• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.283-290
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• 2010

The effectiveness of 3.0T phase array coil images was tested by comparing signal-to-noise ratios for the same coil images relative to 1.5T endorectal coil images. Signal intensities were measured in the three regions of prostate, central and peripheral (right and left) after 40 patients with prostate cancer were imaged during the period between Jan. 2008 and Oct. 2009 with T2 W, T1 W, and DW images obtained respectively using endorectal coil on a 1.5T MR scanner and phase array coil on a 3.0T MR scanner. For quantitative analysis, comparisons of average SNRs for the same ROIs were made between groups scanned with a 1.5T and a 3.0T MR scanner. The signal-to-noise ratios were shown to increase more sharply when using a phase array coil at a 3.0T MR scanner compared to using an endorectal coil at a 1.5T MR scanner.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.835-842
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• 2022

This study is aimed to evaluate the effects of a synthetic MR technique in reducing metal artifacts. In the experiment, the in-plane and through-plane images were acquired by applying a synthetic MR technique and a high-speed spin echo technique to a phantom manufactured with screw for spinal surgery. The area of the metal artifact was compared. The metal artifacts were measured by dividing the signal-loss and the signal pile-up areas, and the area of the final artifact was calculated through the sum of the two. As a result, the metal artifacts were relatively reduced when the synthetic MR techniques were applied to both in-plane and through-plane. Comparing by sequence, the in-plane T1 images decreased by 23.45%, T2 images by 20.85%, PD images by 19.67%, and FLAIR images by 22.12%. Also, in the case of the through-plane, the T1 image decreased by 62.95%, the T2 image decreased by 73.93%, the PD image decreased by 74.68%, and the FLAIR image decreased by 66.43%. The cause of this result is that when the synthetic MR technique is applied, the distortion is due to the signal pile-up and does not occur and the size of the entire metal artifact is reduced. Therefore, synthetic MR technique can very effectively reduce metal artifacts, which can help to increase the diagnostic value of images.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.351-356
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• 2006

Objective : Spondylodiscitis has been diagnosed by clinical, radiological and laboratory methods. MR imaging is well known as an excellent diagnostic tool for spondylodiscitis. However, the changes in MR images throughout the treatment process has not been studied. Thus we have analyzed the serial changes of MR images throughout the stages of infection. Methods : Ten patients were selected for retrospective reviewed who had been treated at our institute for infectious spondylodiscitis between 2000 and 2005. These patients had been followed-up at least six months and had taken more than a couple of series of MR scans. We classified the MR images into four groups according to the stages of treatment for the infection and compared them to the clinical and laboratory findings. Results : MR image signals changed minimally or appeared to be normal in the early stages. The progression of spondylodiscitis was characterized by a low T1 WI signal and a high T2 WI signal in disc and vertebral body. The signal changes of the MR images were then propagated and the end plate was destructed. During the treatment, the destructed endplate became stabilized and the signal intensity of both T1 and T2 WI were fixed to low-or iso-intensity. Conclusion : We can determine the serial signal changes based on MR images according to the treatment of spondylodiscitis. We can therefore determine the status of the infection and the stage of treatment, as well as the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis using serial MR images.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.736-746
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• 2016

In this paper, we propose an automatic prostate cancer detection method using position, signal intensity and texture feature based on SVM in multi-parametric MR images. First, to align the prostate on DWI and ADC map to T2wMR, the transformation parameters of DWI are estimated by normalized mutual information-based rigid registration. Then, to normalize the signal intensity range among inter-patient images, histogram stretching is performed. Second, to detect prostate cancer areas in T2wMR, SVM classification with position, signal intensity and texture features was performed on T2wMR, DWI and ADC map. Our feature classification using multi-parametric MR imaging can improve the prostate cancer detection rate on T2wMR.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.341-344
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• 2002

Neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer's disease, are often accompanied by reduced brain perfusion (cerebral blood flow). Using the intrinsic magnetic properties of water, arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (ASLMRI) can map brain perfusion without injection of radioactive tracers or contrast agents. However, accuracy in measuring perfusion with ASL-MRI can be limited because of contributions to the signal from stationary spins and because of signal modulations due to transient magnetic field effects. The goal was to optimize ASL-MRI for perfusion measurements in the aging human brain, including brains with Alzheimer's disease. A new ASL-MRI sequence was designed and evaluated on phantom and humans. Image texture analysis was performed to test quantitatively improvements. Compared to other ASL-MRI methods, the newly designed sequence provided improved signal to noise ratio improved signal uniformity across slices, and thus, increased measurement reliability. This new ASL-MRI sequence should therefore provide improved measurements of regional changes of brain perfusion in normal aging and neurodegenerative disorders.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.192-196
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• 2001

Objective: To compare conventional and diffusion-weighted MR imaging in terms of their depiction of the abnormalities occurring in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the findings of conventional (T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) and diffusion-weighted MR imaging in four patients with biopsy-proven Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The signal intensity of the lesion was classified by visual assessment as markedly high, slightly high, or isointense, relative to normal brain parenchyma. Results: Both conventional and diffusion-weighted MR images demonstrated bilateral high signal intensity in the basal ganglia in all four patients. Cortical lesions were observed on diffusion-weighted MR images in all four, and on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR images in one, but in no patient on T2-weighted images. Conventional MR images showed slightly high signal intensity in all lesions, while diffusion-weighted images showed markedly high signal intensity in most. Conclusion: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging is more sensitive than its conventional counterpart in the depiction of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and permits better detection of the lesion in both the cerebral cortices and basal ganglia.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.151-159
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• 2016

