• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) maximal intensity projection (MIP) reconstruction method in breast MRI. Materials and Methods : Total 54 breasts of consecutive 27 patients were examined by breast MRI. Breast MRI was performed using GE Signa Excite Twin speed (GE medical system, Wisconsin, USA) 1.5T. We obtained routine breast MR images including axial T2WI, T1WI, sagittal T1FS, dynamic contrast-enhanced T1FS, and subtraction images. 3D MIP reconstruction images were obtained as follows; subtraction images were obtained using TIPS and early stage of contrast-enhanced TIPS images. And then 3D MIP images were obtained using the subtraction images through advantage workstation (GE Medical system). We detected and analyzed the lesions in the 3D MIP and routine MRI images according to ACR $BIRADS^{(R)}$ MRI lexicon. And then we compared the findings of 3D MIP and those of routine breast MR images and evaluated whether 3D MIP had additional information comparing to routine MR images. Results : 3D MIP images detect the 43 of 56 masses found on routine MR images (76.8%). In non-mass like enhancement, 3D MIP detected 17 of 20 lesions (85 %). And there were one hundred sixty nine foci at 3D MIP images and one hundred nine foci at routine MR images. 3D MIP images detected 14 of 23 category 3 lesions (60.9%), 11 of 16 category 4 lesions (68.87%), 28 of 28 Category 5 lesions (100%). In analyzing the enhancing lesions at 3D MIP images, assessment categories of the lesions were correlated as the results at routine MR images (p-value < 0.0001). 3D MIP detected additional two daughter nodules that were descriped foci at routine MR images and additional one nodule that was not detected at routine MR images. Conclusion : 3D MIP image has some limitations but is useful as additional image of routine breast MR Images.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.17-21
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• 2004

With advancement of the medical imaging technology, the dynamic pelvic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has been introduced and used for dynamic MR defecography to improved diagnosis of the patients. At the early stage of its use, it was mostly used to diagnose enterocele or cystocele, then its use was extended to diagnose the organ prolapse and other dysfunctional pelvis organs. There now have been many reports of other diseases such as the functional constipation and others. This paper introduces the pelvis MRI and the dynamic MR defecography and reports the future trend in their clinical applications. Until recently, the studies with pelvic MRI were mostly focused on observing the movement of the pelvis in the supine position. Yang and 26 others reported good result in observing the patients with the pelvic organ prolapse by using the pubococcygeal line as the anatomical index. Using the fast gradient recalled acquisition (fast GRASS), they compared cystocoele, genitourinary prolapse, enterocoele and rectocoele with the control group. Kruyt et al. observed the posterior compartment and reported that MRI was more helpful than the fluoroscopy. Healy et al. applied the dynamic MRI test on the patients with constipation or incontinence as well as the control group without those symptoms. Since then, MRI technology has further advance by Lienemann, who was able to attain the more detailed images using the fast T2 weighted turbo spin echo technology, and others. If its limitation in diagnosing intussusception and the like, since the observation can be made only from the supine position, can be overcome with open MR or others, it is envisages that the method can eventually replace the radiological defecography.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigated the usefulness of MR perfusion image comparing with SPECT image. A total of pediatric 30 patients(average age : 7.8) with Moyamoya disease were performed MR Perfusion with 32 channel body coil at 3T from March 01, 2010 to June 10, 2010. The MRI sequences and parameters were as followed : gradient Echo-planar imaging(EPI), TR/TE : 2000ms/50ms, FA : $90^{\circ}$, FOV : $240{\times}240$, Matrix : $128{\times}128$, Thickness : 5mm, Gap : 1.5mm. Images were obtained contrast agent administrated at a rate of 1mL/sec after scan start 10s with a total of slice 1000 images(50 phase/1 slice). It was measured with visual color image and digitize data using MRDx software(IDL version 6.2) and also, it was compared of measurement with values of normal and abnormal ratio to analyze hemodynamic change, and a comparison between perfusion MR with technique using Warm Color at SPECT examination. On MR perfusion examination, the color images from abnormal region to the red collar with rCBV(relative cerebral blood volume) and rCBF(relative cerebral blood flow) caused by increase cerebral blood flow with brain vascular occlusion in surrounding collateral circulation advancement, the blood speed relatively was depicted slowly with blue in MTT(Mean Transit Time) and TTP(Time to Peak) images. The region which was visible abnormally from MR perfusion examination visually were detected as comparison with the same SPECT examination region, would be able to confirm the identical results in MMD(Moyamoya disease)judgments. Hymo-dynamic change in MR perfusion examination produced by increase and delay cerebral blood flow. This change with digitize data and being color imaging makes enable to distinguish between normal and abnormal area. Relatively, MR perfusion examination compared with SPECT examination could bring an excellent image with spatial resolution without radiation expose.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.2 s.142
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• pp.77-85
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• 2007

Among several diagnostic tools for clonorchiasis (Clonorchis sinensis infection), radiologic examinations are commonly used in clinical practices. During the 2 past decades, many reports regarding imaging findings of clonorchiasis were introduced. The basic imaging finding of clonorchiasis is diffuse dilatation of the peripheral intra-hepatic bile ducts, without dilation of the large intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. By this finding, however, active clonorchiasis cannot be differentiated from cured infection. Some recent radiologic studies suggested specific findings of active clonorchiasis. Besides direct demonstration of worms, increased periductal echogenicity on sonography and periductal enhancement on dynamic contrast-enhanced CT or MR imaging possibly represent active clonorchiasis. Those images of the liver clonorchiasis are known to be correlated with worm burdens (EPG counts) in their frequency and also severity. The images of cholangiocarcinoma associated with clonorchiasis show both the tumor with obstruction images and diffuse dilatation of the peripheral intrahepatic bile ducts. Radiological images can be a good practical alternative diagnostic method of clonorchiasis.

