• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.210-222
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• 2017

Purpose: To develop a novel combination of controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) with integrated SSFP (CAIPI-iSSFP) for accelerated SSFP imaging without banding artifacts at 3T. Materials and Methods: CAIPI-iSSFP was developed by adding a dephasing gradient to the balanced SSFP (bSSFP) pulse sequence with a gradient area that results in $2{\pi}$ dephasing across a single pixel. Extended phase graph (EPG) simulations were performed to show the signal behaviors of iSSFP, bSSFP, and RF-spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) sequences. In vivo experiments were performed for brain and abdominal imaging at 3T with simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) acceleration factors of 2, 3 and 4 with CAIPI-iSSFP and CAIPI-bSSFP. The image quality was evaluated by measuring the relative contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and by qualitatively assessing banding artifact removal in the brain. Results: Banding artifacts were removed using CAIPI-iSSFP compared to CAIPI-bSSFP up to an SMS factor of 4 and 3 on brain and liver imaging, respectively. The relative CNRs between gray and white matter were on average 18% lower in CAIPI-iSSFP compared to that of CAIPI-bSSFP. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that CAIPI-iSSFP provides up to a factor of four acceleration, while minimizing the banding artifacts with up to a 20% decrease in the relative CNR.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권9호
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• pp.1525-1536
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of cine three-dimensional (3D) balanced steady-state free precession (b-SSFP) imaging combined with a non-local means (NLM) algorithm for image denoising in evaluating cardiac function in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients with rTOF (mean age, 12 years; range, 7-18 years) were enrolled to undergo cardiac cine image acquisition, including two-dimensional (2D) b-SSFP, 3D b-SSFP, and 3D b-SSFP combined with NLM. End-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), and ejection fraction (EF) of the two ventricles were measured and indexed by body surface index. Acquisition time and image quality were recorded and compared among the three imaging sequences. Results: 3D b-SSFP with denoising vs. 2D b-SSFP had high correlation coefficients for EDV, ESV, SV, and EF of the left (0.959-0.991; p < 0.001) as well as right (0.755-0.965; p < 0.001) ventricular metrics. The image acquisition time ± standard deviation (SD) was 25.1 ± 2.4 seconds for 3D b-SSFP compared with 277.6 ± 0.7 seconds for 2D b-SSFP, indicating a significantly shorter time with the 3D than the 2D sequence (p < 0.001). Image quality score was better with 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than with 3D b-SSFP (mean ± SD, 3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). Signal-to-noise ratios for blood and myocardium as well as contrast between blood and myocardium were higher for 3D b-SSFP combined with denoising than for 3D b-SSFP (p < 0.05 for all but septal myocardium). Conclusion: The 3D b-SSFP sequence can significantly reduce acquisition time compared to the 2D b-SSFP sequence for cine imaging in the evaluation of ventricular function in children with rTOF, and its quality can be further improved by combining it with an NLM denoising method.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.119-128
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• 2007

목적 : 이 연구는 낮은 b값의 SSFP-확산강조영상에 의한 물분자의 확산 성질 측정이 가능한지를 알기 위한 모형연구를 하고 이 기법이 골수질환에 적용이 가능한 가를 아는 것이 목적이다. 재료 및 방법: 모형 연구：순수한 물로 구성된 모형에서 확산강조 영상을 시행하였다. 섭씨 3도, 23도 그리고 63도의 순수한 물로 구성된 모형에서 SSFP 확산강조영상과 echo plannar imaging (EPI) 확산강조영상 (b값: $1000s/mm^2$)을 모두 시행하여 각각에서 신호 대 잡음 비 (SNR; signal to noise ratio)와 확산계수를 얻었다. 임상 연구 : 10명의 천골 부족 골절, 10명의 골다공증에 의한 급성 요추 압박골절, 그리고 전이암에 의한 요추 압박골절 8명에서 각각 SSFP 확산강조영상을 시행하였다. SSFP 확산 강조영상 외 확산계수를 측정하기 위해 single shot stimulated echo-acquisition mode sequence 를 이용한 확산강조영상을 시행하였다. 결과: 모형연구에서 EPI 확산 강조영상뿐만 아니라 SSFP 확산강조영상에서 물의 온도가 증가됨에 따라 신호강도의 감소를 보였다. EPI-확산계수 영상에서 확산계수 값은 3도의 물은 $0.13{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$, 23도는 $0.22{\times}10^{-3}mm2/s$ 그리고 63도에서 $0.37{\times}10^{-3}mm^2/s$를 나타냈다. 이러한 결과는 SSFP 기법은 비록 낮은 b 값을 가지지만 확산 강조 영상으로 확신된다. SSFP 확산강조영상에서 모든 천골 부족 골절과 골다공증 척추 압박골절은 높은 확산계수를 의미하는 저신호강도를 전이암에 의한 압박골절은 낮은 확산 값을 나타내는 고신호 강도를 보였다. 결론 : SSFP 확산강조영상에서 다른 확산계수를 가진 골수질환이 영상화 되었으며 모든 양성골절은 주위 정상 골수에 비해 저신호강도, 악성 종양에 의한 골절은 고신호강도로 관찰되었다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권12호
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• pp.1221-1231
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• 2023

