• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2008

Purpose : By using the micro-imaging unit modified from NMR spectrometer, the high resolution MRI protocols of finer than 100 micron in 5 minutes, is sought for mouse, which plays a central role in animal studies Materials and Methods : C57BL/6 mouse, lighter than 50 gram, is used for the experiments. The superconducting magnet is vertical type with 89 mm inner diameter at 4.9 Tesla. The diameter of rf-coil is 30 mm. Mostly used techniques are the fast spin echo and the gradient echo pulse sequence. Results : For 2D images, proton density and T2 weighted images are obtained and their optimum experimental variables were sought. Minute structure of mouse brain can be recognized and 3D brain image is also obtained additionally. 3D image will be useful particularly for the dynamic contrast study using various contrast agents. Conclusion : Like the case of human and other small animals, the high resolution of mouse brain is enough to recognize the minute structure of it. Recently, similar studies are reported domestically, but it seems only a beginning stage. Due to easiness of breeding/control, mouse MRI study will soon play a vital part in brain study.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.11
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• pp.157-160
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• 1996

In this paper, reconstruction algorithms of spiral scan imaging which has been used for ultra fast magnetic resonance imaging have been reviewed, and some simulation results using two different algorithms are reported. Since the trajectory of the spiral scan in k-space is the spiral, reconstruction of the spiral scan is not as straight forward as that used in Fourier imaging technique where the sampling points are usually on the rectangular grids. Originally the reconstruction of the spiral scan imaging was based on the convolution backprojection algorithm modified with a shift term, however, some other reconstruction techniques have also been tried by remapping sampling points from spiral trajectory to Cartesian grids. Some experimental aspects of MR spiral scan imaging will also be addressed.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.259-270
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• 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been studied in various fields of medical imaging. Currently, top-notch deep learning (DL) techniques have led to high diagnostic accuracy and fast computation. However, they are rarely used in real clinical practices because of a lack of reliability concerning their results. Most DL models can achieve high performance by extracting features from large volumes of data. However, increasing model complexity and nonlinearity turn such models into black boxes that are seldom accessible, interpretable, and transparent. As a result, scientific interest in the field of explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is gradually emerging. This study aims to review diverse XAI approaches currently exploited in medical imaging. We identify the concepts of the methods, introduce studies applying them to imaging modalities such as computational tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and endoscopy, and lastly discuss limitations and challenges faced by XAI for future studies.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 1992

The temporomandibular joint was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging using a urface coil in 11 patients having reciprocal clicking or locking and compared with the normal joint in five subjects. Serial multisection 3㎜-thick parasagittal, paracoronal, and axial image on both closing and opening mouth were obtained with a 1.5 Tesla MR system and surface coil using CSMEMP, GRASS, MPGR, powerful extensions of fast imaging that is currently under clinical evaluation. MR images obtained were analized correlating with the theory of internal derangement. The obtained results were as follows: 1. The serial findings of structures in joint were determined on the serially sectioned images of joint with reciprocal clicking or locking by CSMEMP and MPGR on closing mouth. 2. The delta shaped white images of synovial fluid in the glenoid fossa and on the posterior surface of condyle were revealed on the parasagittal images by MPGR on opening mouth as in the normal joints. 3. The white image of joint fluid surrounding meniscus was recognized on the paracoronal image by GRASS on opening mouth as in the normal joints. 4. In joints having temporomandibular dysfunction the smooth image of displaced meniscus was recognized, but otherwise in the normal joints the image of muscle was noted on the paracoronal image sectioned at the anterior portion of condyle by GRASS. 5. The more thickened fascial plane between superior and inferior belly of lateral pterygoid muscle was not recognizable in joints having temporomandibular dysfunction than in the normal joints.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1999

