• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.252-258
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• 2017

Primary mesenteric liposarcoma is rare. It is difficult to make an accurate preoperative diagnosis of the myxoid type of liposarcoma by using imaging such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) due to the very small amount of fat that is located in the tumor. We report a case of primary myxoid liposarcoma of the mesentery which was difficult to differentiate from other solid mesenteric tumors with a myxoid component such as low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, myxoid leiomyosarcoma or myxoma. Use of chemical shift magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to detect small fat components and its cystic appearance with solid components on the MR images can be useful to differentiate myxoid liposarcoma from the other mesenteric tumors with a myxoid component.

• 정보과학회 컴퓨팅의 실제 논문지
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• 제20권11호
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• pp.573-578
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• 2014

자기 공명 영상에서 흔히 발생하는 잡음을 없애기 위해 비 지역적 평균과 유도 영상 필터링을 이용하는 새로운 방법을 제안한다. 제안된 방법은 두 가지 단계로 구성되어 있다. 첫 단계에서는 비 지역적 평균 필터를 이용하여 잡음 영상으로부터 유도 영상 구하는데, 필터의 커널을 적응적으로 제어하기 위해 경계도(edgeness) 개념을 사용하였다. 두 번째 단계에서는 유도 영상 필터링으로 잡음을 제거하는 과정으로 원래의 잡음 영상과 앞 단계에서 구한 유도 영상을 이용하여 잡음이 제거된 영상을 복원한다. 제안된 방법의 우수성을 확인하기 위해 다양한 표준 자기 공명 영상 데이터를 이용하여 실험을 하였는데, 실험 결과 제안된 방법이 기존의 방법들에 비해 우수한 성능을 나타내는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.215-223
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• 2016

Purpose: The management of metal-induced field inhomogeneities is one of the major concerns of distortion-free magnetic resonance images near metallic implants. The recently proposed method called "Slice Encoding for Metal Artifact Correction (SEMAC)" is an effective spin echo pulse sequence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) near metallic implants. However, as SEMAC uses the noisy resolved data elements, SEMAC images can have a major problem for improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without compromising the correction of metal artifacts. To address that issue, this paper presents a novel reconstruction technique for providing an improvement of the SNR in SEMAC images without sacrificing the correction of metal artifacts. Materials and Methods: Low-rank approximation in each coil image is first performed to suppress the noise in the slice direction, because the signal is highly correlated between SEMAC-encoded slices. Secondly, SEMAC images are reconstructed by the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE), also known as Gauss-Markov or weighted least squares. Noise levels and correlation in the receiver channels are considered for the sake of SNR optimization. To this end, since distorted excitation profiles are sparse, $l_1$ minimization performs well in recovering the sparse distorted excitation profiles and the sparse modeling of our approach offers excellent correction of metal-induced distortions. Results: Three images reconstructed using SEMAC, SEMAC with the conventional two-step noise reduction, and the proposed image denoising for metal MRI exploiting sparsity and low rank approximation algorithm were compared. The proposed algorithm outperformed two methods and produced 119% SNR better than SEMAC and 89% SNR better than SEMAC with the conventional two-step noise reduction. Conclusion: We successfully demonstrated that the proposed, novel algorithm for SEMAC, if compared with conventional de-noising methods, substantially improves SNR and reduces artifacts.

• 대한자기공명의과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한자기공명의과학회 2002년도 제7차 학술대회 초록집
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• pp.67-72
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• 2002

Real-time techniques are motivated by a number of factors including the potential for direct acquisition of diagnostic quality images, facilitation of patient-specific imaging parameters, and reduced examination time. Real-time MRI includes not only a rapid pulse sequence but also high speed image reconstruction and easy interactivity. The frame rate of the real-time technique used should be matched to the physiological timeframes under study. Principal applications thusfar have been in localization, fluoroscopic triggering, guidance of other processes, and potentially in the generation of diagnostic images of moving structures.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.65-70
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to describe a radiofrequency (RF) coil design for in vivo sodium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for use in small animals. Accumulating evidence has indicated the importance and potential of sodium imaging with improved magnet strength (> 7T), faster gradient, better hardware, multi-nucleus imaging methods, and optimal coil design for patient and animal studies. Thus, we developed a saddle-shaped sodium volume coil with a diameter/length of 30/30 mm. To evaluate the efficiency of this coil, bench-level measurement was performed. Unloaded Q value, loaded Q value, and ratio of these two values were estimated to be 352.8, 211.18, and 1.67, respectively. Thereafter, in vivo acquisition of sodium images was performed using normal mice (12 weeks old; n = 5) with a two-dimensional gradient echo sequence and minimized echo time to increase spatial resolution of images. Sodium signal-to-noise ratio in mouse kidneys (renal cortex, medulla, and pelvis) was measured. We successfully acquired sodium MR images of the mouse kidney with high spatial resolution (approximately 0.625 mm) through a combination of sodium-proton coils.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.644-665
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• 1998