Objective: To clinically validate the feasibility and accuracy of cine images acquired through the multitasking method, with no electrocardiogram gating and free-breathing, in measuring left ventricular (LV) function indices by comparing them with those acquired through the balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) method, with multiple breath-holds and electrocardiogram gating. Materials and Methods: Forty-three healthy volunteers (female:male, 30:13; mean age, 23.1 ± 2.3 years) and 36 patients requiring an assessment of LV function for various clinical indications (female:male, 22:14; 57.8 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the multiple breath-hold bSSFP method and free-breathing multitasking method. LV function parameters were measured for both MRI methods. Image quality was assessed through subjective image quality scores (1 to 5) and calculation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the myocardium and blood pool. Differences between the two MRI methods were analyzed using the Bland-Altman plot, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate. Results: LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the two MRI methods (P = 0.222 in healthy volunteers and P = 0.343 in patients). LV end-diastolic mass was slightly overestimated with multitasking in both healthy volunteers (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 60.5 ± 10.7 g vs. 58.0 ± 10.4 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and patients (69.4 ± 18.1 g vs. 66.8 ± 18.0 g, respectively; P = 0.003). Acceptable and comparable image quality was achieved for both MRI methods (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P = 0.203). The CNR between the myocardium and blood pool showed no significant differences between the two MRI methods (18.89 ± 6.65 vs. 18.19 ± 5.83, respectively; P = 0.480). Conclusion: Multitasking-derived cine images obtained without electrocardiogram gating and breath-holding achieved similar image quality and accurate quantification of LVEF in healthy volunteers and patients.

• 정보처리학회논문지B
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• 제15B권6호
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• pp.507-516
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• 2008

최근 연구 결과에 따르면 여러가지 질환 중에 심장 질환으로 인한 사망률이 가장 높은 것으로 나타났다. 임상 실습에서 심장 기능은 좌심실을 수동윤곽검출하여 혈류량이나 심박구출률을 계산하여 분석하지만, 많은 시간과 비용을 필요로 한다. 본 연구에서는 심장을 촬영한 단축 자기공명영상을 사용하여 자동 좌심실 분할 알고리즘을 제안한다. 코일 위치에 따른 왜곡을 보상하고, 에지 정보를 검출하고 특성에 따라 분류한후에, 영역 확장 기법을 사용하여 좌심실을 분할하였다. 또한 부분 복셀소(voxel)의 영향을 고려하였다. 코넬대학교 IRB의 승인하에 38 명의 심장 자기공명영상을 사용하여 제안한 알고리즘을 수동윤곽검출 및 GE MASS 소프트웨어와 비교하였다. 심장의 이완기와 수축기에 혈류량은 부분 복셀소 영향을 고려하지 않을 경우 각각 $3.3mL{\pm}5.8$(표준편차)와 $3.2mL{\pm}4.3$, 부분 복셀소 영향을 고려한 경우 각각 $19.1mL{\pm}8.8$와 $10.3mL{\pm}6.1$의 정확도를 보였다. 심박구출률은 부분 복셀소 영향을 고려하지 않은 경우와 고려한 경우에 대해서 각각 $-1.3%{\pm}2.6$ 와 $-2.1%{\pm}2.4$의 정확도를 보였다. 이를 통해 제안한 알고리즘이 정확하고 정기적인 임상 실습에 유용함을 확인할 수 있다.