• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.200-204
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• 2015

Image findings of hepatic lymphoma have been reported as variable, ranging from single or multiple small nodules to diffuse infiltrative patterns. On MRI, most hepatic lymphomas show T1 low signal intensity, T2 high signal intensity. Dynamic imaging reveals a hypointense appearance in the arterial phase, followed by delayed enhancement in the portal venous and transitional phase. In the hepatobiliary phase using a hepatocyte-specific contrast agent (which have recently aided in increasing the access to the focal liver lesions), hepatic lymphoma is known to exhibit low signal intensity. We report a case of hepatic lymphoma, which shows iso-signal intensity on hepatobiliary phase, using gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA).

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.125-135
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate dynamic contrast-enhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) variables, for axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis in the early stage of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: January 2011-April 2015, 787 patients with early stage of breast cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Only cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, were included in the patient population. Among them, 240 patients who underwent 3.0-T DCE-MRI, including DWI with b value 0 and $800s/mm^2$ were enrolled. MRI variables (adjacent vessel sign, whole-breast vascularity, initial enhancement pattern, quantitative kinetic parameters, signal enhancement ratio (SER), tumor apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), peritumoral ADC, and peritumor-tumor ADC ratio) clinico-pathologic variables (age, T stage, multifocality, extensive intraductal carcinoma component (EIC), estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER-2 status, Ki-67, molecular subtype, histologic grade, and nuclear grade) were compared between patients with axillary lymph node metastasis and those with no lymph node metastasis. Multivariate regression analysis was performed, to determine independent variables associated with ALN metastasis, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), for predicting ALN metastasis was analyzed, for those variables. Results: On breast MRI, moderate or prominent ipsilateral whole-breast vascularity (moderate, odds ratio [OR] 3.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-9.51 vs. prominent, OR = 15.59, 95% CI 2.52-96.46), SER (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.09-2.59), and peritumor-tumor ADC ratio (OR = 6.77, 95% CI 2.41-18.99), were independently associated with ALN metastasis. Among clinico-pathologic variables, HER-2 positivity was independently associated, with ALN metastasis (OR = 23.71, 95% CI 10.50-53.54). The AUC for combining selected MRI variables and clinico-pathologic variables, was higher than that of clinico-pathologic variables (P < 0.05). Conclusion: SER, moderate or prominent increased whole breast vascularity, and peritumor-tumor ADC ratio on breast MRI, are valuable in predicting ALN metastasis, in patients with early stage of breast cancer.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.118-130
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients with post-concussion syndrome (PCS) using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and automatic whole brain segmentation. Materials and Methods: Forty-two consecutive mTBI patients with PCS who had undergone post-traumatic MR imaging, including DCE MR imaging, between October 2016 and April 2018, and 29 controls with DCE MR imaging were included in this retrospective study. After performing three-dimensional T1-based brain segmentation with FreeSurfer software (Laboratory for Computational Neuroimaging), the mean K^trans and v_p from DCE MR imaging (derived using the Patlak model and extended Tofts and Kermode model) were analyzed in the bilateral cerebral/cerebellar cortex, bilateral cerebral/cerebellar white matter (WM), and brainstem. K^trans values of the mTBI patients and controls were calculated using both models to identify the model that better reflected the increased permeability owing to mTBI (tendency toward higher K^trans values in mTBI patients than in controls). The Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman rank correlation test were performed to compare the mean K^trans and v_p between the two groups and correlate K^trans and v_p with neuropsychological tests for mTBI patients. Results: Increased permeability owing to mTBI was observed in the Patlak model but not in the extended Tofts and Kermode model. In the Patlak model, the mean K^trans in the bilateral cerebral cortex was significantly higher in mTBI patients than in controls (p = 0.042). The mean v_p values in the bilateral cerebellar WM and brainstem were significantly lower in mTBI patients than in controls (p = 0.009 and p = 0.011, respectively). The mean K^trans of the bilateral cerebral cortex was significantly higher in patients with atypical performance in the auditory continuous performance test (commission errors) than in average or good performers (p = 0.041). Conclusion: BBB disruption, as reflected by the increased K^trans and decreased v_p values from the Patlak model, was observed throughout the bilateral cerebral cortex, bilateral cerebellar WM, and brainstem in mTBI patients with PCS.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제24권8호
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• pp.784-794
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• 2023

