• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.86-93
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• 2018

Purpose: Imaging plays a significant role in diagnosing leptomeningeal metastases. However, the most appropriate sequence for the detection of leptomeningeal metastases has yet to be determined. This study compares the efficacies of contrast-enhanced T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and contrast-enhanced 3D T1 black-blood fast spin echo (FSE) imaging for the detection of leptomeningeal metastases. Materials and Methods: Tube phantoms containing varying concentrations of gadobutrol solution were scanned using T2 FLAIR and 3D T1 black-blood FSE. Additionally, 30 patients with leptomeningeal metastases were retrospectively evaluated to compare conspicuous lesions and the extent of leptomeningeal metastases detected by T2 FLAIR and 3D T1 black-blood FSE. Results: The signal intensities of low-concentration gadobutrol solutions (< 0.5 mmol/L) on T2 FLAIR images were higher than in 3D T1 black-blood FSE. The T2 FLAIR sequences exhibited significantly greater visual conspicuity scores than the 3D T1 black-blood sequence in leptomeningeal metastases of the pial membrane of cistern (P = 0.014). T2 FLAIR images exhibited a greater or equal extent (96.7%) of leptomeningeal metastases than 3D T1 black-blood FSE images. Conclusion: Because of its high sensitivity even at low gadolinium concentrations, contrast-enhanced T2 FLAIR images delineated leptomeningeal metastases in a wider territory than 3D T1 black-blood FSE.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.25-30
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• 2012

목적: 3-T 자기공명영상장치에서 시행한 3D-FLAIR 및 3D-T1-FFE-FS영상에서의 정상안면신경의 조영증강 양상의 비교가 그 목적이다. 대상과 방법: 측두골 자기공명영상을 촬영한 환자 중 안면신경이상의 과거력이 없는 20명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 두 명의 영상의학전문의가 정상안면신경의 조영증강을 평가하기 위해 조영증강 전후의 3D-T1-FFE-FS영상과 3D-FLAIR영상을 2주 간격으로 독립적으로 분석하였다. 안면신경은 5개의 분절로 나누었고 조영증강의 정도는 없거나 약하게 혹은 강하게 되는 경우로 나누어 분석하였다. 결과: 3D-FLAIR영상에서 한 명의 평가자가 두 예의 안면신경 슬부에 약한 조영증강이 있다고 보았다. 3D-T1-FFE-FS영상에서는 13예의 안면신경에서 최소 한 분절 이상 조영증강이 있다고 하였고, 최소 한 명의 평가자가 안면신경의 총 100개 분절 중 17개의 분절에서 조영증강이 있다고 분석하였으며, 유양분절의 빈도가 가장 높았다. 3D-T1-FFE-FS영상에서 정상안면신경의 조영증강에 대한 평가자간의 일치도는 ${\kappa}$값 0.589로 우수하였다. 결론: 3D-T1-FFE-FS영상과 달리 3D-FLAIR영상에서 정상안면신경은 거의 조영증강되지 않는다.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2019

Our purpose was to evaluate usefulness of the contrast-enhanced 3 dimensional fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) technique of half brain volume to diagnose the patients with facial neuritis based on segment-based analysis. We assessed retrospectively 17 consecutive patients who underwent brain MR imaging at 3 tesla for facial neuritis: 11 patients with idiopathic facial neuritis and 6 with herpes zoster oticus. Contrast enhanced 3D-FLAIR sequences of the half brain volume were analyzed and 3D T1-weighted sequence of the full brain volume were used as the base-line exam. Enhancement of the facial nerve was determined in each segment of 5 facial nerve segments by two radiologists. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of enhancement of each segment were assessed. The authors experienced a prompt fuzzy CSF enhancement in the fundus of the internal auditory canal in patients with enhancement of the canalicular segment. Interobserver agreement of CE 3D-FLAIR was excellent(${\kappa}$-value 0.885). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of each segment are 1.0, 0.823, 0.912 in the canalicular segment; 0.118, 1.0, 0.559 in the labyrinthine segment; 0.823, 0.294, 0.559 in the anterior genu; 0.823, 0.529, 0.676 in the tympanic segment; 0.823, 0.235, 0.529 in the mastoid segment, respectively. In addition, those of prompt fuzzy enhancement were 0.647, 1.0, and 0.824, respectively. Incidence of prompt fuzzy enhancement with enhancement of the canalicular segment was 11 sites(55%): 6 (54.5%) in idiopathic facial neuritis and 5 (83.3%) in herpes zoster. Enhancement of the canalicular segment and prompt fuzzy enhancement on CE 3D-FLAIR was significantly correlated with occurrence of facial neuritis (p<0.001). CE 3D-FLAIR technique of the half brain volume is useful to evaluate the patients with facial neuritis as an adjunct sequence in addition to contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted sequence. On segment-based analysis, contrast enhancement of the canalicular segment is the most reliable. Prompt fuzzy enhancement is seen in not only herpes zoster, but in idiopathic facial neuritis.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.162-167
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• 2015