In this research, we tried to suggest moderate FA(Flip Angle) for CE(Contrast Enhnaced)-Head&Neck MR Angiography with Gadoteridol. For this study, we did test MR phantom and clinical study according to FA change. After that, quantitative analysis was progressed. The results of MR phantom study were as follow: RSP(Reaction Starting Point)was recorded within 300~400 mmol. MPSI(Max Peak Signal Intensity) was 2,086, 3,705, 5,109, 6,194, 7.096, 7,192 [a.u]. MPP(Max Peak Point) was shown at 30, 50, 50, 40, 50, 40 mmol. IRMPSI(Increase Rate of MPSI) was 77.6%, 37.9%, 21.2%, 14.6%, 1.4% as increasing of FA. The results of clinical study were as follow SICB(Signal Intensity of Carotid artery Bifurcation) was recorded respectively 392.5, 4165.2, 4270, 3502.2, 3263.7, 3119.6 [a.u]. ORA(Occurence Rate of Artifact) was increased as 0, 0, 20, 40, 50, 70%. According to this research, we are not only able to assure that increase of FA can be effect on H1 spin's SI(Signal Intensity) which was combined with gadolinium agent, but also be effect on artifact rate in blood vessel. In clinical field, we expect that CE-Head&Neck MR Angiography can be performed in a practical way with this research.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.05
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• pp.42-44
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• 1995

The original DANTE sequence and its variations have limitation in excitation profile (a sinc function-like excitation) due to the finite duration of the DANTE pulsetrain. This sinc function-like selection profile excites only a small fraction of the spins in the pixel thereby results in poor signal to noise ratio (only about ${\sim}1%$ of normal MR imaging sequence). Therefore, this poor signal to noise ratio (SNR) has been the main drawback of the original DANTE sequence. To improve the signal to noise ratio, phases of individual RF pulses in the DANTE pulse train were modulated so that more spins in the object were excited ($1{\sim}3$). We have introduced a new FM (Frequency Modulation) DANTE sequence and analyzed the signal intensity and excitation profiles.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.114-118
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• 2002

Backgrounds : Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that is usually diagnosed by electrophysiologic studies. However, CTS provide limited information to determine the causes of CTS and to choose the treatment method. We evaluated diagnostic sensitivity of MR imaging and treatment decisions by MR imaging in electrodiagnosed CTS. Methods : 14 patients (26 wrists) with electrodiagnosed CTS were studied using MR imaging. In 26 wrists for which axial T1 & T2 weighted images were obtained at 1.5T with a decided wrist coil. Previously described MR imaging of CTS such as increased median nerve signal, flattening of median nerve, reticular bowing, tenosynovitis and space occupying lesions were retrospectively evaluated. Degree of improvement was evaluated by global symptom score (GSS). The GSS rated symptoms from 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (severe) in each of five categories: pain, numbness, paresthesia, weakness/clumsiness, and nocturnal awakening. Subjects' GSS was recorded at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months after treatment. We decided to medical treatment that showed mainly inflammatory sign such as increased median nerve signal, tenosinovitis and to surgical treatment such as space occupying lesion, high canal pressure sign. Results : MR imaging showed that increased median nerve signal were in 20 wrists (77%), flattening of median nerve were in 6 wrists (23%), reticular bowing were in 3 wrists (12%), tenosynovitis were in 8 wrists (32%), decreased canal size in 2 wrists (7.6%), space occupying lesion were in 1 wrist (4%). A good outcome was revealed in 21 wrists by medical treatment that showed mainly increased median nerve signal, tenosynovitis. The mean GSS were 27.7 at baseline, 11.2 at 2 weeks, 11.0 at 6 months in medical treatment group. Another 5 wrist had surgical treatment shown by ganglion and high canal pressure sign such as median nerve flattening, reticular bowing, decreased canal size: 3 wrists had good prognosis, but 2 wrists (one patient) had no significant improvement due to small carpal tunnel size. Conclusions : Our results are in agreement with most previously described MR imaging signs of CTS. MR imaging plays an important role in several cases and especially in the assessment of failure of surgical treatment. Knowledge of MR findings may permit more rational choice of treatment.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 2002

Purpose : To evaluate the effect of Gd-DTPA on signal intensity of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance(MR) image and apparent diffuse coefficient (ADC) in dog brain with hype racute stroke. Materials and methods : Experimental canine model of hyperacute cerebral infarction was made by selective intraarterial embolization with particulate embolic material. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging was performed in five dogs at 1 hour after the embolization of internal carotid artery. After intravenous bolus injection of Gd- DTPA, additional 11 diffusion-weighted MR images were serially obtained from 2 minutes to 90 minutes after injection in each dog. The author evaluated findings of hyperacute cerebral infarction on diffusion-weighted MR imaging, and calculated mean signal intensity and mean ADC in infarcted region and contralateral normal region. Statistical analysis of mean signal intensity, mean ADC and contrast-noise ratio before and after Gd-DTPA injection was performed. Results : Hyperacute cerebral infarction developed in all five dogs on diffusion-weighted MR images obtained 1 hour after embolization. The area of hyperacute infarction had steady increase in signal intensity on diffusion-weighted MR image and decrease in ADC. In normal perfusion area, decrease in signal intensity was observed at 2 minutes the Gd-DTPA injection, whereas ADC did not changed. Conclusion : Intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA had no influence on ADC in both hyperacute infarction and normally perfused are a, but caused initial transient signal reduction in normally perfused area on diffusion-weighted MR image due to susceptibility effect of Gd-DTPA. It is important to calculate ADC in evaluating the effect of diffusion after injection of Gd-DTPA.