• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2024

Even though MR can reveal excellent soft-tissue contrast and functional information, CT is also required for electron density information for accurate dose calculation in Radiotherapy. For the fusion of MRI and CT images in RT treatment planning workflow, patients are normally scanned on both MRI and CT imaging modalities. Recently deep-learning-based generations of CT images from MR images became possible owing to machine learning technology. This eliminated CT scanning work. This study implemented a CycleGan deep-learning-based CT image generation from MR images. Three CT generators whose learning is based on T1- , T2- , or T1-&T2-weighted MR images were created, respectively. We found that the T1-weighted MR image-based generator can generate better than other CT generators when T1-weighted MR images are input. In contrast, a T2-weighted MR image-based generator can generate better than other CT generators do when T2-weighted MR images are input. The results say that the CT generator from MR images is just outside the practical clinics and the specific weight MR image-based machine-learning generator can generate better CT images than other sequence MR image-based generators do.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2014

Purpose : Spin-echo (SE) technique is most commonly used pulse sequence for T1-weighted MR imaging. T1-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T1FLAIR) is a relatively new pulse sequence and it provides higher tissue contrast between the gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) of the brain than T1-weighted SE (T1SE) sequence. However, there has been controversy for the evaluation of enhancing brain tumors with T1FLAIR compared to T1SE. The purpose of this study was to compare T1FLAIR and T1SE sequences for the evaluation of enhancing intracranial tumors. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients with enhancing brain tumors were evaluated with contrast-enhanced (CE) T1SE and T1FLAIR imaging. Eight quantitative criteria were calculated: lesion-to-WM contrast ratio (CR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), lesion-to-GM CR and CNR, lesion-to-CSF CR and CNR, and WM-to-GM CR and CNR. For qualitative evaluation, two radiologists assessed lesion conspicuity on CE T1SE and T1FLAIR sequences with three-scale: 1, T1SE superior; 2, sequence equal; T1FLAIR superior. Results: Seventy-nine tumors (31 primaries, 48 metastases) were assessed. For quantitative measurement, the T1FLAIR lesion-to-GM, lesion-to-CSF, WM-to-GM CR and CNR values were comparable and statistically superior to those of the T1SE images (p < 0.001 in all). However, lesion-to-WM CR and CNR were similar on both two sequences without statistically significant difference (p = 0.661, 0.662, respectively). For qualitative evaluation, both radiologists assessed that T1FLAIR images were superior to T1SE images for the evaluation of lesion conspicuity. Conclusion: For the evaluation of enhancing intracranial tumors, T1FLAIR sequence was superior or comparable to T1SE sequence.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.348-353
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to explore the potentials of a clinical 3T MRI in mouse brains and technical adaptation and optimization. T1-weighted images (T1WI), T2-weighted images (T2WI), FLAIR (Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery) images, Gadolinium enhanced T1-weighted images (Gd-T1WI), Diffusion weighted images (DWI) were acquired in brain of 2 mice (weight 20~25 g) with cerebral infarction by occlusion of right middle cerebral artery, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours after infarction and 1 normal mouse brain using clinical 3T MRI scanner. We analyzed differentiation of striatum, ventricle, cerebral cortex, and possibility of detection of acute cerebral infarction. We could differentiate the striatum, ventricle, cerebral cortex on T2WI and on DWI, FLAIR, T1WI, the differentiation of each anatomy of brain was not definite, but acute cerebral infarction was detected on DWI of 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours after infarction and on T2WI, FLAIR of 24 hours, 72 hours after infarction. Clinical 3T MRI can be used in differentiation of anatomy of mouse brains and DWI can be helpul in detection of acute cerebral infarction in acute phase. With technical adaptation and optimization clinical 3T MRI can be useful tool for provide preclinical and clinical small animal studies.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 1999