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of quantitative analysis of the facial nerve using contrast-enhanced three-dimensional (CE 3D) fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-volume isotopic turbo spin echo acquisition (FLAIR-VISTA) for the diagnosis of Bell's palsy in pediatric patients. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients (24 nerves) with unilateral acute facial nerve palsy underwent MRI from March 2014 through March 2015. The unaffected sides were included as a control group. First, for quantitative analysis, the signal intensity (SI) and relative SI (RSI) for canalicular, labyrinthine, geniculate ganglion, tympanic, and mastoid segments of the facial nerve on CE 3D FLAIR images were measured using regions of interest (ROI). Second, CE 3D FLAIR and CE T1-SE images were analyzed to compare their diagnostic performance by visual assessment (VA). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of RSI measurement and VA were compared. Results: The absolute SI of canalicular and mastoid segments and the sum of the five mean SI (total SI) were higher in the palsy group than in the control group, but with no significant differences. The RSI of the canalicular segment and the total SI were significantly correlated with the symptomatic side (P = 0.028 and 0.015). In 11/12 (91.6%) patients, the RSI of total SI resulted in accurate detection of the affected side. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for detecting Bell's palsy were higher with RSI measurement than with VA of CE 3D FLAIR images, while those with VA of CE T1-SE images were higher than those with VA of CE 3D FLAIR images. Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of the facial nerve using CE 3D FLAIR imaging can be useful for increasing the diagnostic performance in children with Bell's palsy when difficult to diagnose using VA alone. With regard to VA, the diagnostic performance of CE T1-SE imaging is superior to that of CE 3D FLAIR imaging in children. Further studies including larger populations are necessary.

• 대한디지털의료영상학회논문지
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.13-19
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• 2014

Purpose: FLAIR image is beneficial for the diagnosis of various bran diseases including ischemic CVS, brain tumors and infections. However the border between the legion of brain metastasis and surrounding edema may not be clear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the practical benefits of delayed imaging by comparing the image from a patient with brain metastasis before a contrast enhancement and the image 10 minutes after a contrast enhancement. Materials and methods: Of the 92 people who underwent MRI brain metastases in suspected patients 13 people in three patients there is no video to target the 37 people confirmed cases, and motion artifacts brain metastases in our hospital June-December 2013, 18 people measurement position except for the three incorrect patient (male: 11 people, female: 7 people, average age: 60 years) in the target, test equipment, 3.0T MR System (ACHIEVA Release, Philips, I was 8ChannelSENSE Head Coil use Best, and the Netherlands). TR 11000 ms, TE 125 ms, TI2800 ms, Slice Thickness 5 mm, gap 5 mm, is a Slice number 21, the parameters of the 3D FFE, T2 FLAIR variable that was used to test, TR 8.1 ms, TE 3.7 ms, Slice number 240 I set to. The experiment was conducted by acquiring the FLAIR prior to contrast enhancement (heretofore referred to as Pre FLAIR), and acquiring the 3D FFE CE five minutes after the contrast enhancement, and recomposing the images in an axial plane of S/T 3mm, G 0mm (heretofore referred to as MPR TRA CE). Using the FLAIR 10 minutes after the contrast enhancement (heretofore referred to as Post FLAIR) and Pi-View, a retrospective study was conducted. Using MRIcro on the image of a patient confirmed for his diagnosis, the images before and after the contrast media, as well as the CNR and SNR of the MPR TRA CE images of the lesion and the site absent of lesion were compared and analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance. Results: CNR for Pre FLAIR and Post FLAIR were 34.35 and 60.13, respectively, with MPR TRA CE at 23.77 showing no significant difference (p<0.050). Post-experiment analysis shows a difference between Pre FLAIR and Post FLAIR in terms of CNR (p<0.050), but no difference in CNR between Post FLAIR and MPR TRA CE (p>0.050), indicating that the contrast media had an effect only on Pre FLAIR and Post FLAIR. The SNR for the normal site Pre FLAIR was 106.43, and for the lesion site 140.79. Post FLAIR for the normal site was 107.79, and for the lesion site 167.91. MPR TRA CE for the normal site was 140.23 and for the lesion site 183.19, showing significant difference (p<0.050), and post-experiment analysis shows that there was a difference in SNR only on the lesion sites for Pre FLAIR and Post FLAIR (p<0.050). There was no difference in SNR between the normal site and lesion site for Post FLAIR and MPR TRA CE, indicating no effect from the contrast media (p>0.050). Conclusions: This experiment shows that Post FLAIR has a higher contrast than Pre FLAIR, and a higher SNR for lesions, It was not not statistically significant and MPR TRA CE but CNR came out high. Inspection of post-contrast which is used in a high magnetic field is frequently used images of 3D T1 but, since the signal of the contrast medium and the blood flow is included, this method can be diagnostic accuracy is reduced, it is believed that when used in combination with Post FLAIR, and that can provide video information added to the diagnosis of brain metastases.

