감도, 특이도, 정확도는 각각 78.6% (11 of 14), 100% (10 of 10), 87.5% (21 of 24) 였다. 결론: 뇌종양 환자에서 방사선치료 종료 최소 1년 이후에 새로 보이는 조영증강 병변의 감별에 있어 proSWI 값이 가장 중요한 변수인 것으로 나타났다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.290-302
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• 2014

목적: 자화율 강조 자기공명영상 (Susceptibility-weighted imaging)은 혈액분해산물, 석회화, 철 침착물을 발견하는데 있어 높은 민감도를 보이는 3D spoiled gradient-echo pulse sequence 이다. 본 임상화보는 자화율 강조 자기공명영상의 주된 임상적 적용에 대해 설명하고 논의하는 데에 그 목적이 있다. 대상과 방법: 자화율 강조 자기공명영상은 자기강도영상 (magnitude image)과 위상영상 (phase image)을 이용한 고해상도, 3D fully velocity-compensated gradient-echo sequence 에 기초를 두고 있다. 정맥 구조물의 가시성을 향상시키기 위해, 자기강도영상은 여과된 위상 데이터 (phase data) 로부터 발생된 위상 마스크 (phase mask)를 이용해 증폭되고, 이것은 최소강도투사 (Minimal intensive projection) 알고리즘을 이용한 3D dataset 후처리 과정을 거치게 된다. 3T 자기공명기기에서 SWI를 포함하는 자기공명영상 검사를 시행한 총 200명의 환자를 대상으로 연구하였다. 결과: 자화율 강조 자기공명영상은 다양한 뇌 질환의 발견에 매우 유용하였다. 200명의 환자 중 80명은 선천성 정맥 기형, 22명은 해면상 혈관종, 12명은 다양한 질환에서의 석회화, 21명은 혈관자화 징후 (susceptibility vessel sign) 또는 미세출혈을 동반하는 뇌혈관 질환, 52명은 뇌종양, 2명은 미만성 축삭 손상, 3명은 동정맥 기형, 5명은 뇌경막 동정맥루, 1명은 모야모야병, 그리고 2명은 파킨슨병이 관찰되었다. 결론: 자화율 강조 자기공명영상은 미세 저혈량 혈관성 병변, 석회화 그리고 미세출혈과 다양한 뇌병변의 진단에 유용하다.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권1호
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• pp.226-239
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• 2023

목적 뇌동정맥루(arteriovenous fistula; 이하 AVF), 뇌동정맥기형(arteriovenous malformation; 이하 AVM), 경동맥해면정맥동루(carotid-cavernous sinus fistula; 이하 CCF) 등 뇌동정맥단락을 진단하는 데 있어서, T2 강조영상(T2-weighted imaging; 이하 T2WI)과 자화율 강조영상(susceptibility-weighted imaging; 이하 SWI)의 민감도를 비교하고, 단일 에코(single-echo) SWI(이하 s-SWI)와 다중 에코(multi-echo) SWI (이하 m-SWI)의 전반적인 영상 질을 비교하고자 하였다. 대상과 방법 2016년부터 2021년까지 뇌혈관조영술로 입증된 뇌동정맥단락을 조사하였다. 뇌동정맥단락에 대한 T2WI와 SWI의 민감도를 McNemar's Test를 이용하여 비교하였다. s-SWI와 m-SWI의 영상 질을 나쁨, 보통, 좋음으로 분류하고 Fisher's exact test를 이용하여 그 비율을 비교하였다. 결과 총 24명의 환자(중위 연령: 61세, 여성: 12명, 남성: 12명)가 연구에 포함되었다. 그중 4명은 s-SWI와 m-SWI 두 가지의 SWI로, 나머지 20명은 이 중 한 가지의 SWI로 검사하였다. 10명은 AVF, 11명은 AVM, 3명은 CCF로 진단되었고, 이와 같은 뇌동정맥단락에 대해, SWI는 T2WI 보다 유의하게 높은 민감도를 보였다(82.1% vs. 53.6%, p = 0.013). m-SWI는 s-SWI 보다 좋은 영상 질의 비율이 유의하게 높았다(83.3% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.009). 결론 SWI는 T2WI 보다 뇌동정맥단락을 더 민감하게 진단해 낼 수 있었으며, m-SWI는 s-SWI보다 혈관질환을 평가하는데 더 좋은 영상 질을 보였다.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.