Objective: To determine whether dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced (DSC) perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to evaluate posterior cerebral circulation in pediatric patients with moyamoya disease (MMD) who underwent anterior revascularization. Materials and Methods: This study retrospectively included 73 patients with MMD who underwent DSC perfusion MRI (age, 12.2 ± 6.1 years) between January 2016 and December 2020, owing to recent-onset clinical symptoms during the follow-up period after completion of anterior revascularization. DSC perfusion images were analyzed using a dedicated software package (NordicICE; Nordic NeuroLab) for the middle cerebral artery (MCA), posterior cerebral artery (PCA), and posterior border zone between the two regions (PCA-MCA). Patients were divided into two groups; the PCA stenosis group included 30 patients with newly confirmed PCA involvement, while the no PCA stenosis group included 43 patients without PCA involvement. The relationship between DSC perfusion parameters and PCA stenosis, as well as the performance of the parameters in discriminating between groups, were analyzed. Results: In the PCA stenosis group, the mean follow-up duration was 5.3 years after anterior revascularization, and visual disturbances were a common symptom. Normalized cerebral blood volume was increased, and both the normalized time-topeak (nTTP) and mean transit time values were significantly delayed in the PCA stenosis group compared with those in the no PCA stenosis group in the PCA and PCA-MCA border zones. TTP_PCA (odds ratio [OR] = 6.745; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.665-17.074; P < 0.001) and CBV_PCA-MCA (OR = 1.567; 95% CI = 1.021-2.406; P = 0.040) were independently associated with PCA stenosis. TTP_PCA showed the highest receiver operating characteristic curve area in discriminating for PCA stenosis (0.895; 95% CI = 0.803-0.986). Conclusion: nTTP can be used to effectively diagnose PCA stenosis. Therefore, DSC perfusion MRI may be a valuable tool for monitoring PCA stenosis in patients with MMD.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.192-199
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• 2013

목적: 국소적 전립선암의 고강도 집속 초음파 치료 후 국소적 암 재발을 발견하는데 있어 역동적 조영증강 자기공명영상의 진단적 능력을 T2 강조영상과 후향적으로 비교하고자 한다. 대상과 방법: 고강도 집속 초음파 치료을 시행 받은 이후 혈중 전립선 특이 항원 수치가 증가한 26명의 환자를 연구에 포함시켰다. 모든 환자는 T2 강조영상과 역동적 조영증강 자기공명영상을 시행 받은 후 경직장 초음파 유도하 조직 검사를 받았으며, 영상 소견과 조직 검사 결과는 전립선을 여섯 구획으로 분리 하여 비교하였다. 조직 검사 결과에서 암 병변이 있는 경우 국소적 암 재발로 정의하였으며, 영상 소견은 두 명의 독립적인 영상의학과 의사가 분석하였다. 결과: 156개의 전립선 구획에서 17명의 환자, 51 구획 (33%)에서 재발암 병변이 발견되었다. 국소적 암 재발의 발견에 있어 역동적 조영증강영상과 T2 강조영상의 민감도는 관찰자 1 에서 각각 80%와 57% (P < 0.001), 관찰자 2 에서 각각 84%와 61% (P < 0.001) 였다. 두 영상 방법간 특이도와 정확도는 두 관찰자에서 모두 유의한 차이가 없었다 (P > 0.05). 관찰자간 일치도에 있어 역동적 조영 증강 영상의 카파값은 0.52, T2 강조 영상의 카파값은 0.21 이었다. 결론: 국소적 전립선암의 고강도 집속 초음파 치료 후 국소적 암 재발을 발견하는데 있어 역동적 조영증강영상은 T2 강조영상보다 더욱 민감하며 관찰자간 일치도 역시 높다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2001

Objective: To determine the usefulness of perfusion MR imaging in assessing the histologic grade of cerebral gliomas. Materials and Methods: In order to determine relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), 22 patients with pathologically proven gliomas (9 glioblastomas, 9 anaplastic gliomas and 4 low-grade gliomas) underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced T2^*-weighted and conventional T1- and T2-weighted imaging. rCBV maps were obtained by fitting a gamma-variate function to the contrast material concentration versus time curve. rCBV ratios between tumor and normal white matter (maximum rCBV of tumor / rCBV of contralateral white matter) were calculated and compared between glioblastomas, anaplastic gliomas and low-grade gliomas. Results: Mean rCBV ratios were 4.90°±1.01 for glioblastomas, 3.97°±0.56 for anaplastic gliomas and 1.75°±1.51 for low-grade gliomas, and were thus significantly different; p < .05 between glioblastomas and anaplastic gliomas, p < .05 between anaplastic gliomas and low-grade gliomas, p < .01 between glioblastomas and low-grade gliomas. The rCBV ratio cutoff value which permitted discrimination between high-grade (glioblastomas and anaplastic gliomas) and low-grade gliomas was 2.60, and the sensitivity and specificity of this value were 100% and 75%, respectively. Conclusion: Perfusion MR imaging is a useful and reliable technique for estimating the histologic grade of gliomas.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.294-299
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• 2007