• 전자공학회논문지
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.182-192
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• 2015

본 논문에서는 GBCA(Gadolinium Based Contrast Agent)를 이용한 MRI 검사 시 다양한 MR 시퀀스에 따른 GBCA 몰농도별 조영증강 변화를 알아보기 위해 자체 제작한 MR 팬텀을 사용하여 정량적으로 평가 분석하고자 하였다. MR 팬텀을 제작하기 위해 28개의 용기에 500 mmol Gadoteridol을 saline과 혼합하여 각각 500 부터 0 mmol 까지 몰농도를 서로 다르게 하였다. 제작된 MR phantom을 1.5T MRI 장비에서 물리학적 기전이 서로 다른 T1 SE, T2 FLAIR, T1 FLAIR, 3D FLASH, T1 3D SPACE, 3D SPCIR 시퀀스로 스캔하여 신호강도 변화를 측정 한 후 비교 분석 하였다. T1 Spin echo는 Total SI(Signal Intensity)가 15608.7, Max peak는 1 mmol에서 1352.6, T2 FLAIR는 Total SI가 9106.4, Max peak는 0.4 mmol에서 1721.6, T1 FLAIR에서는 Total SI가 20972.5, Max peak는 1 mmol에서 1604.9, 3D FLASH는 Total SI가 20924.0, Max peak는 40 mmol에서 1425.7, 3D SPACE 1mm는 Total SI가 6399.0, Max peak는 3 mmol에서 528.3, 3D SPACE 5mm는 Total SI가 6276.5, Max peak는 2 mmol에서 514.6, 3D SPCIR의 경우는 Total SI가 1778.8, Max peak는 0.4 mmol에서 383.8의 신호강도를 보였다. T1 SE를 포함한 대부분의 시퀀스에서 몰농도가 높았을 때 보다는 대체적으로 일정이상 희석이 이루어진 비교적 낮은 농도에서 높은 신호강도를 보였다. 또한 서로 다른 물리학적 기전의 다양한 MR시퀀스에서 GBCA의 조영증강 패턴 역시 모두 달랐다. 본 연구를 통해 얻어진 시퀀스에 따른 GBCA 농도별 반응에 대한 정량적 데이터를 통하여 실제 임상에서의 조영증강검사에 있어서 효율적인 MR검사 프로토콜에 활용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.32-42
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• 2022

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical benefit of 2D contrast-enhanced T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (CE-T2 FLAIR) image for detecting leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) in the brain metastasis work-up for lung cancer. Materials and Methods: From June 2017 to July 2019, we collected all consecutive patients with lung cancer who underwent brain magnetic resonance image (MRI), including contrast-enhanced 3D fast spin echo T1 black-blood image (CE-T1WI) and CE-T2 FLAIR; we recruited clinico-radiologically suspected LM cases. Two independent readers analyzed the images for LM in three sessions: CE-T1WI, CE-T2 FLAIR, and their combination. Results: We recruited 526 patients with suspected lung cancer who underwent brain MRI; of these, we excluded 77 (insufficient image protocol, unclear pathology, different contrast media, poor image quality). Of the 449 patients, 34 were clinico-radiologically suspected to have LM; among them, 23 were diagnosed with true LM. The calculated detection performance of CE-T1WI, CE-T2 FLAIR, and combined analysis obtained from the 34 suspected LM were highest in the combined analysis (AUC: 0.80, 0.82, and 0.89, respectively). The inter-observer agreement was also the highest in the combined analysis (0.68, 0.72, and 0.86, respectively). In quantitative analyses, CNR of CE-T2 FLAIR was significantly higher than that of CE-T1WI (Wilcoxon signed rank test, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Adding CE-T2 FLAIR might provide better detection for LM in the brain-metastasis screening for lung cancer.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.161-170
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• 2009

