• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.127-135
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: To ensure data privacy, the development of defacing processes, which anonymize brain images by obscuring facial features, is crucial. However, the impact of these defacing methods on brain imaging analysis poses significant concern. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of three different defacing methods in automated brain volumetry. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging with three-dimensional T1 sequences was performed on ten patients diagnosed with subjective cognitive decline. Defacing was executed using mri_deface, BioImage Suite Web-based defacing, and Defacer. Brain volumes were measured employing the QBraVo program and FreeSurfer, assessing intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the mean differences in brain volume measurements between the original and defaced images. Results: The mean age of the patients was 71.10±6.17 years, with 4 (40.0%) being male. The total intracranial volume, total brain volume, and ventricle volume exhibited high ICCs across the three defacing methods and 2 volumetry analyses. All regional brain volumes showed high ICCs with all three defacing methods. Despite variations among some brain regions, no significant mean differences in regional brain volume were observed between the original and defaced images across all regions. Conclusions: The three defacing algorithms evaluated did not significantly affect the results of image analysis for the entire brain or specific cerebral regions. These findings suggest that these algorithms can serve as robust methods for defacing in neuroimaging analysis, thereby supporting data anonymization without compromising the integrity of brain volume measurements.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2013

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find and categorize the various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of spinal metastases that correlate with the type of primary cancer. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance images of 30 patients with 169 spinal metastatic lesions from lung cancer (n = 56), breast cancer (n = 29), colorectal cancer (n = 20), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 17), and stomach cancer (n = 47). The size, location, extent of invasion, signal intensity, margin, enhancement pattern, and osteoblastic or osteolytic characteristics of each metastatic tumor were analyzed. Results: The metastatic lesions from HCC were larger than those from the other primary tumors (P < 0.05) except for colorectal cancer (P = 0.268). Well-defined metastatic tumor margins were more frequently seen in lung cancer and breast cancer (P < 0.01). All but HCC showed a tendency to invade the vertebral body rather than the posterior elements (P < 0.02). Colorectal cancer and HCC showed a tendency toward extraosseous invasion without statistical significance. HCC showed a characteristic enhancement pattern of 'worms-in-a-bag'. Rim enhancement with a sclerotic center was only seen in spinal metastases from stomach cancer. Conclusion: Despite many overlapping imaging features, spinal metastases of various primary tumors display some characteristic MRI findings that can help identify the primary cancer.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.140-140
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• 2001

We present two cases of surgically proven focal nodular hyperplasia whou underwent tri contrast-enhance MR imaging using gadolinium chelates, mangafodipir trisodium, and ferumoxides After the unehanced MR images were obtained, dynamic gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted imagi were performed, then mangafodipir enhanced and ferumoxides-enhanced images were obtained. In one case, the mass was isointense on both T1- and T2-weighted images on the unehanced M images, iso and slightly hyperintense on ferumoxides-enhanced FSE and GRE images, strong hyperintense on the mangafodipir enhanced and gadolinium enhanced arterial phase images. In th other case, the mass was isointense on T2-weighted and hypointense on T1-weighted image isointense on ferumoxides-enhanced images, and hyperintense on mangafodipir enhanced an gadolinium enhanced arterial phase images. Triple contrast enhanced MR images were useful correctly diagnose these two cases preoperatively.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.89-93
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aims to develop new markers based on silicone rubber and urethane rubber to enhance visibility in low magnetic field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Methods: Four types of markers were fabricated using two different base materials. Two of the markers were composed of two different types of silicone rubber: DragonSkin™ 10 MEDIUM and BodyDouble™ SILK. The other two markers were composed of types of urethane rubber: PMC™ 780 DRY and VytaFlex™ 20. Silicone oil (KF-96 1000cs) was added to the fabricated markers. The allocated amount of oil was 20% of the weight (wt%) of each respective marker. The MR images of the markers, with and without the silicone oil, were acquired using MRIdian with a low magnetic field of 0.35 T. The signal intensities of each MR image for the markers were analyzed using ImageJ software and the visibility for each was compared. Results: The highest signal intensity was observed in VytaFlex™ 20 (279.67±3.57). Large differences in the signal intensities (e.g., 627% in relative difference between BodyDouble™ SILK and VytaFlex™ 20) among the markers were observed. However, the maximum difference between the signal intensities of the markers with the silicone oil showed only a 62% relative difference between PMC™ 780 DRY and DragonSkin™ 10 MEDIUM. An increase in the signal intensity of the markers with the silicone oil was observed in all markers. Conclusions: New markers were successfully fabricated. Among the markers, DragonSkin™ 10 MEDIUM with silicone oil showed the highest MR signal intensity.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.130-134
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• 1997