• 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 Magnetics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.421-424
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to evaluate an effectiveness of switching turbo direction to improve motion artifacts of small bowels and aorta. From June to October 2015, 60 patients suspected of having Crohn's disease were enrolled. The MR Enterography scans were performed using same protocol other than the turbo direction: with the Z phase encoding (group A) and with Y phase encoding (group B). Qualitative analysis of each group was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of switching turbo direction from Z to Y. As a result, the 5-point Likert scale for paired observers were $2.33{\pm}0.88$ for group A and $3.80{\pm}0.85$ for group B on dynamic contrast enhanced coronal images. In conclusion, group B is proved to be superior to group A and can lessen the motion artifacts derived from phase shifts.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.33-39
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• 2003

Purpose : Be aware of clinical possibilities on image quality by comparison of contrast-enhanced dynamic CT and MR imaging applied of MIP technique after the experimentally induced clonorchasis infection in dogs. Materials and Method : Twenty mongrel dogs prepared in zoo-laboratory were followed up with serial CT scans and MR imaging for 13 weeks after the experimental infection in liver. Two-phase helical CT was acquired in the supine position with the following scanning parameters. After the injection of contrast material, the arterial phase was initiated using a bolus-racking method. The portal phase scan was started 15 seconds after the arterial phase scan. CT protocol was determined after single level dynamic scans. MR imaging used the CP body coil and images get a 2D image using HASTE, FLASH, TSE pulse sequence. Bile duct MR imaging were obtained in three plans. Then each image was post processed by using target MIP algorithm. Two experimentation above, as a method of evaluation, one pathologist, three radiologist and five radiological technologist were analyzed visually for evaluation of following findings, enhancement of the bile duct wall, dilatation of bile duct tip, liver parenchyma, background suppression. Results : Five dogs was died of a disease after the infection, the rest one else shows the chronic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duct with CT and MR imaging. Contrast administration of CT shows the contrast-enhanced of the bile duct walls with live parenchyma. MR imaging calculated of CNR and CR from pulse sequence for comparative evaluation and shows the pattern of the intrahepatic bile duct, dilatation of bile duct tip using MIP technique. CNR of the clonorchiasis, HASTE was $16{\pm}0.83$, TSE $7.06{\pm}3.0$, FLASH $1.19{\pm}0.2$ and CR, HASTE was 73.3%, TSE 62.3%, FLASH 6.4%. Conclusion : CT and MR imaging is very usefulness in diagnosis of dog clonorchiasis.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.296-304
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• 2005

Quantitative analysis compare to dynamic characteristic change of the regional cerebral blood volume(rCBV) after development of cerebral fat embolism in cats using perfusion magnetic resonance(MR) Imaging. Twenty cats were used. Linoleic acid (n=11) were injected into the internal carotid artery using microcatheter through the transfemoral approach. Polyvinyl alcohol (Ivalon) (n=9) was injected as a control group. Perfusion MR images were obtained at 30 minutes and 2 hours after embolization, based on T2 and diffusion-weighted images. The data was time-to-signal intensity curve and ${\Delta}R_2^*$ curve were obtained continuously with the aid of home-maid image process algorithm and IDL(interactive data Banguage, USA) softwares. The ratios of rCBV increased significantly at 2 hours compared with those of 30 minutes (P<0.005). In conclusion, cerebral blood flow decreased in cerebral fat embolism immediately after embolization and recovered remarkably in time course. It is thought that clinically informations to dynamic characteristic change of the cerebral hemodynamics to the early finding in cerebral infarction by diffusion weighted imaging(DWI) and perfusion weighted imaging(PWI).

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.93-102
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• 2005

Purpose: To develop an advanced non-linear curve fitting (NLCF) algorithm for dynamic susceptibility contrast study of brain. Materials and Methods: The first pass effects give rise to spuriously high estimates of $K^{trans}$ in voxels with large vascular components. An explicit threshold value has been used to reject voxels. Results: By using this non-linear curve fitting algorithm, the blood perfusion and the volume estimation were accurately evaluated in T2*-weighted dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MR images. From the recalculated each parameters, perfusion weighted image were outlined by using modified non-linear curve fitting algorithm. This results were improved estimation of T2*-weighted dynamic series. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated an improvement of an estimation of kinetic parameters from dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data, using contrast agents. The advanced kinetic models include the relation of volume transfer constant $K^{trans}\;(min^{-1})$ and the volume of extravascular extracellular space (EES) per unit volume of tissue $\nu_e$.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.343-346
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• 2005

In this study, a basic concept of wavelet encoding and its advantages over Fourier based phase encoding application. Wavelet encoding has been proposed as an alternative way to Fourier based phase encoding in magnetic resonance imaging. In wavelet encoding, the RF pulse is designed to generate wavelet-shaped excitation profile of spins. From the resulting echo signals, the wavelet transform coefficients of spin distribution are acquired and an original spin density is reconstructed from wavelet expansion. Wavelet encoding has several advantages over phase encoding. By minimizing redundancy of the data acquisition in a dynamic series of images, we can avoid some encoding steps without serious loss of quality in reconstructed image. This strategy may be regarded as data compression during imaging. Although there are some limitations in wavelet encoding, it is a promising scheme in a dynamic imaging.