• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.150-157
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• 2018

Purpose: To assess associations between morphological characteristics of intracranial arteries in time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA) and atherosclerotic risk factors. Materials and Methods: From January 2014 to October 2015, a total of 129 patients (65 men and 64 women) without intracranial arterial stenosis > 50% were included in this study. All MRIs were performed using a 3T machine with 3D TOF-MRA sequences. We evaluated irregularity, tortuosity, and dilatation of intracranial arteries in maximal intensity projection (MIP) of TOF-MRA. Subjects' risk factors for atherosclerosis including history of hypertension and diabetes were collected by reviewing their medical records. Associations between morphological characteristics and each known atherosclerosis risk factor were examined using univariate regression analysis. Multivariate regression models were built to determine combined association between those risk factors and morphologic changes of intracranial arteries. Results: In multivariate analysis, hypertension (coefficient [95% CI]: 0.162 [0.036, 0.289], P = 0.012) and absence of diabetes (coefficient [95% CI]: -0.159 [-0.296, -0.023], P = 0.022) were associated with large diameter of intracranial arteries. Males (coefficient [95% CI]: 0.11 [-0.006, 0.23], P = 0.062) and higher age (coefficient [95% CI]: 0.003 [-0.001, 0.008], P = 0.138) had marginal association with increased diameter. Tortuosity was associated with old age (OR: 1.04 [1.02, 1.07], P < 0.001). Irregular contour of intracranial arteries was significantly associated with old age (OR: 1.05 [1.02, 1.09], P = 0.004), presence of diabetes (OR: 2.88 [1.36, 6.15], P = 0.0058), and previous ischemic stroke (OR: 3.91 [1.41, 11.16], P = 0.0092). Conclusion: Morphological characteristics (irregularity, tortuosity, dilatation) of intracranial arteries seen in TOF-MRA might be associated with atherosclerotic risk factors in subjects with no or mild stenosis.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2003

Contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) gradually occupies its position as a primary evaluation tool forsteno-occlusive disease of supra-aortic cervical arteries. It has several advantages over time-of-flight (TOF) technique such as shorter imaging time, less saturation effect, and less flow- and motion-related artifacts. Diverse methods of k-space sampling, imaging sequences, and strategies for image acquisitiontiming have been introduced since its early clinical application. Especially, methods of k-space sampling and image acquisition timing are very important to achieve maximal arterial enhancement and suppress venous signal while maintaining large scan coverage and high spatial resolution. In addition, regardless of several advantages over TOF technique, it still has a tendency to overestimate the degree of stenosis in patients with carotid or vertebralartery disease. In this exhibit, we will overview the current techniques of CE-MRA with special attention to methods of k-space sampling and image acquisition timing. We will also discuss diagnostic accuracy of CE-MRA in patients with supra-aortic cervical artery stenosis and artifacts frequently misinterpreted as steno-occlusive lesion on CE-MRA.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 1998

Purpose : To assess the clinical utility of turbo contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography(CE MRA) in the evaluation of the aortic arch and its major branches and to compare the image quality of CE MRA among different coils used. Materials and Methods : Turbo three-phase dynamic CE MRA encompassing aortic arch and its major branches was prospectively performed after manual bolus IV injection of contrast material in 29 patients with suspected cerebrovascular diseases at 1.0T MR unit. the raw data were obtained with 3-D FISH sequence (TR 5.4ms, TE 2.3ms, flip angle 30, slab thickness 80nm, effective slice thickness 4.0mm, matrix size $100{\times}256$, FOV 280mm). Total data acquisition time was 4. to 60 seconds. We subjectively evaluated the imge quality with three-rating scheme : "good" for unequivocal normal finding, "fair" for relatively satisfactory quality to diagnose 'normal' despite intravascular low signal, and "poor" for equivocal diagnosis or non-visualization of the origin or segment of the vessels due to low signal or artifacts which needs catheter angiography. At the level of the carotid bifurcation, it was compared with conventional 2D-TOF MRA image. Overall image quality was also compared visually and quantitatively by measuring signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the ascending aorta, the innominate artery and both common carotid arteries among the three different coils used(CP body array(n=12), CP neck array(n=9), and head-and-neck(n=8). Results : Demonstration of the aortic arch and its major branches was rated as "good" in 55% (16/29) and "fair" in 34%(10/29). At the level of the carotid bifurcation, image quality of turbo CE MRA was same as or better than conventional 2D-TOF MRA in 65% (17/26). Overall image quality and SNR were significantlygreater with CP body array coil than with CP neck array or head-and-neck coil. Conclusions : Turbo CE MRA can be used as a screening exam in the evaluation of the major branches of the aortic arch from their origin to the skull base. Overall imagequality appears to be better with CP body array coil than with CP neck array coil or head-and-neck coil.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.180-188
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• 2014

It is very important accurate diagnosis and quick treatment in cerebrovascular disease, i.e. stenosis or occlusion that could be caused by risk factors such as poor dietary habits, insufficient exercise, and obesity. Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA), it is well known as diagnostic method without using contrast agent for cerebrovascular disease, is the most representative and reliable technique. Nevertheless, it still has measurement errors (also known as overestimation) for length of stenosis and area of occlusion in celebral infarction that is built by accumulation and rupture of plaques generated by hemodynamic turbulence. The purpose of this study is to show clinical trial feasibility for 3D-SPACE T2, which is improved by using signal attenuation effects of fluid velocity, in diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease. To model angiostenosis, strictures of different proportions (40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%) and virtual blood stream (normal saline) of different velocities (0.19 ml/sec, 1.5 ml/sec, 2.1 ml/sec, and 2.6 ml/sec) by using dialysis were made. Cross-examinations were performed for 3D-SPACE T2 and TOF-MRA (16 times each). The accuracy of measurement for length of stenosis was compared in all experimental conditions. 3D-SPACE 2T has superiority in terms of accuracy for measurements of the length of stenosis, compared with TOF-MRA. Also, it is robust in fast blood stream and large stenosis than TOF-MRA. 3D-SPACE 2T will be promising technique to increase diagnosis accuracy in narrow complex lesions as like two cerebral small vessels with stenosis, created by hemodynamic turbulence.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2001