For efficient and accurate diagnosis of ultrasound images, appropriate time gain compensation(TGC) and dynamic range(DR) control of ultrasound echo signals are important. TGC is used for compensating the attenuation of ultrasound echo signals along the depth, and DR controls the image contrast. In recent ultrasound systems, these two factors are automatically set by a system and/or manually adjusted by an operator to obtain the desired image quality on the screen. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to find the optimized parameter values far TGC and DR automatically. In TGC optimization, we determine the degree of attenuation compensation along the depth by dividing an image into vertical strips and reliably estimating the attenuation characteristic of ultrasound signals. For DR optimization, we define a novel cost function by properly using the characteristics of ultrasound images. We obtain experimental results by applying the proposed algorithm to a real ultrasound(US) imaging system. The results verify that the proposed algorithm automatically sets values of TGC and DR in real-time such that the subjective quality of the enhanced ultrasound images may be sufficiently high for efficient and accurate diagnosis.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) powered by deep learning (DL) has shown remarkable progress in image recognition tasks. Over the past decade, AI has proven its feasibility for applications in medical imaging. Various aspects of clinical practice in neuroimaging can be improved with the help of AI. For example, AI can aid in detecting brain metastases, predicting treatment response of brain tumors, generating a parametric map of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, and enhancing radiomics research by extracting salient features from input images. In addition, image quality can be improved via AI-based image reconstruction or motion artifact reduction. In this review, we summarize recent clinical applications of DL in various aspects of neuroimaging.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.33-39
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• 2003

잡견의 간흡충증에서 조영기법의 역동적 CT 영상과 MIP 기법을 적용한 자기공명 영상의 질을 비교하여 임상적 적용 가능성을 알아보고자 하였다. 20마리의 잡견(평균 20kg)에 실험적으로 간흡충증을 유발한 후 13주 동안에 간을 중심으로 CT 영상과 MR 영상을 얻었다. CT는 이중나선식방법으로 영상을 획득하였고, bolustracking 방법으로 조영제를 주입하여 arterial phase는 5초 후에 정맥기는 동맥기 scan후 15초에 시작하여 single dynamic scan을 하고, 데이터를 다 단면 영상을 얻기 위해 MnP로 재구성을 하였다. MR 영상은 circularly polarized phased away body coil을 사용하였고, HASTE, FLASH, TSE 기법을 이용하여 모두 2차원 영상을 얻었다. HASTE와 TSE는 해상력을 증가시키기 위하여 interpolation과 지방소거기법을 적용하였다. 데이터를 획득하는 방식으로는 담관을 중심으로 3방향으로 수집한 다음 최대강도투사법으로 재구성하였다. CT와 MR 영상의 평가 방법으로서는 간내담관의 확장, 동맥기에 담관벽의 조영증강, 담관 말단부의 확장, 간의 실질조직묘사, 배경유무를 기점으로 병리학과 의사 1명과 방사선과 의사 3명, 방사선사 5명이 시각적으로 평가를 하였다. MR 영상의 경우 sequence 비교를 위해 정량적분석방법인 CNR과 CR로 평가를 하였다. 감염 후 5마리의 잡견은 죽었으며, 15마리 잡견에서 CT와 MR 검사에서 간내 담관의 만성 확장을 보여 주었다. 조영증강기법인 CT 영상에서는 간 실질조직을 비롯하여 담관벽의 조영증강이 보였고, MR 영상에서는 간내담관 형태와 담관의 말단부의 확장이 MIP 기법을 이용하여 3차원적으로 관찰되었고, CNR과 CR 값이 HASTE($16{\pm}0.83$, 73.3%), TSE($7.06{\pm}3.0$, 62.3%), FLASH($1.19{\pm}0.2$, 6.4%) 순으로 나타났다. CT와 MR 영상은 짧은 검사기법과 다양한 검사기법을 포함하고 있어 간흡충증을 영상화하는데 있어서 진단적 가치가 있다. CT와 MR 영상 검사의 장 단점을 서로 보안하여 검사를 시행한다면 높은 임상적 적용 가능성이 있다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.30-37
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• 2009

RO는 경계가 좋은 고형종괴로써, 석회화를 포함할 수 있다. 조영전 CT 영상에서 신실질과 유사한 밀도의 균일한 종괴로 보인다. 조영 후 영상에서는 불균일하게 조영증강되는데, 역동적 조영증강 검사의 동맥강조기에서 주변부는 강하게 조영증강되었다가 시간에 따라 점차 조영이 약해지고, 중앙부는 시간에 따라 점차 조영이 증강되어 시간에 따른 조영증강의 부분적 역전현상이 관찰되었다. 이러한 영상의학적 특징이 관찰되는 경우에는 RO의 가능성을 시사할 수 있으며 이를 통해 환자의 예후를 예측하고 수술 방법을 술전에 결정하는데 도움을 줄 수 있으리라 생각한다.