• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.155-158
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• 2015

The equipment and techniques associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have rapidly evolved. The development of 3.0 Tesla MRI has enabled high-resolution imaging of the intracranial vessel wall. High-resolution MRI (HRMRI) can yield excellent visualization of both the arterial wall and lumen, thus facilitating the detection of the primary and secondary features of intracranial arterial dissection. In the present report, we describe the manner in which HRMRI affected our endovascular treatment planning strategy in 2 cases with unruptured intracranial vertebral artery dissection aneurysm. HRMRI provides further information about the vessel wall and the lumen of the unruptured intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm, which was treated by an endovascular approach in the 2 current cases.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.229-251
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• 2021

Arteriosclerosis is the leading cause of stroke, with a fatality rate surpassing that of ischemic heart disease. High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging is generally recognized as a non-invasive and panoramic method for the evaluation of arterial plaque; however, this method requires improved signal-to-noise ratio and scanning speed. Recent advances in high-density head and neck coil arrays are characterized by broad coverage, multiple channels, and closefitting designs. This review analyzes fast magnetic resonance imaging from the perspective of accelerated algorithms for vessel wall imaging and demonstrates the need for effective algorithms for signal acquisition using advanced radiofrequency system. We summarize different phased-array structures under various experimental objectives and equipment conditions, introduce current research results, and propose prospective research studies in the future.

• 한국광학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.67-71
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• 2014

혈관 내 OCT (optical coherence tomography) 는 혈관 벽 내부의 3차원적 미세구조를 영상화할 수 있어서 임상에서 각광을 받고 있다. 하지만 아직도 충분하지 못한 이미징 속도, 특히 내시경 프로브의 이미징 광 스캐닝 속도의 부족으로 혈관 길이 방향의 이미징 간격이 실제 시스템의 광학적 해상도보다 5배 이상 커서 혈관 종방향으로의 고해상도 이미징이 얻어지지 못하고 있는 상황이다. 본 논문에서는 초당 350장의 혈관 벽 단층 영상을 제공하는 고속 혈관 내 OCT 시스템을 기술한다. 본 시스템과 내시경 장치를 이용하여 47 mm 길이의 살아있는 토끼 대동맥을 3.7초만에 34 micron의 혈관 종방향 간격으로 얻는데 성공하였다. 34 micron의 종방향 간격은 실제 내시경의 그 방향 광학적 해상도와 비슷한 정도로서 3차원 모든 방향으로의 고해상도 이미징을 구현하였음을 보여준다. 얻어진 이미징 데이터의 3차원 영상 구현을 통해 혈관의 미세구조 및 이미징 전 삽입된 스텐트의 자세한 구조를 보였다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권2호
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• pp.245-254
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• 2022

Objective : The etiology of angiographically occult spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (AOsSAH) is unclear. Three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HVM) might be useful in detecting the hidden arterial wall angiopathy in patients with AOsSAH. We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of HVM for detecting the arterial cause of AOsSAH. Methods : Patients, who were diagnosed with AOsSAH in the first evaluations and underwent HVM, were enrolled. Their clinical and radiologic data were retrospectively reviewed. Especially, focal enhancement of arterial wall on HVM and repetitive catheterized angiograms were precisely compared. Results : Among 251 patients with spontaneous SAH, 22 patients were diagnosed with AOsSAH in the first evaluations (8.76%). After excluding three patients who did not undergo 3D-HVM, 19 patients were enrolled and classified as convexal (n=2) or perimesencephalic (n=4), and diffuse (n=13) groups. In convexal and perimesencephalic groups, no focal enhancement on HVM and no positive findings on repetitive angiography were noted. In diffuse group, 10 patients showed focal enhancement of arterial wall on HVM (10/13, 76.9%). Repeated angiography with 3D reconstruction revealed four patients of angiographically positive causative arteriopathy and possible lesion in one case in the concordant location of intramural enhancement on 3D-HVM (5/10, 50%). Three of them were treated with endovascular stent insertion. All patients, except one, recovered with good clinical outcome (3-month modified Rankin score, 0 and 1). Conclusion : 3D-HVM was useful in detecting hidden true arteriopathy in AOsSAH. It may provide new insights into the etiologic investigation of AOsSAH by proving information about the arterial wall status.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.143-150
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• 2004

