• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.241-250
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between quantitative magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers, and clinical performances in chronic phase of carbon monoxide intoxication. Materials and Methods: Eighteen magnetic resonance scans and cognitive evaluations were performed, on patients with carbon monoxide intoxication in chronic phase. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratios of affected versus unaffected centrum semiovale, and corpus callosum were obtained. Signal intensity (SI) ratios between affected centrum semiovale, and normal pons in T2-FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) images were obtained. The Mini-Mental State Exam, and clinical outcome scores were assessed. Correlation coefficients were calculated, between MRI and clinical markers. Patients were further classified into poor-outcome and good-outcome groups based on clinical performance, and imaging parameters were compared. T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was compared, with that of 18 sex-matched and age-matched controls. Results: T2-SI ratio of centrum semiovale was significantly higher in the poor-outcome group, than that in the good-outcome group and was strongly inversely correlated, with results from the Mini-Mental State Exam. ADC ratios of centrum semiovale were significantly lower in the poor outcome group than in the good outcome group, and were moderately correlated with the Mini-Mental State Exam score. Conclusion: A higher T2-SI and a lower ratio of ADC values in the centrum semiovale, may indicate presence of more severe white matter injury and clinical impairment. T2-SI ratio and ADC values in the centrum semiovale, are useful quantitative imaging biomarkers for correlation with clinical performance in individuals with carbon monoxide intoxication.

• 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.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.136-145
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• 2023

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe neuropsychiatric abnormality in patients with either acute or chronic liver failure. Typical brain magnetic resonance imaging findings of HE are bilateral basal ganglia high signal intensities due to manganese deposition in chronic liver disease and hyperintensity in T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, or diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with hemispheric white matter changes including the corticospinal tract. Low values on apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of the affected area on DWI, indicating cytotoxic edema, can be observed in acute HE. However, neuropsychological impairment in HE ranges from mild deficits in psychomotor abilities affecting quality of life to stupor or coma with higher grades of hepatic dysfunction. In particular, the long-lasting compensatory mechanisms for the altered metabolism in chronic liver disease make HE imaging results variable. Therefore, the clinical relevance of imaging findings is uncertain and differentiating HE from other metabolic diseases can be difficult. The recent introduction of concepts such as "acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF)," a new clinical entity, has led to a change in the clinical view of HE. Accordingly, there is a need to establish a corresponding concept in the field of neuroimaging diagnosis. Herein, we review HE from a historical and etiological perspective to increase understanding of brain imaging and help establish an imaging approach for advanced new concepts such as ACLF. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an understanding of HE by reviewing neuroimaging findings based on pathological and clinical concepts of HE, thereby assisting in neuroimaging interpretation.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.178-182
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• 2024

A 10-year-old spayed female Poodle was referred for blindness. On ophthalmic examination, loss of bilateral ocular pupil light reflex, visual loss, and right retinal detachment were confirmed at a local hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was performed to identify the optic nerve, optic chiasm, and brain disease. A sessile mass centered on the region of the optic chiasm was identified. The mass had iso- to hypointense on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T2-weighted images and mildly hypointense on T1-weighted images compared to the gray matter, with strong contrast enhancement. Peripheral edema was also identified. Computed tomography (CT) brain perfusion was performed to obtain additional hemodynamic information about the patient using a multislice CT. CT perfusion showed that the cerebral blood volume in the left temporal lobe region (13.4 ± 1.6 mL/100 g) was decreased relative to the contralateral region (19.9 ± 0.3 mL/100 g). The patient showed decreased appetite and consciousness one week after the CT scan with clinical symptoms worsened. The patient had seizure, tetraparesis, and loss of consciousness. It was euthanized one month later at the request of the owner. This report suggests that CT brain perfusion can provide additional hemodynamic information such as insufficient brain perfusion in sellar region tumor which can help assess potential complications and prognosis and plan treatment.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.183-191
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• 2001