목적 : 평행영상(Parallel imaging)기법의 개발로 긴 촬영시간 때문에 종종 사용되지 못하던 삼차원 영상기법이 최근 들어 환자 병을 진단하는데 새로이 사용되고 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 최근에 뇌 영상에서 개발되어 이용되고 있는 삼차원 자기공명영상을 사람의 뇌에서 짧은 시간 내에 얻을 수 있도록 2차원 평행영상 기법을 사용한 최적화 방법을 연구하는데 있다. 대상 및 방법 : 검사 장비는 3.0T 자기공명영상장치를 이용하였으며 8-채널 SENSE(sensitivity encoding) 머리 코일을 이용하였다. 팬텀 및 3명의 사람 머리에서 영상을 얻었다. 세 가지의 삼차원 영상법인 3D T1WI, 3D T2WI 및 3D FLAIR 영상 방법에 대하여 평행인자(SENSE factor)의 변화에 따른 팬텀 영상을 얻었다. 각각의 영상법에서 영상획득에 적당한 SENSE 인자를 찾기 위해 Phase encoding 방향과 Slice encoding 방향을 조합한 SENSE 인자를 변화시키면서 영상을 얻었다. 영상분석을 위하여 특정영역(ROI)를 설정한 후에 신호대 잡음비 (Signal-to-noise ratio, SNR), 감소분율(Percent Signal Reduction Rate, %R), 대조도(contrast-to-noise ratio, CNR)를 계산하였다. 결과 : 팬텀을 이용한 SENSE 인자 변화에 따른 SNR 및 %R 값의 변화 결과 3D T1WI 방법에서 SENSE 인자를 사용한 것들 중에서 SENSE 인자를 총 3인 경우 약 0.2%의 신호 감소가 나타났고 영상시간은 5분 이내였다. 3D T2WI 방법의 경우 SENSE 인자를 사용한 것들 중에서 SENSE 인자를 총 3인 경우에 약 1.0% 신호 감소가 나타났고 영상 시간은 약 5분 이내였다. 3D FLAIR 방법의 경우 SENSE 인자를 사용한 것들 중에서 SENSE 인자를 4를 사용한 경우에 약 0.2% 신호 감소가 나타났고 영상시간은 약 6분이었다. 사람을 대상으로 할 경우 3D T1W 및 3D T2W영상에서 SNR 및 CNR은 SENSE 인자를 3으로 한 경우에서 SENSE 인자를 4로 한 경우 보다 높게 나타났다. 3D FALIR 영상의 경우 CNR은 SENSE 4에서는 SENSE 3에 비하여 낮았다. 결론 : 본 연구에서는 3가지 3차원 영상법을 실제 임상적용이 가능한 시간 영역에서 SENSE 인자를 변화 시키면서 치적의 영상을 얻도록 하는 연구를 실시한 결과 SNR 감소를 최소화 하면서 영상획득 시간을 약 5분에서 6분 정도 소요되는 2차원 SENSE 인자를 찾았다. 이를 뇌 영상에 적용하였을 경우 SENSE 인자를 적용하지 않은 경우와 비교하면 신호 감소는 최소화 하면서 영상의 질은 큰 영향을 주지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 3D T1W및 3D T2W는 SENSE 인자를 3으로 3D FLAIR인자는 SENSE 인자를 4로 하는 것이 환자를 대상으로 한 뇌 영상에 적합하다고 생각된다. 앞으로는 이들 영상법이 뇌 영상뿐만 아니라 다른 영역의 영상에 적용을 위한 최적화가 필요하다고 생각된다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.197-200
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• 2021

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a disease caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection that can be diagnosed through clinical symptoms with or without imaging evaluations. The typical features of RHS on imaging evaluation include signal changes and enhancement in the internal auditory canal (IAC) nerves, and the labyrinthine segment of cranial nerve VII (CN VII) and cranial nerve VIII (CN VIII). In some patients, inner ear structure (cochlear and vestibular apparatus) is involved in RHS. Neurologic complications, such as encephalitis and meningitis, are rare in RHS, but are known to occur. Therefore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is necessary to detect both abnormal signal intensity in the IAC, CN VII, CN VIII, inner and ear structure, and CNS complications. We report an RHS patient with CN VII, VIII, and leptomeningeal enhancement within the cerebellar folia on 10-min delayed, contrast-enhanced (CE), three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) imaging.

• 한국정보통신학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정보통신학회 2022년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.416-418
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• 2022

신경교종(glioma)은 신경교세포에서 발생하는 뇌 종양으로 low grade glioma와 예후가 나쁜 high grade glioma로 분류된다. 자기공명영상(magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI)은 비침습적 수단으로 이를 이용한 신경교종 진단에 대한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 또한, 단일 modality의 정보 한계를 극복하기 위해 다중 modality를 조합하여 상호 보완적인 정보를 얻는 연구도 진행되고 있다. 본 논문은 네가지 modality(T1, T1Gd, T2, T2-FLAIR)의 MRI 영상에 입력단 fusion을 적용한 3D CNN 기반의 모델을 제안한다. 학습된 모델은 검증 데이터에 대해 정확도 0.8926, 민감도 0.9688, 특이도 0.6400, AUC 0.9467의 분류 성능을 보였다. 이를 통해 여러 modality 간의 상호관계를 학습하여 신경교종의 등급을 효과적으로 분류함을 확인하였다.