A thromboembolic stroke is believed to be precipitated by a rupture of vulnerable atheromatous plaques. Until recently the assessment of a further risk of stroke in high-risk patients in whom atherosclerosis has presented with a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), has been confined to a quantitative assessment of the luminal patency of the internal carotid artery. These traditional stratification parameters are no longer believed to be the most accurate predictors of a thrombo-embolism. This is because the process of vessel wall remodeling can maintain a luminal patency, and consequently, quite large friable plaques may remain unidentified. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved risk assessment. The fibrous cap of a vulnerable plaque is thinner, and an intraplaque hemorrhage and inflammation can occur during the development of atherosclerotic plaque. Several imaging methods for identifying vulnerable plaques have been developed. Recently, high resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has emerged as an accurate non-invasive tool that can characterize the carotid plaque components in vivo. A High resolution carotid magnetic resonance is capable of distinguishing an intact, thick fibrous cap from a thin and ruptured cap in carotid plaque. In addition, a plaque MR can identify the active inflammation and detect a hemorrhage. High resolution carotid MR imaging is a valuable noninvasive method for quantifying the plaque components and identifying vulnerable plaque.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기계학회 2004년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.1693-1696
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• 2004

Synchrotron X-ray micro-imaging technique was employed to monitor non-invasively the refilling process of water inside the xylem vessels in bamboo leaves. The consecutive phase-contrast X-ray images clearly show both plant anatomy and the transport of water inside the xylem vessels. Traces of water-rise, vapor bubbles and variations of contact angle between the water front and the xylem wall were measured in real time. During the refilling process, air bubbles are removed when the rising water front halts at a vessel end for a while. Subsequently, it starts rising again at a higher velocity than the normal refilling speed. Repeated cavitation seems to deteriorate the refilling ability in xylem vessels. In dark environment, the water refilling process in xylem vessels is facilitated more effectively than in bright illuminated conditions. Finally, X-ray micro-imaging was famed to be a powerful, high resolution, real time imaging tool to investigate the water refilling process in xylem vessels.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권1호
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• pp.261-266
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• 2021

가역적 뇌혈관 수축 증후군은 허혈성 뇌졸중을 야기할 수 있으며 다양한 질환이 원인이 된다. 하지만 빈혈과 가역적 뇌혈관 수축 증후군의 연관성을 나타내는 사례 보고는 거의 없다. 이에 저자들은 보존적 치료로 호전된 66세 여성의 허혈성 뇌졸중과 뇌혈관 수축을 동반한 중증 철결핍빈혈의 사례를 보고하고자 한다. 고해상도 혈관벽 자기공명영상 소견 및 뇌혈관 협착의 가역성을 토대로 가역적 뇌혈관 수축 증후군을 진단할 수 있었다. 가역적 뇌혈관 수축 증후군 및 허혈성 뇌졸중을 가진 환자에서 철결핍빈혈은 하나의 원인으로 고려되어야 하며 즉각적인 처치를 통해 질병의 진행 및 재발을 방지해야 한다.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제21권12호
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• pp.1334-1344
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• 2020

