• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.105-114
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• 2016

In this study, For assessment of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injury, we acquired images by fat suppressed 3D fast spoiled gradient recalled T1 and fat suppressed Isotropic 3D fast spin echo T1 techniques. For quantitative evaluation, measured signal to noise ratio and contrast to noise ratio and verified statistical significance between two imaging techniques by Mann-Whitney U verification. And for qualitative evaluation, marked 4-grade scoring (0: non diagnostic, 1: poor, 2: adequate, 3: good) on shape of TFCC, artifacts by partial volumes, description of the lesions by two radiologist, verified coincidence between 2 observer using Kappa-value verification. We used 3.0 Tesla MR equipment and 8-channel RF coil for imaging acquisition. As quantitative evaluation results, signal to noise ratio and contrast to noise ratio value of Isotropic 3D fast spin echo T1 technique is higher in every image sections, also between two imaging techniques by Mann-Whitney U verification was statistically significant (p < 0.05). As qualitative results, observer 1, 2 marked a higher grade on Isotropic 3D FSE T1 technique, coincidence verification of evaluation results between two observers by Kappa-value verification was statistically significant (p < 0.05). As a result, during MRI examination on TFCC injury, fat suppressed Isotropic 3D fast spin echo T1 technique is considered offering more useful information about abnormal lesion of TFCC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.31-38
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• 2008

Line scan diffusion weighted imaging (LSDI) pulse sequence for 0.32 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system was developed. In the LSDI pulse sequence, the imaging volume is formed by the intersection of the two perpendicular planes selected by the two slice-selective $\pi$/2-pulse and $\pi$-pulse and two diffusion sensitizing gradients placed on the both side of the refocusing $\pi$-pulse and the standard frequency encoding readout was followed. Since the maximum gradient amplitude for the MR system was 15 mT/m the maximum b value was $301.50s/mm^2$. Using the developed LSDI pulse sequence, the diffusion weighted images for the aqueous NaCl solution phantom and triacylglycerol solution phantom calculated from the line scan diffusion weighted images gives the same results within the standard error range (mean diffusivities = $963.90{\pm}79.83({\times}10^{-6}mm^2/s)$ at 0.32 T, $956.77{\pm}4.12({\times}10^{-6}mm^2/s)$ at 1.5 T) and the LSDI images were insensitive to the magnetic susceptibility difference and chemical shift.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.154-158
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• 1999

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find the optimum TE value for enhancing $T_2^{*}$ weighting effect and minimizing the SNR degradation and to compare the BOLD effects according to the changes of TE in 1.5T and 3.0T MRI systems. Materials and Methods : Healthy normal volunteers (eight males and two females with 24-38 years old) participated in this study. Each volunteer was asked to perform a simple finger-tapping task (sequential opposition of thumb to each of the other four fingers) with right hand with a mean frequency of about 2Hz. The stimulus was initially off for 3 images and was then alternatively switched on and off for 2 cycles of 6 images. Images were acquired on the 1.5T and 3.0T MRI with the FLASH (fast low angle shot) pulse sequence (TR : 100ms, FA : $20^{\circ}$, FOV : 230mm) that was used with 26, 36, 46, 56, 66, 76ms of TE times in 1.5T and 16, 26, 36, 46, 56, 66ms of TE in 3.0T MRI system. After the completion of scan, MR images were transferred into a PC and processed with a home-made analysis program based on the correlation coefficient method with the threshold value of 0.45. To search for the optimum TE value in fMRI, the difference between the activation and the rest by the susceptibility change for each TE was used in 1.5T and 3.0T respectively. In addition, the functional $T_2^{*}$ map was calculated to quantify susceptibility change. Results : The calculated optimum TE for fMRI was $61.89{\pm}2.68$ at 1.5T and $47.64{\pm}13.34$ at 3.0T. The maximum percentage of signal intensity change due to the susceptibility effect inactivation region was 3.36% at TE 66ms in 1.5T 10.05% at TE 46ms in 3.0T, respectively. The signal intensity change of 3.0T was about 3 times bigger than of 1.5T. The calculated optimum TE value was consistent with TE values which were obtained from the maximum signal change for each TE. Conclusion : In this study, the 3.0T MRI was clearly more sensitive, about three times bigger than the 1.5T in detecting the susceptibility due to the deoxyhemoglobin level change in the functional MR imaging. So the 3.0T fMRI I ore useful than 1.5T.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.365-378
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• 2020

