• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1609-1618
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• 2021

Objective: Arrhythmogenic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is an important cause of sudden cardiac death characterized by fibrosis of the papillary muscles or left ventricle (LV) wall, and an association between late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) of the LV papillary muscles and ventricular arrhythmia in MVP has been reported. However, LGE of the papillary muscles may be observed in other causes of mitral regurgitation, and it is not limited to patients with MVP. This study was to evaluate the association of LGE of the LV papillary muscles or ventricular wall on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and ventricular arrhythmia in patients with mitral regurgitation. Materials and Methods: This study included 88 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 58.3 ± 12.0 years; male, 42%) with mitral regurgitation who underwent CMR. They were allocated to the MVP (n = 43) and non-MVP (n = 45) groups, and their LGE images on CMR, clinical characteristics, echocardiographic findings, and presence of arrhythmia were compared. Results: LV myocardial wall enhancement was more frequent in the MVP group than in the non-MVP group (28% vs. 11%, p = 0.046). Papillary muscle enhancement was observed in 7 (7.9%) patients. Of the 43 patients with MVP, 15 (34.8%) showed LGE in the papillary muscles or LV myocardium, including 12 (27.9%) with LV myocardial wall enhancement and 4 (9.3%) with papillary muscle enhancement. One patient with bilateral diffuse papillary muscle enhancement experienced sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that high systolic blood pressure (BP; odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.09; p = 0.027) and ventricular arrhythmia (OR, 6.84; 95% CI, 1.29-36.19; p = 0.024) were significantly associated with LGE of the papillary muscles. Conclusion: LGE of the papillary muscles was present not only in patients with MVP, but also in patients with other etiologies of mitral regurgitation, and it was associated with high systolic BP and ventricular arrhythmia. Papillary muscle enhancement on CMR should not be overlooked.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.212-218
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• 2021

Ewing sarcomas constitute a group of small, round, blue cell tumors of the bone and soft tissue. Extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) is a rare malignant neoplasm that arises from soft tissues, and it usually affects children and young adults. EES of the thoracopulmonary region commonly presents with a palpable mass or pain. Although rarely reported, EES affecting the anterior chest wall may present as a breast mass. We report a case of EES arising from the chest wall and manifesting as a palpable breast mass in a 22-year-old woman. The large mass was initially misdiagnosed as a breast origin mass on ultrasonography, but subsequent CT and MRI showed that the mass originated from the chest wall. Radiologists should be aware of the imaging findings of EES, and they should understand that chest wall lesions may be clinically confused as breast lesions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.345-352
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• 1993

The role of magnetic resonance(MR) imaging in the evaluation of thoracic disease has been limited Nontheless, MR has inherent properties of better contrast resolution than CT allowing tissue-specific diagnosis. MR has capability of direct imaging in sagittal, coronal, and oblique planes which provide better anatomic information than axial images of CT such as lesions in the pulmonary apex, aorticopulmonary window, peridiaphragmatic region, and subcarinal region. MR is sensitive to blood flow making it an ideal imaging modality for the evaluation of cardiovascular system of the thorax without the need for intravenous contrast media. Technical developments and better control of motion artifacts have resulted in improved image quality, and clinical applications of MR imaging in thoracic diseases have been expanded. Although MR imaging is considered as a problem-solving tool in patients with equivocal CT findings, MR should be used as the primary imaging modality in the following situations: 1) Evaluation of the cardiovascular abnormalities of the thorax 2) Evaluation of the superior sulcus tumors 3) Evaluation of the chest wall invasion or mediastinal invasion by tumor 4) Evaluation of the posterior mediastinal mass, especially neurogenic tumor 5) Differentiation of fibrosis and residual or recurrent tumor, especially in lymphoma 6) Evaluation of brachial plexopathy With technical developments and fast scan capabilities, clinical indications for MR imaging in thorax will increase in the area of pulmonary parenchymal and pulmonary vascular imaging.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-64
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• 2018

Pancreatic lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) are rare pancreatic cysts with squamous epithelial lining surrounded by dense lymphoid tissue. A preoperative diagnosis of LECs is difficult due to imaging diversity and inadequate documentation because of their rarity. We present a case of surgically confirmed pancreatic LEC with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings as heterogeneous signal intensity on T2-weighted images with multiple septa-like structures, slightly hypo-signal intensity on T1-weighted images, and thin-wall enhancement on dynamic contrast images. LECs are benign lesions without any malignant potential. Therefore, the inclusion of LEC in the differential diagnosis of cystic pancreatic lesions may reduce unnecessary surgical procedures.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.1693-1696
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• 2004

Synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor non-invasively the refilling process of water inside the xylem vessels in bamboo leaves. The consecutive phase-contrast X-ray images clearly show both plant anatomy and the transport of water inside the xylem vessels. Traces of water-rise, vapor bubbles and variations of contact angle between the water front and the xylem wall were measured in real time. During the refilling process, air bubbles are removed when the rising water front halts at a vessel end for a while. Subsequently, it starts rising again at a higher velocity than the normal refilling speed. Repeated cavitation seems to deteriorate the refilling ability in xylem vessels. In dark environment, the water refilling process in xylem vessels is facilitated more effectively than in bright illuminated conditions. Finally, X-ray micro-imaging was famed to be a powerful, high resolution, real time imaging tool to investigate the water refilling process in xylem vessels.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.677-687
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• 2021

Microvascular ultrasound (US) techniques are advanced Doppler techniques that provide high sensitivity and spatial resolution for detailed visualization of low-flow vessels. Microvascular US imaging can be applied to breast lesion evaluation with or without US contrast agents. Microvascular US imaging without a contrast agent uses a sophisticated wall filtering system to selectively obtain low-flow Doppler signals from overlapped artifacts. Microvascular US imaging with second-generation contrast agents amplifies flow signals and makes them last longer, which facilitates hemodynamic evaluation of breast lesions. In this review article, we will introduce various microvascular US techniques, explain their clinical applications in breast cancer diagnosis and radiologic-histopathologic correlation, and provide a summary of a recent radiogenomic study using microvascular US.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.190-199
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• 2022

Ultrasound-guided injection is useful for managing thoracic spine and chest wall pain. With ultrasound, pain physicians perform the injection with real-time viewing of major structures, such as the pleura, vasculature, and nerves. Therefore, the ultrasound-guided injection procedure not only prevents procedure-related adverse events but also increases the accuracy of the procedure. Here, ultrasound-guided interventions that could be applied for thoracic spine and chest wall pain were described. We presented ultrasound-guided thoracic facet joint and costotransverse joint injections and thoracic paravertebral, intercostal nerve, erector spinae plane, and pectoralis and serratus plane blocks. The indication, anatomy, Sonoanatomy, and technique for each procedure were also described. We believe that our article is helpful for clinicians to conduct ultrasound-guided injections for controlling thoracic spine and chest wall pain precisely and safely.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.480-483
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• 1997

In this paper, we have proposed an automatic inspection system for cracks on the surface of a structure. The proposed system consists of the imaging system and the veh~cle system. The imaging system. a set of optical sensor, lens, illuminator, storage and their configuration, images the scene and store it on the hard disk. We adopted a linescan camera of 5000 pixel density to achieve high resolution without loss of simplicity. The vehicle system that moves the optical system IS ~mplemented by an AGV. The AGV moves forward at constant velocity and avoid obstacles to acquire a stable image. We have cmplemented an experimental system and have acquired images of the wall of hallway. The image is of 0.1-mmipixel resolution and the scanning time IS about 1 mlsec. The allow able scan.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1998

Gated myocardial SPECT and attenuation correction gave birth to new insights into the pathophysiology of ischemic myocardial perfusion and function in clinical routine practice. Gated myocardial Tc-99m-compound SPECT improved diagnostic accuracy of coronary artery disease and enabled us to observe motion and thickening of myocardial walls as well as myocardial perfusion at the same time. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of myocardial performance and perfusion let us to understand the myocardial physiology in ischemia and infarction. In every patient who underwent gated perfusion SPECT, we will find ejection fraction, left ventricular volumes and regional wall motion. There are hopes to use gated TI-201 SPECT for the same purpose and to use gated SPECT for evaluation of wall motion and thickening at stress or immediate post-stress. Attenuation correction could improve diagnostic accuracy mainly by increasing normalcy ratio or performance of non-expert physicians. Both gated methods and attenuation correction improved specificity of non-expert physicians in diagnosing patients with moderate pretest likelihood. New imaging techniques will fill the desire of cardiologists to examine function and perfusion, and possibly metabolism in their clinical routine practice.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.92-95
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• 1996

Computed Radiography(CR) is a relatively new technology that relies on an image plate(IP) as an alternate x-ray sensor to screen/film. Standard CR cassettes do not have lead foil behind the IP to control scatter radiation. The result of this study indicate that such control is needed. In most screen/film cassettes, that lines the rear of the cassette eliminates back scatter radiation. This study was performed to Investigate on the effects of back scatter in CR images by size of exposure field, distance between the CR cassette and the wall of radiography room. 1. It showed artifacts from hinges and clips located on the back of CR cassette by back scatter radiation. 2. The greater effects of back scatter radiation in CR images was attributed to the greater size of exposure field and the longer distance between the CR cassette and the wall of radiography room.