• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 1998

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.94-102
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• 1997

Purpose: There have been some efforts to diagnose intracranial aneurysm through a non-invasive method using MRA, although the process may be difficult when the lesion is less than 3mm. The present study prospectively compares the results of high resolution, fast speed slice interpolation MRA and DSA thereby examing the potentiality of primary non-invasive screening test. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 cerebral aneurysm lesions from 14 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured aneurysm (RA) and 5 patients with unruptured aneurysm(UA). In all subjects, MRA was taken to confirm the vessel of origin, definition of aneurysm neck and the relationship of the aneurysm to nearby small vessels, and the results were compared with the results of DSA. The images were obtained with 1.5T superconductive machine (Vision, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) on 4 slabs of MRA using slice interpolation. The settings include TR/TE/FA=30/6.4/25, matrix $160{\times}512$, FOV $150{\times}200$, 7minutes 42 seconds of scan time, effective thickness of 0.7 mm and an entire thickness of 102. 2mm. The images included structures from foramen magnum to A3 portion of anterior cerebral artery. MIP was used for the image analysis, and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) technique was used in cases of intracranial aneurysm. Results: A total of 26 intracranial aneurysm lesions from 19 patients with 2 patients having 3 lesion, 3 patients having 2 lesions and the rest of 14 patients having 1 lesion each were examined. Among those, 14 were RA and 12 were UA. Eight lesions were less than 2mm in size, 9 lesions were 3-5mm, 7 were 6-9mm and 2 were larger than IOmm. On initial exams, 25 out of 26 aneurysm lesions were detected in either MRA or DSA showing 96% sensitivity. Specificity cannot be estimated since there was no true negative of false positive findings. When MRA and MPR were used concurrently for the confirmation of size and shape, the results were equivalent to those of DSA, while in the confirmation of aneurysm neck and parent vessels, the concurrent use of MRA and MPR was far superior to the sole use of either MRA or DSA. Conclusion: High resolution MRA using slice interpolation technique showed equal results as those of DSA for the detection of intracranial aneurysm, and may be used as a primary non-invasive screening test in the future.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2012

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) techniques are widely used in diagnosis of vascular disorders such as hemadostenosis and aneurism. Especially, phase contrast (PC) MRA technique, which is a typical non contrast-enhanced MRA technique, provides not only the anatomy of blood vessels but also flow velocity. In this study, we developed the 2- and 3-dimensional PC MRA pulse sequences for a low magnetic field MRI system. Vessel images were acquired using 2D and 3D PC MRA and the velocities of the blood flow were measured in the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus and the confluence of the two. The 2D PC MRA provided the good quality of vascular images for large vessels but the poor quality for small ones. Although 3D PC MRA gave more improved visualization of small vessels than 2D PC MRA, the image quality was not enough to be used for diagnosis of the small vessels due to the low SNR and field homogeneity of the low field MRI system. The measured blood velocities were $25.46{\pm}0.73cm/sec$, $24.02{\pm}0.34cm/sec$ and $26.15{\pm}1.50cm/sec$ in the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus and the confluence of the two, respectively, which showed good agreement with the previous experimental values. Thus, the developed PC MRA technique for low field MRI system is expected to provide the useful velocity information to diagnose the large brain vessels.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2009

Purpose : To compare 12 and 32-element surface coil arrays for highly accelerated coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using parallel imaging. Materials and Methods : Steady state free precession coronary MRA was performed in 5 healthy volunteers at 1.5 T whole body MR scanner using both 12 and 32-element surface coil arrays. Left anterior descending and right coronary artery data sets were acquired for each volunteer. Data sets were sub-sampled for parallel imaging using reduction factors from 1 to 6. Mean geometry factor (g-factor), maximum g-factor, and artifact level were calculated for each of the two coil arrays. Results : Over all reduction factors, the mean and maximum g-factors and artifact level were significantly reduced using the 32-element array compared to the 12element array (P << 0.1). The mean g-factor was sensitive to the imaging orientations of coronary arteries while the maximum g-factor and artifact level were independent of orientation. Conclusion : The 32-element surface coil array significantly improves artifact and noise suppression for highly accelerated coronary MRA using parallel imaging. The increased acceleration factors made feasible with the 32-element array offer the potential to enhance spatial resolution or increase volumetric coverage for 3D coronary MRA.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 1998

