• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.281-292
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• 2021

Cranial-nerve disorders can be caused by a wide spectrum of diseases, including congenital, inflammatory, and tumorous diseases, and are often encountered in practice. However, the imaging of cranial-nerve disorders is challenging, and understanding the anatomical differences of each region is essential for conducting the best protocols and for detecting subtle changes in cranial nerves during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. In this review we discuss which MRI techniques are best for observing normal and pathologic appearance, according to the different regions of the cranial nerves.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2019

Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plays an important role in non-invasive detection and characterization of primary and metastatic lesions in the liver. Recently, efforts have been made to improve spatial and temporal resolution of DCE liver MRI for arterial phase imaging. Review of recent publications related to arterial phase imaging of the liver indicates that there exist primarily two approaches: breath-hold and free-breathing. For breath-hold imaging, acquiring multiple arterial phase images in a breath-hold is the preferred approach over conventional single-phase imaging. For free-breathing imaging, a combination of three-dimensional (3D) stack-of-stars golden-angle sampling and compressed sensing parallel imaging reconstruction is one of emerging techniques. Self-gating can be used to decrease respiratory motion artifact. This article introduces recent MRI technologies relevant to hepatic arterial phase imaging, including differential subsampling with Cartesian ordering (DISCO), golden-angle radial sparse parallel (GRASP), and X-D GRASP. This article also describes techniques related to dynamic 3D image reconstruction of the liver from golden-angle stack-of-stars data.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2020

The demand for drug-induced sedation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans have substantially increased in response to increases in MRI utilization and growing interest in anxiety in children. Understanding the pharmacologic options for deep sedation and general anesthesia in an MRI environment is essential to achieve immobility for the successful completion of the procedure and ensure rapid and safe discharge of children undergoing ambulatory MRI. For painless diagnostic MRI, a single sedative/anesthetic agent without analgesia is safer than a combination of multiple sedatives. The traditional drugs, such as chloral hydrate, pentobarbital, midazolam, and ketamine, are still used due to the ease of administration despite low sedation success rate, prolonged recovery, and significant adverse events. Currently, dexmedetomidine, with respiratory drive preservation, and propofol, with high effectiveness and rapid recovery, are preferred for children undergoing ambulatory MRI. General anesthesia using propofol or sevoflurane can also provide predictable rapid time to readiness and scan times in infants or children with comorbidities. The selection of appropriate drugs as well as sufficient monitoring equipment are vital for effective and safe sedation and anesthesia for ambulatory pediatric MRI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2015

Purpose: To investigate factors influencing the evaluation of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) at follow-up breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after adjuvant endocrine therapy. Materials and Methods: One hundred twelve women with breast cancer and MRI of the contralateral unaffected breast before and after endocrine therapy were identified. Two readers in consensus performed blinded side-by-side comparison of BPE (minimal, mild, moderate, and marked) before and after therapy with categorical scales. Age, body mass index, menopausal status, treatment regimen (selective estrogen receptor modulator or aromatase inhibitor), chemotherapy, follow-up duration, BPE at baseline MRI, MRI field strength before and after therapy, and recurrence were analyzed for their influences on decreased BPE. Results: Younger age, premenopausal status, treatment with selective estrogen receptor modulator, MRI field strength, and moderate or marked baseline BPE were significantly associated with decreased BPE. In multivariate analysis, MRI field strength and baseline BPE showed a significant association. Conclusion: MRI field strength and baseline BPE before and after therapy .were associated with decreased BPE at post-therapy, follow-up MRI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.252-265
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• 2021

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) serves as a clinical gold-standard non-invasive imaging technique for the assessment of global and regional cardiac function. Conventional cardiac MRI is limited by the long acquisition time, the need for ECG gating and/or long breathhold, and insufficient spatiotemporal resolution. Real-time cardiac cine MRI refers to high spatiotemporal cardiac imaging using data acquired continuously without synchronization or binning, and therefore of potential interest in overcoming the limitations of conventional cardiac MRI. Novel acquisition and reconstruction techniques must be employed to facilitate real-time cardiac MRI. The goal of this study is to discuss methods that have been developed for real-time cardiac MRI. In particular, we classified existing techniques into two categories based on the use of non-iterative and iterative reconstruction. In addition, we present several research trends in this direction, including deep learning-based image reconstruction and other advanced real-time cardiac MRI strategies that reconstruct images acquired from real-time free-breathing techniques.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.198-212
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• 2021

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is an abnormal placental adherence or invasion of the myometrium or extrauterine structures. As PAS is primarily staged and managed surgically, imaging can only guide and facilitate diagnosis. But, imaging can aid in preparations for surgical complexity in some cases of PAS. Ultrasound remains the imaging modality of choice; however, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is required for evaluation of areas difficult to visualize on ultrasound, and the assessment of the extent of placenta accreta. Numerous MRI features of PAS have been described, including dark intraplacental bands, placental bulge, and placental heterogeneity. Failure to diagnose PAS carries a risk of massive hemorrhage and surgical complications. This article describes a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to diagnostic imaging and its potential pitfalls.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2012

High-resolution carotid MRI allows visualization of carotid atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. MRI serves as a noninvasive option for the detection of active plaque inflammation and intraplaque hemorrhage. Significant gains in signal-tonoise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio can be obtained for carotid atheroma imaging at 3T compared with 1.5T. Normalized wall index or wall area on MRI has shown its efficacy in monitoring the response after medical therapy. $T(2)^*$ quantification in carotid plaques before and after the administration of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles shows difference in response to treatment according to drug doses. In conclusion, high-resolution MRI is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of carotid atherosclerotic plaques prone to transient ischemic attack and stroke.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.39.1-39.20
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• 2018

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced diagnostic tool used in both medicine and dentistry. Since it functions based on a strong uniform static magnetic field and radiofrequency pulses, it is advantageous over imaging techniques that rely on ionizing radiation. Unfortunately, the magnetic field and radiofrequency pulses generated within the magnetic resonance imager interact unfavorably with dental materials that have magnetic properties. This leads to unwanted effects such as artifact formation, heat generation, and mechanical displacement. These are a potential source of damage to the oral tissue surrounding the affected dental materials. This review aims to compile, based on the current available evidence, recommendations for dentists and radiologists regarding the safety and appropriate management of dental materials during MRI in patients with orthodontic appliances, maxillofacial prostheses, dental implants, direct and indirect restorative materials, and endodontic materials.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2022

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used to detect and characterize focal hepatic lesions. Because gadoxetic acid is a hepatocyte-specific contrast agent, its patterns during hepatobiliary phase enhancement provide useful information for differential diagnoses of focal hepatic lesions. Hepatic angiomyolipoma (AML) is a rare mesenchymal hepatic neoplasm composed of blood vessels, epithelioid cells, and varying amounts of adipose tissue components. Hepatic AMLs usually show marked hypointensity during the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI as hepatic AMLs are devoid of hepatocytes and fibrotic components. The present study describes a patient with hepatic AML and an atypical imaging feature. This tumor showed hyperintensity during the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI, mimicking hepatocellular tumors such as hepatocellular adenoma. The hepatobiliary hyperintensity of this lesion was likely due to multifocal entrapped hepatocytes resulting from an intrasinusoidal growth pattern of tumor cells and insufficient hepatic parenchymal enhancement during the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2019

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) arising from the descending thoracic aorta is a rare type of tumor. To our knowledge, only a few cases have been reported in the literature. We present computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging findings of a 43-year-old male patient with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the descending thoracic aorta, which showed enhancement on only magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI with contrast enhancement may be useful in differentiating an aortic tumor from atherosclerotic disease.