Objective: To document the signal characteristics of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) at evolving stages on diffusion-weighted images (DWI) by comparison with conventional MR images. Materials and Methods: In our retrospective study, 38 patients with ICH underwent a set of imaging sequences that included DWI, T1-and T2-weighted imaging, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). In 33 and 10 patients, respectively, conventional and echo-planar T2^* gradient-echo images were also obtained. According to the time interval between symptom onset and initial MRI, five stages were categorized: hyperacute (n=6); acute (n=7); early subacute (n=7); late subacute (n=10); and chronic (n=8). We investigated the signal intensity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of ICH and compared the signal intensities of hematomas at DWI and on conventional MR images. Results: DWI showed that hematomas were hyperintense at the hyperacute and late subacute stages, and hypointense at the acute, early subacute and chronic stages. Invariably, focal hypointensity was observed within a hyperacute hematoma. At the hyperacute, acute and early subacute stages, hyperintense rims that corresponded with edema surrounding the hematoma were present. The mean ADC ratio was 0.73 at the hyperacute stage, 0.72 at the acute stage, 0.70 at the early subacute stage, 0.72 at the late subacute stage, and 2.56 at the chronic stage. Conclusion: DWI showed that the signal intensity of an ICH may be related to both its ADC value and the magnetic susceptibility effect. In patients with acute stroke, an understanding of the characteristic features of ICH seen at DWI can be helpful in both the characterization of intracranial hemorrhagic lesions and the differentiation of hemorrhage from ischemia.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.149-154
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• 2001

목적 : 급성 거미막하 출혈의 진단에 있어 CT와 비교하여 fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) MR영상의 유용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 증상 발생 3일 이내에 비조영 CT와 FLAIR MR영상을 모두 얻었던 28명의 급성 지주막하 출혈 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 거미막하 공간을 피질구, 실비우스열구, 기저조, 후두와의 4부위로 나누어 각 부위 별로 CT와 FLAIR영상에서 출혈이 보이는 정도를 0(출혈 없음), 1(출혈 의심), 2(뚜렷한 출혈)의 점수로 구분하여 평가하였다. 또한 이들 28명 환자와 대조군 35명의 FLAIR영상을 비교하여 거미막하 공간의 고신호 강도를 기준으로 출혈의 유무를 판정할 경우, FLAIR영상의 민감도, 특이도 및 진단적 정확도를 평가하였다. 결과 : FLAIR영상에서 급성 거미막하 출혈은 모든 환자에서 뇌척수액이나 뇌 실질보다 고신호 강도를 보여 100%의 발견율을 보였다. CT와 비교하여 피질구($1.11{\pm}0.80$ vs $0.70{\pm}0.83$: p(0.05)와 후두와($1.41{\pm}0.74$ vs $0.78{\pm}0.80$: p(0.05)에서 FLAIR영상이 CT보다 통계적으로 유의하게 우수하였다 FLAIR영상에서 거미막하 공간의 고신호 강도를 기준으로 거미막하 출혈 유무를 평가한 결과에서 100%의 민감도, 특이도 및 진단적 정확도를 보였다. 결론 급성 거미막하 출혈의 진단에 FLAIR MR영상은 매우 유용하며, 특히 출혈의 양이 소량인 경우와 후두와의 출혈을 진단하는데 CT보다 우수하다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.151-156
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• 2014