This study was conducted to evaluate the health hazards and to develop early diagnostic methods of the manganism in experienced welders and to know the meaning of signal intensities on the brain Magnetic Resonance images. It was carried out from December 1996 to february 1997 with 277 male welders, the duration of welding was at least 5 years or more. The study was consisted of a questionnaire, physical examination and measurements of blood & urine manganese concentrations. Brain Magnetic Resonance imaging was done on 19 study subjects by random sampling. As the duration of welding increases, the positive rates of clinical symptoms, neurological examinations and blood manganese concentrations were also increased. However, physical examinations and urine manganese concentrations were not statistically significant with the duration of welding. Authors couldn't observe any Parkinsonism-like diseases. There were statistically significant correlations between duration of welding and blood manganese concentration(r=0.16, p<0.01). There were not statistically significant correlations between duration of welding and urine manganese concentrations (r=0.06). There were statistically significant correlations between blood & urine manganese concentration(r=0.34, p<0.01). By viewing brain Magnetic Resonance images, 13 welders(68.4 %) among 19 welders were found to have signal intensities. The positive rates of clinical symptoms, physical examinations, neurological examinations and blood & urine manganese concentrations were not statistically different between those with signal intensities and those without signal intensities. We would like to suggest that some non-specific clinical symptoms and neurological signs are correlated with the duration of welding but any Parkinsonism-like diseases had not been observed with these welders. Next we suggest that the high signal intensities on TlWI of brain Magnetic Resonance images are not the sign of manganese intoxication but the sign of manganese deposition.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.120-127
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• 2000

최근에 해상도의 손실없이 신호대잡음비를 개선시킬 수 있는 적응 템플릿 필터링이 제안되었다. 적응 템플릿 필터링은 다중 템플릿들 중에서 현재 복셀의 주변 구조와 가장 잘 매칭이 되는 템플릿을 선택하여 적응필터 링을 적용하는 방법이다. 적응 템플릿 필터링을 자기공명영상에 적용할때 기존의 필터링 방법들에 비하여 향상된 결과를 얻을 수 있으나, $T_1$ 영상과 같이 비교적 작은 동적 범위를 가진 영상에서는 에지에서 계단모양의 artifact가 발견되곤 한다. 이것은 자기 공명영상에서 복셀의 부분적인 볼륨 효과에 기인하는 것으로 여러 조직의 성분을 포함하고 있는 경계면의 복셀들에 적응 템플릿 필터링이 적용될 경우 다중성분을 가진 복셀들의 그레이레벨이 인접한 단일성분의 그레이레벨 값에 가까워져 에지가 강조되기 때문이다 본 논문에서는 다중 성분을 갖는 복셀들을 선별하여 이들에 대해서는 가장 큰 크기의 템플릿을 할당함으로써 artifact를 제거하는 방법을 제안하였다. 제안한 방법을 $T_1$ 자기공명영상과 팬텀 영상에 적용한 결과 에지 artifact가 사라지는 것을 확인할 수 있었으며, 최대 신호대잡음비 면에서도 향상된 결과를 얻을 수 있었다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.203-209
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of study was to evaluate the feasibility of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images of the rat obtained using a 1.5T MR machine in several blood-brain barrier (BBB) experiments. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. MR images were obtained using a clinical 1.5T MR machine. A microcatheter was introduced via the femoral artery to the carotid artery. Normal saline (group 1, n = 4), clotted autologous blood (group 2, n = 4), triolein emulsion (group 3, n = 4), and oleic acid emulsion (group 4, n = 4) were infused into the carotid artery through a microcatheter. Conventional and diffusion-weighted images, the apparent coefficient map, perfusion-weighted images, and contrast-enhanced MR images were obtained. Brain tissue was obtained and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed in group 2. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran images and endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) studies were performed in group 4. Results : The MR images in group 1 were of good quality. The MR images in group 2 revealed typical findings of acute cerebral infarction. Perfusion defects were noted on the perfusion-weighted images. The MR images in group 3 showed vasogenic edema and contrast enhancement, representing vascular damage. The rats in group 4 had vasogenic edema on the MR images and leakage of dextran on the FITC-labeled dextran image, representing increased vascular permeability. The immune reaction was decreased on the EBA study. Conclusion : Clinical 1.5T MR images using a rat depicted many informative results in the present study. These results can be used in further researches of the BBB using combined clinical MR machines and immunohistochemical examinations.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제40권5호
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• pp.370-374
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• 2023

Oral melanoma is the most common type of oral tumor in dogs. In this report, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to diagnose a right oral pigmented mass in an 8-year-old dog. The oral mass appeared as a homogeneous soft tissue density parenchyma on pre-contrast CT images, and with heterogeneous enhancement on post-contrast images. Bone destruction of the right mandibular body around the mass and mild enlargement of the right mandibular lymph node were also found. On MRI, the bulky oral mass showed mixed hyperintensity and isointensity compared to the adjacent muscle, where irregular hyperintensity on T1-weighted images corresponded to hypointensity on the T2-weighted images. Based on the physical examinations and imaging results, melanoma was suspected and confirmed via fine-needle aspiration. These unique MRI signals were due to the high paramagnetic melanin content in the tumor, therefore MRI examination could be useful for diagnosis of melanoma.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권4호
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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.