Purpose: To analyze contrast-enhancement pattern of stomach cancer on dynamic MRI and to verify the efficacy of intravenous contrast agent in the evaluation of stomach cancer. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with proven stomach cancer underwent dynamic MRI. By using l.OT scanner, we obtained precontrast FLASH images, and 30, 60, 90 second delay FLASH images after intravenous contrast injection. All patients ingested one liter of water and had intramuscular injection of Buscopan just before MR study. For quantitative analysis we measured signal to noise ratio (SiN) of stomach cancer on each image, and signal difference to noise ratio (SD/N) between cancer and intraluminal fluid, cancer and the pancreas. For qualitative analysis two radiologists evaluated lesion conspicuity on each image by grading system(grade 0, 1, 2, 3: poor, fair, good, excellent). Results: SiN of stomach cancer increased gradually by time(precontrast, 30, 60, 90 second delay: 38.7, 42.5, 57.4, 65.7). SD/N between cancer and intraluminal fluid significantly increased after contrast enhancement(l.24, 25.01, 39.30, 45.89). SD/Ns between cancer and the pancreas were 10.5, 9.33, 9.99, 10.66, respectively. In qualitative analysis, precontrast images were better than postcontrast images for delineation of stomach cancer. Postcontrast images showed clear endo-Iuminal side of stomach cancer, but outer margin of stomach cancer was more distinct on precontrast images. Conclusion: Precontrast MR images are better than postcontrast MR images in the depiction of stomach cancer. Intravenous contrast agent is not imperative in the evaluation of stomach cancer.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2011

Purpose : To retrospectively evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted images, ADC maps and conventional MR images for determination of brain tumor consistency. Materials and Methods : Twenty-three patients with brain tumor underwent MR examinations with T1, T2 and diffusion-weighted images. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn in the tumors, and the measured signal intensities (SI) were normalized with the contralateral side. We evaluated the correlation between SI ratios from various images and tumor consistency assessed at surgery. In three patients with both cystic and solid components, each component was evaluated independently. Qualitatively observed SIs were also correlated with tumor consistency. Results : Statistical analysis revealed significant correlation between tumor consistency and ADC ratio (r = -0.586, p = 0.002), SI ratios on T2-weighted images (r = -0.497, p = 0.010), and observed SIs on T2-weighted images (r = -0.461, p = 0.018). The relative ratio of ADC value correlated with tumor consistency most strongly. Conclusion : The measured ratio of ADC, SI ratio and observed SI grade on T2-weighted images can provide valuable information about the consistency of brain tumor.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of the T1 3D subtraction technique and the conventional 2D dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) technique in diagnosing Cushing's disease. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with clinically and biochemically proven Cushing's disease were included in the study. In addition, 23 patients with a Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC) diagnosed on an MRI with normal pituitary hormone levels were included as a control, to prevent non-blinded positive results. Postcontrast T1 3D fast spin echo (FSE) images were acquired after DCE images in 3T MRI and image subtraction of pre- and postcontrast T1 3D FSE images were performed. Inter-observer agreement, interpretation time, multiobserver receiver operating characteristic (ROC), and net benefit analyses were performed to compare 2D DCE and T1 3D subtraction techniques. Results: Inter-observer agreement for a visual scale of contrast enhancement was poor in DCE (${\kappa}=0.57$) and good in T1 3D subtraction images (${\kappa}=0.75$). The time taken for determining contrast-enhancement in pituitary lesions was significantly shorter in the T1 3D subtraction images compared to the DCE sequence (P < 0.05). ROC values demonstrated increased reader confidence range with T1 3D subtraction images (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94-1.00) compared with DCE (95% CI: 0.70-0.92) (P < 0.01). The net benefit effect of T1 3D subtraction images over DCE was 0.34 (95% CI: 0.12-0.56). For Cushing's disease, both reviewers misclassified one case as a nonenhancing lesion on the DCE images, while no cases were misclassified on T1 3D subtraction images. Conclusion: The T1 3D subtraction technique shows superior performance for determining the presence of enhancement on pituitary lesions compared with conventional DCE techniques, which may aid in diagnosing Cushing's disease.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.385-392
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• 2001