Purpose This study was performed to determine whether the T1 relaxation time of gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MR imaging is useful for detecting and staging liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease. Materials and Methods One hundred and three patients with suspected focal liver lesion underwent MR imaging and Fibroscan. Fibroscan was chosen as the reference standard for classifying liver fibrosis. T1 relaxation times were acquired before (preT1), 20 minutes after (postT1) contrast administration, and reduction rate of T1 relaxation time (rrT1) on transverse 3D VIBE (volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination) sequence using 3T MR imaging. The optimal cut-off values for the fibrosis staging were determined with ROC analysis. Results PreT1 and postT1 increased and rrT1 decreased constantly with increasing severity of liver fibrosis according to the METAVIR score (F0-F4). There were statistically significant differences between F2 and F3 in preT1 (F2, 836.0 ± 74.7 ms; F3, 888.6 ± 77.5 ms, p < 0.05) and between F3 and F4 in postT1 (F3, 309.0 ± 80.2 ms; F4, 406.6 ± 147.7 ms, p < 0.05) and rrT1 (F3, 65.4 ± 7.7%; F4, 57.3 ± 11.4%, p < 0.05). ROC analysis revealed that combination test (preT1 + postT1) was the best test for predicting liver fibrosis. Conclusion PreT1 and postT1 increased constantly with increasing severity of liver fibrosis. T1 mapping in gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MR imaging could be a helpful complementary sequence to determine the liver fibrosis stage.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.429-435
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to prospectively estimate the effectiveness of multi-transmit parallel technique in reduced FOV(Field of View) less than 26 cm. Homogeneity, SNR(signal to noise ratio) and acquisition time were measured and compared by setting FOV less than 26cm on the T1 and T2 weighted images using ACR phantom. The multi-transmit parallel technique resulted in significantly faster image acquisition by 46.8 % in T1 weighted images and 18.9% in T2 weighted images. The homogeneity and SNR values had no significant difference between pre and post application of the multi-transmit parallel technique. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility of multi-transmit parallel technique in FOV less than 26cm with a rapid acquisition and maintained image quality.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.46-54
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• 2003

In this paper, we propose segmentation algorithm for MR brain images using the histogram of T1-weighted, T2-weighted and PD images. Segmentation algorithm is composed of 3 steps. The first step involves the extraction of cerebrum images by ram a cerebrum mask over three input images. In the second step, peak ranges are determined from the histogram of the cerebrum image. In the final step, cerebrum images are segmented using coarse to fine clustering technique. We compare the segmentation result and processing time according to peak ranges. Also compare with the other segmentation methods. The proposed algorithm achieved better segmentation results than the other methods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.112-126
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• 2022

Purpose To determine the value of 3 Tesla (T) MRI texture analysis for predicting tumor margin infiltration in soft tissue sarcomas. Materials and Methods Thirty-one patients who underwent 3T MRI and had a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma were included in this study. Margin infiltration on pathology was used as the gold standard. Texture analysis of soft tissue sarcomas was performed on axial T1-weighted images (WI) and T2WI, fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced (CE) T1WI, diffusion-weighted images (DWI) with b-value of 800 s/mm², and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was mapped. Quantitative parameters were compared between sarcomas with infiltrative margins and those with circumscribed margins. Results Among the 31 patients with soft tissue sarcomas, 23 showed tumor margin infiltration on pathology. There were significant differences in kurtosis with the spatial scaling factor (SSF) of 0 and 6 on T1WI, kurtosis (SSF, 0) on CE-T1WI, skewness (SSF, 0) on DWI, and skewness (SSF, 2, 4) on ADC between sarcomas with infiltrative margins and those with circumscribed margins (p ≤ 0.046). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve based on MR texture features for identification of infiltrative tumor margins was 0.951 (p < 0.001). Conclusion MR texture analysis is reliable and accurate for the prediction of infiltrative margins of soft tissue sarcomas.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Postharvest Science and Technology of Agricultural Products Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.151-152
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• 2003

