• 한국방사선학회논문지
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• 제13권4호
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• pp.581-588
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• 2019

자기공명영상검사는 조직의 대조도 와 해상력이 우수하지만, 인공물이 발생 될 경우 진단에 영향을 주어 판독이 불가능한 영상을 생성하기도 한다. 치아에 삽입된 금속은 강자성체 또는 상자성체로 되어있는 경우가 대부분이며 자화율 차이로 인하여 기하학적 왜곡을 유발하여 영상진단에 저해되는 경우가 많으며 이를 저감시킬 필요가 있다. 이에 본 연구는 반자성 물질을 사용에 따른 금속 인공물 분석을 실시하고자 한다. 자성 물질로는 치아교정용 와이어와 브라켓인 스테인리스 스틸이 사용되었고 반자성 물질은 구리, 아연, 비스무트를 사용하였다. 검사장비는 1.5T, 3T가 사용되었으며 사용된 시퀀스는 SE, TSE, GE, EPI을 사용하여 측정하였다. 자체 제작된 팬텀을 물질은 균등한 신호를 위하여 아가로스 겔(10%)을 사용하였으며 인공물 유발 물질은 스테인리스 스틸은 팬텀의 정중앙에 위치시켜 검사하고 각 길이 10mm의 정 육면체 반자성 물질의 씌워 검사하였다. 인공물 측정은 Image J를 사용하여 순수한 팬텀 영상에서 자성물질을 포함한 영상을 감산하여 얻은 영상에서 Low Threshold 값을 10으로 설정 한 후 Wand tool을 사용하여 인공물 영역설정 후 면적을 구하였다. 스테인리스 스틸에서 발생한 금속 인공물은 반자성 물질 중 비스무트를 사용한 영상에서 금속 인공물이 가장 많이 감소하였으며 구리와 아연은 약간은 감소하지만, 그 정도의 차이는 크지 않다고 하겠다. 이러한 이유는 비스무트의 반자성 자화율이 가장 작아서 강자성체에서의 자화율을 가장 많이 상쇄하였기 때문이라고 생각된다. 1.5T 와 3T 모두에서 비스무트를 사용한 영상의 인공물이 가장 적게 나왔다. 시퀀스별 인공물 감소는 1.5T에서는 TSE에서 가장 많이 인공물이 감소하였으며 3T에서는 SE에서 가장 많은 인공물이 감소하였다. 따라서 반자성물질의 따른 인공물 변화의 결과는 자화율(${\chi}$)이 가장 낮은 비스무트를 사용한 영상에서 금속인공물이 기준인 Implant 인공물 보다 줄어든 양상을 보여 자화율이 낮은 물질일수록 금속 인공물이 줄어든다는 것을 알 수 있었으며, 기존 금속 인공물의 해결 방법의 단점으로 지적되어온 스캔 시간의 증가 등이 나타나지 않으면서도 인공물을 줄일 수 있는 방법으로 향후 치아 교정 물질뿐만 아니라 치아 보철물 전체에 대한 금속 인공물 저감에 관한 연구의 기초 자료로 사용될 것으로 사료된다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.76-87
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• 2015