T$_1$/T$_2$ weighted images are being used to give the characteristic contrast among the various tissues and the norma;/abnormal tissues. Abnormalities in tissues, in general, accompany the biochemical changes and eventually structural ones in which results in the change in T$_1$ and T$_2$ relaxation times of water protons. It has been suggested that the mapping of T$_1$/T$_2$ values may serve as a possible tool for the quantitative evaluation of the degree of abnormality. On reconstructing T$_1$/T$_2$ maps(or any other MR parametric map), only corresponding variables are to be varied, such as TE for T$_2$, TI or TR for T$_1$ and b-factor for diffusion images. But often the receiver gain is taken for the optimal usage of A/D converter, so that the set of the image data has different receiver gain. It must be corrected before any attempt to reconstruct the maps. Here we developed method of correcting receiver gain variation effect, using the standard deviation of noise on individual image. The resultant T$_1$ and T$_2$ values were very comparable to the other reported values.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

Purpose : To report our clinical experience with cardiac 3.0 T MRI in patients compared with 1.5 T using individually optimized imaging protocols. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 30 consecutive patients and 20 consecutive patients who underwent 1.5 T and 3 T cardiac MRI within 10 months. A comparison study was performed by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and the image quality (by grading each sequence on a 5-point scale, regarding the presence of artifacts). Results: In morphologic and viability studies, the use of 3.0 T provided increase of the baseline SNRs and CNRs, respectively (T1: SNR 29%, p < 0.001, CNR 37%, p < 0.001; T2-SPAIR: SNR 13%, p = 0.068, CNR 18%, p = 0.059; viability imaging: SNR 45%, p = 0.017, CNR 37%, p = 0.135) without significant impairment of the image quality (T1: $3.8{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.9{\pm}0.7$, p = 0.438; T2-SPAIR: $3.8{\pm}0.9$ vs. $3.9{\pm}0.5$, p = 0.744; viability imaging: $4.5{\pm}0.8$ vs. $4.7{\pm}0.6$, p = 0.254). Although the image qualities of 3.0 T functional cine images were slightly lower than those of 1.5 T images ($3.6{\pm}0.7$ vs. $4.2{\pm}0.6$, p < 0.001), the mean SNR and CNR at 3.0 T were significantly improved (SNR 143% increase, CNR 108% increase, p < 0.001). With our imaging protocol for 3.0 T perfusion imaging, there was an insignificant decrease in the SNR (11% decrease, p = 0.172) and CNR (7% decrease, p = 0.638). However, the overall image quality was significantly improved ($4.6{\pm}0.5$ vs. $4.0{\pm}0.8$, p = 0.006). Conclusion: With our experience, 3.0 T MRI was shown to be feasible for the routine assessment of cardiac imaging.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

T1-, and T2-weighted imagings and FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery) imaging are fundamental imaging methods in the brain. T1-weighted imaging is a spin-echo sequence with short TR and short TE and produces the tissue contrast by different T1 relaxation times. In other words, short TR maximizes the difference of the longituidinal magnetization recovery between the tissues. T2-weighted imaging is a spin-echo sequence with long TR and long TE and produces the tissue contrast by different T2 relaxation times. Long TE maximizes the difference of the transverse magnetization decay between the tissues. FLAIR is an inversion recovery sequence using 180 degree inversion pulse. 2500 msec of inversion time is applied to suppress the CSF signal.

• Smart Media Journal
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2016

In a longitudinal neuroimaging study, the upgrades of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner due to outdated hardwares and softwares make it difficult to maintain the same MRI conditions in the long-term research period. Particularly, high field MRI systems such 3T scanners become popular in recent years. However, it is still unclear whether an integrated analysis of 3T and 1.5T images is possible without consideration of the field strength. In this study, we evaluated the reproducibility of hippocampal volumes between brain images with different field strengths and slice orientations. 296 participants underwent both 3T and 1.5T MRI and both sagittal and axial scans for high resolution brain images, and their hippocampal volumes were measured using Freesurfer, a well-known software for neuroimaging analysis. Paired t-tests showed that the hippocampal volumes were significantly different between the image types. These results suggest that it is necessary to develop data analysis techniques for integrating diverse types of MRI images.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.302-308
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• 2010

