• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2007

Purpose: To acquire high-resolution spiral-scan images at higher magnetic field, high homogeneous magnetic field is needed. Field inhomogeneity mapping and in-vivo shimming are important for rapid imaging such as spiral-scan imaging. The rapid scanning sequences are very susceptible to inhomogeneity. In this paper, we proposed a higher-order shimming method to obtain homogeneous magnetic field. Materials and Methods: To reduce measurement time for field inhomogeneity mapping, simultaneous axial/ sagittal, and coronal acquisitions are done using multi-slice based Fast Spin echo sequence. Acquired field inhomogeneity map is analyzed using the spherical harmonic functions, and shim currents are obtained by the multiplication of the pseudo-inverse of the field pattern with the inhomogeneity map. Results: Since the field inhomogeneity is increasing in proportion to the magnetic field, higher order shimming to reduce the inhomogeneity becomes more important in high field imaging. The shimming technique in which axial, sagittal, and coronal section inhomogeneity maps are obtained in one scan is developed, and the shimming method based on the analysis of spherical harmonics of the imhomogenity map is applied. The proposed technique is applicable to a localized shimming as well. High resolution spiral-scan imaging was successfully obtained with the proposed higher order shimming. Conclusion: Proposed pulse sequence for rapid measurement of inhomogeneity map and higher order shimming based on the inhomogeneity map work very well at 3 Tesla MRI system. With the proposed higher order shimming and localized higher order shimming techniques, high resolution spiral-scan images are successfully obtained at 3 T MRI system.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.294-298
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• 1997

In the magnetic resonance imaging, the fast spin echo imaging technique is a widely used clinical imaging method, since its scanning time is much shorter than the conventional spin echo imaging and it gives the almost same image quality. However, the fast spin echo technique has two times longer imaging time or the dual echo acquisition which can obtain a spin density image and a $T_2$-weighted image simultaneously. To overcome such a drawback, this paper proposes a new fast dual echo imaging technique which can give the same quality images at the single echo imaging time. The proposed technique reduces the imaging time by overlapping most of echo train data for each image reconstruction. In order to verify its validity and usability the human head experimental results which were obtained at the 0.3T permanent MRI system are presented.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fast inversion recovery (FIR) and magnetization-prepared three dimensional gradient echo sequence (3D GRE) T1-weighted sequences for neonatal brain imaging compared with spin echo (SE) sequence in a 3T MR unit. Materials and Methods: T1-weighted axial SE, FIR and 3D GRE sequences were evaluated from 3T brain MR imaging in 20 neonates. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of different tissues was measured and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were determined and compared in each of the sequences. Visual analysis was carried out by grading gray-white matter differentiation, myelination, and artifacts. The Wilcoxon signed ranked test was used for evaluation of the statistical significance of CNR differences between the sequences. Results: Among the three sequences, the 3D GRE had the best SNRs. CNRs obtained with FIR and 3D GRE were statistically superior to those obtained with SE; these CNRs were better on the 3D GRE compared to the FIR. Gray to white matter differentiation and myelination were better delineated on the FIR and 3D GRE than the SE. However, motion artifacts were more commonly observed on the 3D GRE and flow-related artifacts of vessels were frequently seen on the FIR. Conclusion: FIR and 3D GRE are valuable alternative T1-weighted sequences to conventional SE imaging of the neonatal brain at 3T providing superior image quality.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.218-228
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• 2018

Purpose: The objective of this study is to determine the effect of physical changes on MR temperature imaging at 7.0T and to examine proton-resonance-frequency related changes of MR phase images and T1 related changes of MR magnitude images, which are obtained for MR thermometry at various magnetic field strengths. Materials and Methods: An MR-compatible capacitive-coupled radio-frequency hyperthermia system was implemented for heating a phantom and swine muscle tissue, which can be used for both 7.0T and 3.0T MRI. To determine the effect of flip angle correction on T1-based MR thermometry, proton resonance frequency, apparent T1, actual flip angle, and T1 images were obtained. For this purpose, three types of imaging sequences are used, namely, T1-weighted fast field echo with variable flip angle method, dual repetition time method, and variable flip angle method with radio-frequency field nonuniformity correction. Results: Signal-to-noise ratio of the proton resonance frequency shift-based temperature images obtained at 7.0T was five-fold higher than that at 3.0T. The T1 value increases with increasing temperature at both 3.0T and 7.0T. However, temperature measurement using apparent T1-based MR thermometry results in bias and error because B1 varies with temperature. After correcting for the effect of B1 changes, our experimental results confirmed that the calculated T1 increases with increasing temperature both at 3.0T and 7.0T. Conclusion: This study suggests that the temperature-induced flip angle variations need to be considered for accurate temperature measurements in T1-based MR thermometry.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 1999