Purpose: There is an ongoing search for a stent material that produces a reduced susceptibility artifact. This study evaluated the effect of manganese (Mn) content on the MRI susceptibility artifact of ferrous-manganese (Fe-Mn) alloys, and investigated the correlation between MRI findings and measurements of Fe-Mn microstructure on X-ray diffraction (XRD). Materials and Methods: Fe-Mn binary alloys were prepared with Mn contents varying from 10% to 35% by weight (i.e., 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, and 35%; designated as Fe-10Mn, Fe-15Mn, Fe-20Mn, Fe-25Mn, Fe-30Mn, and Fe-35Mn, respectively), and their microstructure was evaluated using XRD. Three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo sequences of cylindrical specimens were obtained in parallel and perpendicular to the static magnetic field (B0). In addition, T1-weighted spin echo, T2-weighted fast spin echo, and $T2^*$weighted gradient echo images were obtained. The size of the low-intensity area on MRI was measured for each of the Fe-Mn binary alloys prepared. Results: Three phases of ${\alpha}^{\prime}$-martensite, ${\gamma}$-austenite, and ${\varepsilon}$-martensite were seen on XRD, and their composition changed from ${\alpha}^{\prime}$-martensite to ${\gamma}$-austenite and/or ${\varepsilon}$-martensite, with increasing Mn content. The Fe-10Mn and Fe-15Mn specimens comprised ${\alpha}^{\prime}$-martensite, the Fe-20Mn and Fe-25Mn specimens comprised ${\gamma}+{\varepsilon}$ phases, and the Fe-30Mn and Fe-35Mn specimens exhibited a single ${\gamma}$ phase. The size of the low-intensity areas of Fe-Mn on MRI decreased relative to its microstructure on XRD with increasing Mn content. Conclusion: Based on these findings, proper conditioning of the Mn content in Fe-Mn alloys will improve its visibility on MR angiography, and a Mn content of more than 25% is recommended to reduce the magnetic susceptibility artifacts on MRI. A reduced artifact of Fe-Mn alloys on MRI is closely related to the paramagnetic constitution of ${\gamma}$-austenite and/or ${\varepsilon}$-martensite.

• 대한의용생체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한의용생체공학회 1992년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.85-91
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• 1992

In MRI, an image contrast can be developed as a result of the susceptibility effect if an object has paramagnetic substances. This is mainly due to the non-uniform phase distribution or linear gradient developed by the magnetic susceptibility within a voxel, which in turn reduces the signal intensity; e.g., spin phases are dephased and thereby cancel each other resulting in a reduced signal. In this paper, a new concept for manipulating the susceptibility effect through the use of tailored RF pulses is proposed. As potential applications of the method, two different types of tailored RF pulses are introduced: one for susceptibility artifact correction and the other for contrast enhancement. The latter, for example, can be applied to angiography utilizing the paramagnetic property of deoxygenated blood. Both a theoretical study of the method and experimental results are reported.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.328-340
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• 2019

Purpose: To generate phase images with free of motion-induced artifact and susceptibility-induced distortion using 3D radial ultrashort TE (UTE) MRI. Materials and Methods: The field map was theoretically derived by solving Laplace's equation with appropriate boundary conditions, and used to simulate the image distortion in conventional spin-warp MRI. Manufacturer's 3D radial imaging sequence was modified to acquire maximum number of radial spokes in a given time, by removing the spoiler gradient and sampling during both rampup and rampdown gradient. Spoke direction randomly jumps so that a readout gradient acts as a spoiling gradient for the previous spoke. The custom raw data was reconstructed using a homemade image reconstruction software, which is programmed using Python language. The method was applied to a phantom and in-vivo human brain and abdomen. The performance of UTE was compared with 3D GRE for phase mapping. Local phase mapping was compared with T₂* mapping using UTE. Results: The phase map using UTE mimics true field-map, which was theoretically calculated, while that using 3D GRE revealed both motion-induced artifact and geometric distortion. Motion-free imaging is particularly crucial for application of phase mapping for abdomen MRI, which typically requires multiple breathold acquisitions. The air pockets, which are caught within the digestive pathway, induce spatially varying and large background field. T₂* map, that was calculated using UTE data, suffers from non-uniform T₂* value due to this background field, while does not appear in the local phase map of UTE data. Conclusion: Phase map generated using UTE mimicked the true field map even when non-zero susceptibility objects were present. Phase map generated by 3D GRE did not accurately mimic the true field map when non-zero susceptibility objects were present due to the significant field distortion as theoretically calculated. Nonetheless, UTE allows for phase maps to be free of susceptibility-induced distortion without the use of any post-processing protocols.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.131-134
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• 2018