In MRI, the Ferromagnetic artifact is generated by the metalization within in which the before inspection removal is impossible and the distortion of an image is brought. The distortion measure according to the steel for each sequence of T1 image and magnetic field intensity are analyzed and minimized method is looked into. We used SIEMENS 1.5T and 3.0T MRI for experiment equipment. First, it places within the Phantom making a metalization(Ti+Al, Stainless, Nitinol) on 1.5T, 3.0T MRI and the T1 weighted image for each Sequence is acquired. The distortion of an image and about adjacent portion change of the metal material were compared through the obtained image, we analyzed. In all metalizations, a distortion was generated and a distortion was few in particularly, and Titanium-Aluminium alloy. And the extent of a distortion was worse image in the Turbo spin Echo. The use of the Titanium-Aluminium alloy the inserted in an internal material of the metalization is recommend. and, equipment of 1.5T the patient inserting a metal in an internal is used in an inspection than equipment of 3.0T. Also, the sequence is suitable when it obtains the optimum T1 weighted image of an impersonate to use the Turbo spin Echo.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.607-617
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• 2024

Purpose Recent studies have demonstrated the usefulness of diffusion-weighted MR neurography (DW MRN) for assessing nerve roots. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of DW MRN with a unidirectional motion-probing gradient (MPG) for the lumbar nerve roots at 1.5T MR. Materials and Methods Sixty-four lumbar spine MRI scans with DW MRN using anteroposterior unidirectional MPG were retrospectively analyzed. Any changes in the 512 lumbar spinal nerve roots from L3 to S1 were evaluated using T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE T1WI), and DW MRN, with agreement and correlation analysis. Results T2WI revealed compression of 78 nerve roots, and CE T1WI revealed 52 instances of nerve root enhancement. Sixty-seven nerve roots showed swelling and hyperintensity on DW MRN. A total of 42 nerve roots showed changes in the CE T1WI and DW MRN sequences. Moderate to substantial agreement and moderate positive correlation were observed between DW MRN and CE T1WI, as well as DW MRN and T2WI (κ = 0.59-0.65, ρ = 0.600-0.653). Conclusion DW MRN with unidirectional anteroposterior MPG can help evaluate neuritisrelated changes in spinal nerve roots and could serve as a sequence capable of complementing or substituting gadolinium CE imaging.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.135-141
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• 1997

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of breath-hold fast MR imaging of liver with fat suppression (FS) by application of chemical saturation technique in the diagnosis of regional fatty changes suspected in sonography. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients who had focal lesions with diffuse, homogeneous signal changes after FS through chemical saturation technique without additional changes of imaging parameter during MR imaging of liver were selected. T1-weighted fast low-angle shot and T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequences were obtained with or without FS during each single breath-holding session. Subjective changes of signal intensity between the pre-FS and the FS images were compared with the sonographic findings in each lesion. Results: Seven lesions of decreased signal intensity after FS on T1 or T2-weighted images, including three lesions only at FS T1 images, were regarded as focal fat infiltration. All seven lesions had compatible sonographic findings as homogenously echogenic areas. Another six lesions of subjectively increased signal intensity including two lesions only at FS T2 images were regarded as focal fat sparing. All six lesions had sonographic findings as homogenous echo poor areas suggesting focal fat sparing. In cases regarded as fat infiltration, score changes were more prominent at FS T1 images than FS T2 images(p=0.0002). In cases regarded as fat sparing, score changes were more prominent at FS T2 images than FS T1 images(p=0.042). Conclusion: Breath-hold fast T1 and T2-weighted MR imaging with and without chemical saturation pre-pulse may be sufficient for characterization of regional fatty changes in the differential diagnosis of focal hepatic lesion found at sonography.