This study Proposes a quadrature-typed inside-out receiver coil to obtain magnetic resonance(MR) images of lumen wall. This means that the coil should receive the signals from out-side of receiver coil. This coil has wide and uniform sensitive region to compare with previous coils such as anti-solenoid coil, octal-pole coil and so on. These coils have the disadvantages that sensitive region is narrow and inhomogenous. The proposed coil is consist of two saddle coils of which directions are orthogonal to one another. The sensitivity maps of octal-Pole coil single-saddle coil and quadrature-typed inside-out coil were obtained by computer simulation. And phantom images for each coil were obtained to evaluate the performances of the coil using both 1.5T superconducting and 0.3 Permanent magnet MRI system. The uniformity of quadrature coil's sensitivity map was superior to that of octal-polel coil. Experimentally measured SNR of quadrature coil is also 36% higher than that of single-saddle coil This study shows the possibility of quadrature-typed inside-out receiver coil for the MR lumen wall images.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2017

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is the preferred diagnostic tool for pathologic conditions affecting the spine. However, in patients receiving epidural corticosteroid injection (ESI) for treatment of spinal diseases, there is a possibility of misreading of MR images because of air or fluid in the epidural space after the injection. Therefore, we defined the characteristics of abnormal changes in MRI findings following an ESI in patients with low back pain. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 133 patients who underwent MRI of the lumbar spine within 7 days after ESI between 2006 and 2015. All patients were administered an ESI using a 22-gauge Tuohy needle at the lumbar spine through the interlaminar approach. The epidural space was identified by the loss of resistance technique with air. Results: The incidences of abnormal changes in MRI findings because of ESI were 54%, 31%, and 25% in patients who underwent MRI at approximately 24 h, and 2 and 3 days after ESI, respectively. Abnormal MRI findings included epidural air or fluid, needle tracks, and soft tissue changes. Epidural air, the most frequent abnormal finding (82%), was observed in 41% of patients who underwent MRI within 3 days after injection. Abnormal findings due to an ESI were not observed in MR images acquired 4 days after ESI or later. Conclusions: Pain physicians should consider the possibility of abnormal findings in MR images acquired after epidural injection using the interlaminar approach and the loss of resistance technique with air at the lumbar spine.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2000

Purpose : To assess the distortion of MRI with the Leksell stereotactic radiosurgery system in variable pulse sequence and imaging plane through phantom study, to find most adequate imaging plane and pulse sequence for stereotactic radiosurgery system. Materials and methods : We made the phantoms for MRI and get images in variable conditions and analyzed the image distortion using image analysis program, and statistically using paired student t-test. Results : The transeverse plane images had acceptable error ranges bless than 1.5mm) in all pulse sequence in both the analysis of fiducial marker in stereotactic G-frame and the phantom study. The coronal plane images had unacceptable large errors (more than 1.7mm) in the analysis of fiducial marker in the stereotactic G-frame, but had corrected small errors (less than 1.5mm) in the phantom study. Conclusion : We find from the phantom study that the present MR machines are adequate for stereotactic surgery system in frequently used pulse sequences, and imaging planes.