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of proton-weighted fast spin-echo MR imaging in diagnosing the meniscal tear of knee as an reasonable substitute for conventional spin-echo imaging. Materials and Methods : 102 consecutive patients, proved by surgery, proved by surgery, were participated in this study. All of them were suspected internal derangement of knee, examined by fast spin-echo MR imaging including sagittal and coronal images on a 1.5T MR imager and underwent arthroscopic or open surgery of knee joint within 2 months. These images were reviewed retrospectively by three radiologists. The sensitivity and specificity of meniscal tear were calculated. Results : The sensitivity and specificity of meniscal tear using proton-weighted fast spin-echo MR imaging were 94%, 93% inmedialmeniscus and 92%, 88% in lateral meniscus. Conclusion : The sensitivity and specificity of meniscal tear using proton weighted fast-spin echo MR images were as high as those using conventional spin-echo images. The proton-weighted fast-spin echo MR imaging can be an alternative to conventional spin-echo MR imaging in diagnosing meniscal tear of the knee.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.11
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• pp.173-176
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• 1995

We have developed a fast steady state free precession interferometry (SSFPI) technique which is useful for the fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging). As is known, SSFP sequence with a suitable adjustment of gradient (readout) allows us to measure precession angle $\theta$ which is in turn related to the field inhomogeneity [1-3]. When the method is applied to the susceptibility effect based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), it was found that the direct susceptibility effect measurement was possible without perturbations such as the backgrounds and inflow effect. In this paper, simulation results and experimental results obtained with 2.0 Tesla MRI system are also presented.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.281-285
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• 2016

The purpose of study was to evaluate SNR and CNR with different contrast agent contents (1.0 mmol/mL gadobutrol and 0.5 mmol/mL gadoterate meglumine) for spin echo (SE) and 3-dimension contrast-enhanced fast field echo (3D CE-FFE) pulse sequences. In this study, we compared the SNR and the CNR between 0.5 mmol/mL gadoterate meglumine and 1.0 mmol/mL gadobutrol according to the concentration of contrast agent in brain MRI. When we compared between SE and 3D CE-FFE pulse sequences, the higher SNR and CNR using 3D CE-FFE pulse sequence can be acquire regardless of contrast agent contents. Also, a statistically significant difference was found for SNR and CNR between all protocols. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that the SNR and CNR have not risen proportionately with contrast agent contents. We hope that these results presented in this paper will contribute to decide contrast agent contents for brain MRI.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.16-16
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• 2003

Purpose： Recently, a major interesting method of fast MR imaging is sensitivity encoding (SENSE) using arrays of multiple receiver coils. In this study, we have designed and implemented a 4-channel head array coil and optimized the structure and arrangement of the coil to improve the performance.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.26 no.1
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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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.81-100
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• 2020

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) has been increasingly used in recent years for the assessment of peripheral neuropathies. Fat suppression T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) have typically been used to provide high contrast MRN. Isotropic 3-dimensional (3D) sequences with fast spin echo, post-processing imaging techniques, and fast imaging methods, among others, allow good visualization of peripheral nerves that have a small diameter, complex anatomy, and oblique course within a reasonable scan time. However, there are still several issues when performing high contrast and high resolution MRN including standard sequence; fat saturation techniques; balance between resolution, field of view, and slice thickness; post-processing techniques; 2D vs. 3D image acquisition; different T2 contrasts between proximal and distal nerves; high T2 signal intensity of adjacent veins or joint fluid; geometric distortion; and appropriate p-values on DWI. The proper understanding of these issues will help novice radiologists evaluate peripheral neuropathies using MRN.