Objective: Compressed sensing (CS) has gained wide interest since it accelerates MRI acquisition. We aimed to compare the 3D post-contrast T1-weighted volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (VISTA) with CS (VISTA-CS) and without CS (VISTA-nonCS) in intracranial vessel wall MRIs (VW-MRI). Materials and Methods: From April 2017 to July 2018, 72 patients who underwent VW-MRI, including both VISTA-CS and VISTA-nonCS, were retrospectively enrolled. Wall and lumen volumes, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured from normal and lesion sites. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated overall image quality and degree of normal and lesion wall delineation with a four-point scale (scores ≥ 3 defined as acceptable). Results: Scan coverage was increased in VISTA-CS to cover both anterior and posterior circulations with a slightly shorter scan time compared to VISTA-nonCS (approximately 7 minutes vs. 8 minutes). Wall and lumen volumes were not significantly different with VISTA-CS or VISTA-nonCS (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.964-0.997). SNR was or trended towards significantly higher values in VISTA-CS than in VISTA-nonCS. At normal sites, CNR was not significantly different between two sequences (p = 0.907), whereas VISTA-CS provided lower CNR in lesion sites compared with VISTA-nonCS (p = 0.003). Subjective wall delineation was superior with VISTA-nonCS than with VISTA-CS (p = 0.019), although overall image quality did not differ (p = 0.297). The proportions of images with acceptable quality were not significantly different between VISTA-CS (83.3-97.8%) and VISTA-nonCS (75-100%). Conclusion: CS may be useful for intracranial VW-MRI as it allows for larger scan coverage with slightly shorter scan time without compromising image quality.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.333-342
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• 2022

Objective: Intracranial atherosclerotic stroke occurs through various mechanisms, mainly by artery-to-artery embolism (AA) or branch occlusive disease (BOD). This study evaluated the spatial relationship between middle cerebral artery (MCA) plaques and perforating arteries among different MCA territory infarction types using vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with acute MCA infarction who underwent VW-MRI. Thirty-four patients were divided into three groups according to infarction pattern: 1) BOD, 2) both BOD and AA (BOD-AA), and 3) AA. To determine the factors related to BOD, the BOD and BOD-AA groups were combined into one group (with striatocapsular infarction [BOD+]) and compared with the AA group. To determine the factors related to AA, the BOD-AA and AA groups were combined into another group (with cortical infarction [AA+]) and compared with the BOD group. Plaque morphology and the spatial relationship between the perforating artery orifice and plaque were evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results: The plaque margin in the BOD+ group was closer to the perforating artery orifice than that in the AA group (p = 0.011), with less enhancing plaque (p = 0.030). In the BOD group, plaques were mainly located on the dorsal (41.2%) and superior (41.2%) sides where the perforating arteries mainly arose. No patient in the AA group had overlapping plaques with perforating arteries at the cross-section where the perforator arose. Perforating arteries associated with culprit plaques were most frequently located in the middle two-thirds of the M1 segment (41.4%). The AA+ group had more stenosis (%) than the BOD group (39.73 ± 24.52 vs. 14.42 ± 20.96; p = 0.003). Conclusion: The spatial relationship between the perforating artery orifice and plaque varied among different types of MCA territory infarctions. In patients with BOD, the plaque margin was closer and blocked the perforating artery orifice, and stenosis degree and enhancement were less than those in patients with AA.

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권5호
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• pp.1281-1286
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• 2021

척추기저동맥의 혈류공급감소로 인한 뇌간 경색은 매우 드문 전신성 루푸스 환자의 초기 증상으로, 경색의 직접적인 원인으로 매우 작은 기저동맥 분지인 교뇌공급혈관의 박리성 동맥류는 보고된 사례가 없다. 이에 저자들은 디지털감산 혈관조영술과 고해상도 혈관벽 자기공명영상를 이용하여 작은 교뇌공급혈관의 박리성 동맥류의 진단과 추적관찰 중 치유된 20세 여성의 사례를 보고하고자 한다. 전신성 루푸스의 진단은 신경학적장애의 유무와 혈액화학검사 결과를 바탕으로 하였다. 추적 고해상도 혈관벽 자기공명영상에서 환자의 교뇌천공지의 박리성동맥류는 폐색되어 있었고 우측 척추동맥의 박리성동맥류는 치유되어 보이지 않았다. 환자는 퇴원 시 수정랭킨척도 점수가 1점으로 증상 개선을 보였으며 3개월과 12개월 추적관찰에서도 증상이 악화되지 않고 1점을 유지하였다.