목적: T1강조 MR영상은 뇌의 해부학적 구조와 병리학적 이상을 보여 주는 기본적인 영상기법의 하나로, 전통적으로 스핀에코(SE) 기법을 이용하여 획득하고 있다. 최근 FLAIR 기법을 이용하여 T1강조영상을 얻을 수 있게 되었으며, SE보다 높은 대조도의 영상을 제공한다고 알려져 있다. 그러나 조영증강을 보이는 뇌종양의 평가에 있어 T1 FLAIR 영상의 유용성에 대해서는 논란이 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 조영증강을 보이는 두개 내 종양의 평가에 있어 SE T1강조영상과 비교하여 T1 FLAIR영상의 유용성을 평가하고자 하였다. 대상과 방법: 총 52명 환자의 79개 병변을 대상으로 하였다. 각 환자에서 조영증강 후 SE T1강조영상과 T1 FLAIR 영상을 획득하였다. 정량적 분석으로 각각의 영상에서 병변, 뇌회색질(GM), 뇌백질(WM), 뇌척수액(CSF), 배경(background)의 신호강도를 측정하였고, 이를 바탕으로 병변과 WM, 병변과 GM, 병변과 CSF, WM와 GM의 contrast ratio(CR), contrast-to-noise(CNR)를 계산하였다. 정성적 분석으로 두 명의 영상의학과 의사가 각 영상에서 병변의 명확도(lesion conspicuity)를 비교 하였다. 결과: 정량적 분석 결과에서 T1 FLAIR영상의 병변과 GM, 병변과 CSF, WM와 GM의 CR, CNR 모두 SE T1강조영상보다 우월하였으며 이는 통계적으로 유의하였다. 그러나 병변과 WM의 CR, CNR은 비슷하였으며 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 정성적 분석에서 두 영상의학과 의사 모두 병변의 명확도에 있어 T1 FLAIR영상이 SE영상보다 우월하다고 평가하였다. 결론: 조영증강을 보이는 뇌종양의 평가에 있어 T1 FLAIR영상은 SE T1강조영상보다 우수하거나 필적한 결과를 보였다.

• 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.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.105-113
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• 2016

Purpose: Susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) on gradient echo image, which is caused by MR signal loss due to arterial thrombosis, has been reported in acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction. However, the reported sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of SVS have been variable. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a newly developed MR sequence. Recent studies have found that SWI may be useful in the field of cerebrovascular diseases, especially for detecting the presence of prominent veins, microbleeds and the SVS. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of SWI for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients (37 males, 32 females; 46-89 years old [mean, 69.1]) with acute stroke involving the MCA territory underwent MR imaging within 6 hours after the symptom onset. MR examination included T2, FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery), DWI, SWI, PWI (perfusion-weighted imaging), contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) and contrast-enhanced T1. Of these patients, 28 patients also underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) within 2 hours after MR examination. Presence or absence of SVS on SWI was assessed without knowledge of clinical, DSA and other MR imaging findings. Results: On MRA or DSA, 34 patients (49.3%) showed MCA occlusion. Of these patients, SVS was detected in 30 (88.2%) on SWI. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of SWI were 88.2%, 97.1%, 96.8%, 89.5% and 92.8%, respectively. Conclusion: SWI was sensitive, specific and accurate for the detection of hyperacute MCA occlusion.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제84권4호
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• pp.970-976
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• 2023

29세 남성에서의 미만성 연수막성 신경교종을 증례 보고한다. 이 질환은 드문 중추신경계 종양으로, 대부분 소아에서 발견되며 성인에서는 소수만 보고되어 있다. 본 환자는 만성 두통으로 내원하여 MRI를 시행하였다. 뇌 MRI에서 경도의 수두증과 다수의 테두리 조영증강을 보이는 병변이 안장위 수조에서 보였으며, FLAIR에서 신호가 억제되지 않는 다수의 비조영증강 낭종성 병변이 양측 기저핵, 시상 및 대뇌에서 관찰되었다. 척추 MRI에서는 요추 및 천추부위의 미만성 연수막 조영증강이 보였다. 생식세포종양의 연수막 파종을 의심하였고 경접형골 종양제거술을 시행 받았다. 병리학 검사에서 미만성 연수막성 신경교종으로 확진되었고, 차세대 염기서열 검사에서 FGFR1 유전자의 돌연변이가 발견되었다. 결론적으로 연수막 결절성 조영증강과 FLAIR에서 신호가 억제되지 않는 다수의 비조영증강 낭종성 뇌 병변이 함께 관찰될 경우 연수막 조영증강을 보이는 여러 다른 질환들과의 감별 진단에 도움이 된다.