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality, contrast characteristics, and possible clinical utility of Medium Tau Inversion Recovery(MTIR) sequence with white matter suppression in patients with brain cortical lesion. Materials and methods : Two normal volunteers and twenty-one patients with cortical lesion were scanned with MTIR as well as other MR imaging sequences. Gray-white matter contrast was evaluated objectively using region-of-interest calculations, including percent contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR). MTIR sequence was visually compared with other sequences in 21 patients with cortical lesion including conspicuity and detection rate. Results : MTIR sequence had the highest present contrast and CNR between the gray matter and white matter. In twenty-one cases of cortical lesion including cortical dysplasia, MTIR sequence improved delineation and conspicuity of lesion, but MTIR sequence could not detect new lesions. Conclusion : The MTIR sequence well delineated the cortical lesions, particularly in including cortical dysplasia. It may be used as an adjunctive imaging sequence in case of poor gray and white matter differentiation with conventional T1-weighted sequences.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 2002

Aneurysm-mimicking findings were frequently visualized due to hemodynamical causes of dephasing effects around area of A-com artery during magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) and these kind of phenomena have not been clearly known yet. We investigated the hemodynamical patterns of dephasing effect around area of the A-com artery that might be a cause of false intracranial aneurysms on MRA. For experimental study, We used hand-made silicon phantoms of the asymmetric A-com artery as like a bifurcation configuration. In a closed circulatory system with UHDC computer driven cardiac pump system. MRA and fast digital subfraction angiography(DSA) involved the use of these phantoms. Flow patterns were evaluated with axial and coronal imaging of MRA(2D-TOF, 3D-TOF) and DSA of Phantoms constructed from an automated closed-type circulatory system filled with glycerol solution [circulation fluid(glycerol:water = 1:1.4)]. These findings were then compared with those obtained from computational fluid dynamic(CFD) for inter-experimental correlation study. Imaging findings of MRA, DSA and CFD on inflow zone according to the following: a) MRA demonstrated high signal intensity zone as inflow zone on silicon phantom; b) Patterns of DSA were well matched with MRA on trajectory of inflow zone; and c) CFD were well matched with MRA on the pattern of main flow. Imaging findings of MRA. DSA and CFD on turbulent flow zone according to the following: a) MRA demonstrated hyposignal intensity zone at shoulder and axillar zone of main inflow; b) DSA delineated prominent vortex flow at the same area. The hemodynamical causes of signal defect, which could Induce the false aneurysm on MRA, turned out to be dephasing effects at axilla area of bifurcation from turbulent flow as the results of MRA, DSA and CFD.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.136-136
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• 2001

Purpose： Subclavian steal refers to the retrograde flow of blood in a vertebral artery that supplies t ipsilateral shoulder and arm caused by proximal subclavian artery stenosis or occlusion. T purpose of this exhibit is to demonstrate MR findings of subclavian steal on contrast-enhanc 3D (CE 3DMRA) and 2D TOF MR angiography. Method： Four patients(men 3 and women 1, age： 28-78years) with subclavian steal obtained both CE 3DMRA and digital subtraction angiography(DSA) including subclavian arterie Sequential imaging was undertaken during first pass after double dose of Gd-DTPA (0 mM/kg) Injected by a power injector. Coronal source images were obtained with coronal D-fast low angle shot sequence(TR/TE/flip angle=3.8/l.3/35, acquisition time= 10sec/one measurement). Precontrast imaging was subtracted from enhanced images and maximu intensity projection was done. 2D time-of-flight MR angiography(2D TOF) of the carot bifurcation was added in all cases with post-saturation. All studies were review retrospectively.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2000