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the role of postoperative three dimensional short-range magnetic resonance angiography(3D-TOF MRA) in predicting the clinical outcomes following microvascular decompression(MVD) for the treatment of a hemifacial spasm(HFS). Material and Method : Postoperative magnetic resonance(MR) imaging was performed on 123 patients with a HFS between March 1999 and May 2000. All patients who had postoperative MR imaging were undertaken preoperative MR imaging. Of the 123 patients, 122 patients were included in this retrospective study. The degree of the detachment of vascular contact, and change of the position of offender were determined by pre- and postoperative 3D-TOF MRA. These findings were compared with the surgical findings and clinical outcomes. Results : Of 122 patients who had successful MVD, clear decompression of offenders of the root entry zone(REZ) of facial nerve was found in 106 patients(86.9%), partial decompression in 10 patients(8.2%) and contact of offenders to the REZ of facial nerve in 6 patients(4.9%) by the postoperative 3D-TOF MRA. Our patients demonstrated that the types of offender did not influence with the degree of decompression of REZ of facial nerve and with surgical outcomes(p>0.05). Also, there was no significant relationship between the degree of decompression of the REZ of facial nerve from offenders and an improvement of symptoms(p>0.05). Futhermore, there was no significant relationship between the degree of decompression of the REZ of facial nerve from offenders and an improvement time (p>0.05). Conclusion : Our data suggests that MVD of facial nerve alone may not be sufficient to resolve the symptoms in all patients with hemifacial spasm. Therefore, another unknown factors besides vascular compression may be involved to cause symptoms in certain patients and it may be necessary to remove these factors with MVD simultaneously to obtain the resolution of symptom.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine usefulness of 3T equipment-based time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3T-TOF MRA) by comparing standard technique (ST) with high resolution technique (HRT) in evaluation of cerebral blood vessel. The 3T-TOF MRA was performed for 31 patients who were suspected of having cerebrovascular disease from March to July 2010. For evaluation of cerebral blood vessel, classification was conducted randomly: group I that included vertebral artery and basilar artery, group II that ranged from 2.5cm before basin part of common carotid artery to basin part of internal and external carotid arteries and to genu part of internal carotid artery, group III that ranged from vertebral part of internal carotid artery to the first basin art of anterior and middle cerebral through education recognizes the importance of dose reduction and examine if their efforts and further reduce patient dose could achieve optimization of the medical exposure is considered.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.367-369
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• 2002

We have designed ramp profile excitation pulse based on the Shinnar-Le Roux (SLR) algorithm. The algorithm provides many advantages to pulse designers. The first advantage is the freedom of deciding the amplitudes, frequencies, and ripple sizes of stopband, passband, and transition band of pulse profile. The second advantage is the freedom of deciding the pulse phase, more specifically, minimum phase, linear phase, maximum phase, and any phase between them. The minimum phase pulse is the best choice in the case of 3D TOF, because it minimizes the echo time, which implies the best image quality in the same MR examination condition. In addition, the half echo technique is slightly modified in our case. In general, using the half echo technique means that the acquired data size is half and the rest part can be filled with complex conjugate of acquired data. But in our case, the echo center is just shifted to left, which implies the reduction of echo time, and the acquired data size is the same as the one without using the half echo technique. In this case, the increase of right part of data leads to improvement of the resolution and the decrease of left part of data leads to decrease of signal to noise ratio. Since in the case of 3D TOF, the signal to noise ratio is sufficiently high and the resolution is more important than signal to noise ratio, the proposed method appears to be significantly affective and gives rise to the improved high resolution angiograms.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2003

The method of simultaneous data acquisition of arteries and veins(SAAV) was suggested to obtain MR angiography of arteries and veins at 0.3T low filed MRI system (Magfinder, AlLab. Korea). Two separated artery- and vein-images were put together using AVCM(Artery-Vein Color Mapping) algorithm and presented in the same image. In this study, artery- and vein-separated angiograms of volunteer's neck were obtained. Two dimensioal blood-enhanced images wre sequentially obtained using SAAV pulse sequence based on time-of-flight(TOF) method with flow compensation. Imaging parameters were TR/TE=70/12msec. FOV=230mm, slice thickness = 3mm, flip angle=90$^{\circ}$, matrix size=256${\times}$256${\times}$64mm. TSat TH/SPA=15/20mm, Ts_v=10msec and Ts_a=40ms. 3D MRA images were reconstructed using the maximum intensity projection(MIP) and the artery-vein color mapping(AVCM) algorithm. This study showed good possibility of clinical applications of MRA in 0.3T which provides valuable diagnostic information of clinical vascular diseases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1124-1136
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• 1988

Massive hemoptysis, usually rapid flooding of tracheobronchial tree and asphyxia, is associated with high mortality. We have controlled massive hemoptysis in two cases with use of bronchial artery angiography & selective bronchial artery embolization with Gelfoam particle. One case was inoperable case that was confirmed as TOF c severe pulmonary artery hypoplasia with massive hemoptysis due to hypertrophied bronchial artery and its collaterals. Another case was congenital ASD with pulmonary Aspergillosis, postop. empyema and BPF associated with massive bleeding due to erosion of hypervascular bronchial artery. We experienced dramatic improvement of general condition and cessation of massive hemoptysis for above two cases. No other problems and complication were noted during postop. hospitalization and follow-up period.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.155-155
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• 2008