최근 NMR, MRI, x-선 등 전자파의 기술이 발전되면서 이들을 이용하여 내부품질을 검출하는 보다진보된 연구가 수행되고 있다. 관련 연구로는 자기공명영상을 이용하여 내공수삼 및 정상수삼의 내부를 촬영하여 T$_1$, T$_2$의 값을 측정하여 내부조직의 이상유무를 추정하였고, 또한 MRI에 의해 수삼의 내부품질 뿐만 아니라 연근 판정 가능성을 검토하는 등 많은 연구가 수행되고있다. 이 연구에서는 MRI 시스템을 이용하여 수삼의 내부단면 영상을 획득하여 내부결함 유무를 검출하고, 또한 동일한 수삼을 대상으로 홍삼 제조 후 내부품질의 변화 특성을 조사하고자 수행하였다. 공시재료는 충북 음성에 있는 인삼연초연구원에서 4~6년 근 된 수삼을 이용하였고, 시험 장비로는 국내 MRI 생산 전문 업체인 ISOL Tech. Co.에서 개발한 의료용 장비인 CHORUS 1.5T(자속밀도 1.5 Tesla)를 이용하였다. 슬라이스 두께/간격은 5mn/5mn, 촬영 단면수는 15장/시료, 영상영역(FOV)은 180mmx90mm, image size는 256$\times$128 pixels 그리고 TR/TE는 각각의 이완상수별로 500/13(Tl), 4,000/63(T2) 및 2,200/21(Pd)에 대한 단면영상을 얻었다. 5개의 수삼을 동시에 뇌두에서 뿌리 쪽으로 MR 단면영상을 획득하였다. 이완상수 T$_1$, T$_2$, Pd에 대해서 MR 영상을 획득하였으며, 총 15장의 단면 영상 중 내부 상태를 가장 잘 식별 할 수 있는 영상을 조사한 결과 T$_1$과 Pd에서 촬영한 영상에서는 내부상태가 잘 나타났으나, T$_2$에서 얻은 영상은 영상의 손실이 많이 발생되었다. 한편, T$_1$에 대해서 뇌두에서 뿌리쪽으로 가면서 각 위치에 따라 수삼 내부의 부패된 영상이 나타나 이에 대한 판정은 가능한 것으로 나타났다. 2000년도와 2001년도에 각각 수확.저장된 수삼을 부위별로 단면영상을 MRI로 측정하고, 그 시료를 인삼연초연구원(음성시험장)에서 홍삼으로 제조한 후 수삼 상태에서의 내부품질과 홍삼으로 제조된 후의 내부품질 변화를 조사하였다. 총 20본의 수삼을 MRI 시스템으로 영상을 획득하였고, 모든 시료에 대해서 내부조직의 상태를 관찰하였다. 수삼의 수분함량은 뇌두로부터 1cm부위를 절단하여 조사하였고, 수삼조직은 절단시 단면의 달관 조사에 의한 성적이며 홍삼품질은 제조삼의 조직상태를 절단하여 육안판별로 검사하였다. 총 20본의 수삼 중 정상은 16본 이었고, 이들은 홍삼으로 제조된 후 내공 내백 등이 혼재되어 나타났으며 정상수삼이 정상홍삼으로 나타난 경우는 5본이었고, 내백은 5본, 내공은 6본으로 조사되었다. 또한 수삼에서 4본은 썩은 부위가 포함되어있는 수삼이었는데 홍삼으로 제조되었을 때 3본은 내백으로 되었고 1 본은 수삼에서 썩은 부위가 1/4정도로 미미해서 홍삼 제조시 정상으로 나타났다. 일반적으로 홍삼 제조시 내공의 발생은 제조공정에서 나타나는 경우가 많으며, 내백의 경우는 홍삼으로 가공되면서 발생하는 경우가 있고, 인삼이 성장될 때 부분적인 영양상태의 불충분이나 기후 등에 따른 영향을 받을 수 있기 때문에 앞으로 이에 대한 많은 연구가 이루어져야할 것으로 판단된다.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.33-41
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the reproducibility and usefulness of the images through the fusion of CT(Computed tomography) and MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging) using a self-manufactured phantom. We will also compare and analyze the target dose from acquired images. Materials and Methods: Using a self-manufactured phantom, CT images and MRI images are acquired by 1.5T and 3.0T of different magnetic fields. The reproducibility of the size and volume of the small holes present in the phantom is compared through the image from CT and 1.5T and 3.0T MRI, and dose changes are compared and analyzed on any target. Results: 13 small hole diameters were a maximum 31 mm and a minimum 27.54 mm in the CT scan and the were measured within an average of 29.28 mm 1 % compared to actual size. 1.5 T MRI images showed a maximum 31.65 mm and a minimum 24.3 mm, the average is 28.8 mm, which is within 1 %. 3.0T MRI images showed a maximum 30.2 mm and a minimum 27.92 mm, the average is 29.41 mm, which is within 1.3 %. The dose changes in the target were 95.9-102.1 % in CT images, 93.1-101.4 % in CT-1.5T MRI fusion images, and 96-102 % in CT-3.0T MRI fusion images. Conclusion: CT and MRI are applied with different algorithms for image acquisition. Also, since the organs of the human body have different densities, image distortion may occur during image acquisition. Because these inaccurate images description affects the volume range and dose of the target, accurate volume and location of the target can prevent unnecessary doses from being exposed and errors in treatment planning. Therefore, it should be applied to the treatment plan by taking advantage of the image display algorithm possessed by CT and MRI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Purpose : To compare Multi Echo Data Image Combination (MEDIC) and fast SE T2-weighted images with fat saturation (T2FS) to suggest more accurate evaluation of the histologic components of soft-tissue tumors. Materials and Methods : The experimental group included 25 histologic tissues (5 vascular, 4 neural, 4 fibrous, 4 hypercellular, 2 hemorrhagic necroses, 2 cystic, 2 lipoid, 1 myxoid stroma, and 1 thrombus) in 10 patients who had pathologically confirmed schwannoma (n = 3), hemangioma (n = 2), lipoma (n = 1), angiokeratoma (n = 1), synovial sarcoma (n = 1), liposarcoma (n = 1), and malignant fibrous histiocytoma (n = 1). The inhomogeneity values were measured using the standard deviation value (SD) divided by the mean value as SD presents an error amount similar to that of imaging heterogeneity. Results : The inhomogeneity values of 25 histologic components were lower on MEDIC than those on T2FS (p < .001). Conclusion : We conclude that MEDIC is more accurate than T2FS for evaluating the tissue components of soft-tissue tumors using digitalized data because MEDIC images have far lower inhomogeneity.