Purpose : Authors correlated the three-dimensional time-of-flight MRA signal intensity characteristics and flow profile simulated by computer in an experimental flow phantom model. Materials and Methods : The three-dimensional time-of-flight MRA was performed in a fusiform flow phantom and analyzed the flow signal. computer assisted flow simulation was performed in same flow geometry. The MRA signal intensity and flow velocity distribution and direction was compared. Results : The flow was depicted as homogeneous signal internsity in inlet and outlet area and inhomogeneous signal intensity in fusiform area. Typically, the flow was depicted as target appearance in transition area to outlet. Whereas mean signal internsity decreased slowly in fusiform area, it rapidly dropped and resumed in transition area to outlet. In computer assisted flow simulation, Whereas there were flow velocity decrease and flow direction change to peripheral in entrance to fusiform area, ther were rapid flow velocity resuming and flow direction change to central in transition area to outlet. Conclusion : The signal loss and target appearance in transition area to outlet is characteristic of fusiform flow. These signal changes correlate with abrupt flow velocity and direction change well.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.139-139
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• 2001

목적： 경동맥 분지부에서 내경동맥 협착에 대한 평가에 있어서 삼차원 조영증강 자기공명혈관조영술의 정확도를 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법： 삼차원 조영증강 자기공명혈관조영술(3D Contrast-enhanced MRA)과 디지털감산혈관 조영술(Digital Subtraction Angiography, DSA)을 모두 시행한 35명의 환자, 68예의 내경동맥을 분석하였다. 내경동맥 협착의 측정은 North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectom Trial (NASCET) 기준을 이용하였다. 두 가지 검사에서 협착 정도를 경도(mild：0-29％), 중등도(moderate：30-69％), 심한 협착(severe：70-99％), 완전 폐색(occlusion：100％)등 네 그룹으로 나누었다. 두 명의 관찰자(A,B)가 DSA에서 측정한 협착 정도를 기준으로 3D Contrast-enhanced MRA에서 측정한 협착 정도를 비교하여 두 검사 방법간에 판정 일치율과 차이점을 분석하였다.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.48-48
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• 1999

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.173-178
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• 1999

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of functional MRI (fMRI) of visual cortex in patients with ischemic infarction in the occipital lobe. Materials and Methods : Four patients with the symptoms and signs of visual cortical ischemia were included. Functional MRI was performed by 2D-FLASH technique with the parameter of 90/56msec TR/TE, $40^{\circ}$ flip angle, $240{\times}240{\;}FOV,{\;}64{\times}128$ matrix number, 8.32 seconds acquisition time, 8mm slice thickness. An axial slice including both visual cortices was selected and alternative activation and resting of the visual cortex was performed using red color photostimulator. all patients undertook visual field test, and vascular abnormality was examined by MRA (n=4) and DSA (n=2). fMRI results were compared with the results of a visual field test, conventional MRI and cerebral angiography. Results : On fMRI, decreased activity of the visual cortex was found in the occipital lobe corresponding to stenosis of the posterior cerebral artery or its branch noted on angiogram. However, 2 of 4 patients showed no abnormal findings on conventional MRI. Visual field defect was noted in 3 patients, one and of whom showed no abnormality on conventional MRI and diffusion-weighted image, but revealed decreased activity in the corresponding visual cortex on fMRI. Conclusion : fMRI may be a sensitive method for detection of the status of decreased blood flow or vascular reserve which other methods can not.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.162-162
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• 2003

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.6
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• pp.1360-1365
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• 2022

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare, progressive, premature aging syndrome with early morbidity due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Clinical symptoms are very diverse, including non-specific symptoms such as growth retardation, scleroderma, alopecia, and osteoporosis, as well as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases that occur in childhood and adolescence due to accelerated vascular aging. In patients with HGPS, MR angiography is recommended for early diagnosis of asymptomatic stroke or vascular changes and to assess increased risk of cerebrovascular disease. We report the second domestic case of HGPS confirmed by genetic analysis in a 5-year-old child with typical clinical features, and the first English case report in Korea to present brain MR angiography findings.