Purpose: Projection-type Fast Spin Echo (PFSE) imaging is robust to patient motion or flow related artifact compared to conventional Fast Spin Echo (FSE) imaging, however, it has difficulty in controlling $T_2$ contrast. In this paper, Tz contrast in the PFSE method is analyzed and compared with those of the FSE method with various effective echo times by computer simulation. The contrasts in the FSE and PFSE methods are also compared by experiments with volunteers. From the analysis and simulation, it is shown that ${T_2}-weighted$ images can well be obtained by the PFSE method proposed. Materials and methods: Pulse sequence for the PFSE method is implemented at a 1.0 Tesla whole body MRI system and $T_2$ contrasts in the PFSE and FSE methods are analyzed by computer simulation and experiment with volunteers. For the simulation, a mathematical phantom composed of various $T_2$ values is devised and $T_2$ contrast in the reconstructed image by the PFSE is compared to those by the FSE method with various effective echo times. Multi-slice ${T_2}-weighted$ head images of the volunteers obtained by the PFSE method are also shown in comparison with those by the FSE method at a 1.0 Tesla whole body MRI system. Results: From the analysis, $T_2$ contrast by the PFSE method appears similar to those by the FSE method with the effective echo time in a range of SO-lOOms. Using a mathematical phantom, contrast in the PFSE image appears close to that by the FSE method with the effective echo time of 96ms. From experiment with volunteers, multi-slice $T_2-weighted$ images are obtained by the PFSE method having contrast similar to that of the FSE method with the effective echo time of 96ms. Reconstructed images by the PFSE method show less motion related artifact compared to those by the FSE method. Conclusion: The projection-type FSE imaging acquires multiple radial lines with different angles in polar coordinate in k space using multiple spin echoes. The PFSE method is robust to patient motion or flow, however, it has difficulty in controlling $T_2$ contrast compared to the FSE method. In this paper, it is shown that the PFSE method provides good $T_2$ contrast (${T_2}-weighted$ images) similar to the FSE method by both computer simulation and experiments with volunteers.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.377-382
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• 1994

In the conventional Fourier imaging method in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), intramotion such as pulsatile flow makes zipper-like artifact along the phase encoding direction. On the other hand, line-integral projection reconstruction (LPR) method has advantages such as imaging of short T2, object and reduction of the flow artifact by elimination of the flow-induced phase fluctuation. The LPR, however, necessarily requires time consuming filtering and back-projection processes, so that the reconstruction takes long time. To overcome the long reconstruction time of the LPR and to obtain the flow artifact reduction effect, we adopted phase corrected concentric square raster sampling (CSRS) method and improved its imaging performance. The CSRS is a fast reconstruction method which has the same properties with the LPR. In this paper, we proposed a new method of flow artifact reduction using the CSRS method. Through computer simulations and experiments, we verified that the proposed method can eliminate phase fluctuations, thereby reducing the flow artifact and re- markably shorten the reconstruction time which required long time in the LPR.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2010

Purpose : To compare the relative values of various fast breath-hold imaging sequences for superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO)-enhanced hepatic MRI for the assessment of solid focal lesions with a 3T MRI unit. Materials and Methods : 102 consecutive patients with one or more solid malignant hepatic lesions were evaluated by spoiled gradient echo (GRE) sequences with three different echo times (2.4 msec [GRE_2.4], 5.8 msec [GRE_5.8], and 10 msec [GRE_10]) for $T2^*$-weighted imaging in addition to T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence following intravenous SPIO injection. Image qualities of the hepatic contour, vascular landmarks and artifacts were rated by two independent readers using a four-point scale. For quantitative analysis, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was measured in 170 solid focal lesions larger than 1 cm (107 hepatocellular carcinomas, nine cholangiocarcinomas and 54 metastases). Results : GRE_5.8 showed the highest mean points for hepatic contour, vascular anatomy and imaging artifact presence among all of the subjected sequences (p<0.001) and was comparable (p=0.414) with GRE_10 with regard to lesion conspicuity. The mean CNRs were significantly higher (p<0.001) in the following order: GRE_10 ($24.4{\pm}14.5$), GRE_5.8 ($14.8{\pm}9.4$), TSE ($9.7{\pm}6.3$), and GRE_2.4 ($7.9{\pm}6.4$). The mean CNRs of CCCs and metastases were higher than those of HCCs for all imaging sequences (p<0.05). Conclusion : Regarding overall performances, GRE using a moderate echo time of 5.8 msec can provide the most reliable data among the various fast breath-hold SPIO-enhanced hepatic MRI sequences at 3T unit despite the lower CNR of GRE_5.8 compared to that of GRE_10.