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is well known for detecting the presence of hemorrhagic transformation, microbleeds and the susceptibility of vessel signs in acute ischemic stroke. But in some cases, it can provide the tissue perfusion state as well. We describe a case of a patient with hyperacute ischemic infarction that had a slightly hypodense, patchy lesion at the left thalamus on the initial SWI, with a left proximal posterior cerebral artery occlusion on a magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and delayed time-to-peak on an MR perfusion performed two hours after symptom onset. No obvious abnormal signals at any intensity were found on the initial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). On a follow-up MR image (MRI), an acute ischemic infarction was seen on DWI, which is the same location as the lesion on SWI. The hypointensity on the initial SWI reflects the susceptibility artifact caused by an increased deoxyhemoglobin in the affected tissue and vessels, which reflects the hypoperfusion state due to decreasing arterial flow. It precedes the signal change on DWI that reflects a cytotoxic edema. This case highlights that, in some hyperacute stages of ischemic stroke, hypointensity on an SWI may be a finding before the hyperintensity is seen on a DWI.

• 디지털콘텐츠학회 논문지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.49-55
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• 2011

비 자성 금속 screw를 이용한 고정술을 시행한 환자를 대상으로 검사하는 자기공명영상에서는 자장의 기하학적 변형을 일으켜 영상에 자화율 인공물을 유발시킨다. 이에 본 연구에서는 자화율 인공물 발생 시 주파수 경사 방향 변환에 따른 영상의 왜곡 정도를 비교, 확인하고자 하였다. 우선 티타늄 성분의 비 자성 금속 screw을 삽입한 자체 팬텀을 제작하여 관심영역을 설정하고 주파수 경사 방향을 축상면에서는 전측-후측을 우측-좌측 방향으로 변환하였고 관상면에서는 우측-좌측을 위측-아래측으로 변환하였고 시상면에서는 상측-하측을 전측-후측으로 변환하여 관심영역의 왜곡 정도를 비교, 관찰 하였다. 결과적으로 주파수 경사 방향을 변환 하였을 때 관심 영역의 왜곡차이를 확인 할 수 있으며 향후 경사 방향을 적절하게 변경함으로써 진단적 효율을 높일 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제50권5호
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• pp.401-406
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• 2012

When viewed using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, invasive materials inside the human body, in many cases, severely distort the MR image of human tissues. The degree of the MR image distortion increases in proportion not only to the difference in the susceptibility between the invasive material and the human tissue, but also to the intensity of the magnetic field induced by the MRI system. In this study, by blending paramagnetic Ti particles with diamagnetic graphite, we synthesized $Ti_{100-x}C_x$ composites that can reduce the artifact in the MR image under the high-strength magnetic field. Of the developed composites, $Ti_{70}C_{30}$ showed the magnetic susceptibility of ${\chi}=67.6{\times}10^{-6}$, which corresponds to 30% of those of commercially available Ti alloys, the lowest reported in the literature. The level of the MR image distortion in the vicinity of the $Ti_{70}C_{30}$ composite insert was nearly negligible even under the high magnetic field of 4.7 T. In this paper, we reported on a methodology of designing new structural materials for bio-applications, their synthesis, experimental confirmation and measurement of MR images.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2015

Purpose: Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is a new magnetic resonance technique that can exploit the magnetic susceptibility differences of various tissues. Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) looks a dark blooming on the magnitude images of SWI. However, the pattern of ICH on phase images is not well known. The purpose of this study is to characterize hemorrhagic lesions on the phase images of SWI. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with ICH, who underwent both SWI and precontrast CT, between 2012 and 2013 (n = 95). An SWI was taken, using the 3-tesla system. A phase map was generated after postprocessing. Cases with an intracranial hemorrhage were reviewed by an experienced neuroradiologist and a trainee radiologist, with 10 years and 3 years of experience, respectively. The types and stages of the hemorrhages were determined in correlation with the precontrast CT, the T1- and T2-weighted images, and the FLAIR images. The size of the hemorrhage was measured by a one- directional axis on a magnitude image of SWI. The phase values of the ICH were qualitatively evaluated: hypo-, iso-, and hyper-intensity. We summarized the imaging features of the intracranial hemorrhage on the phase map of the SWI. Results: Four types of hemorrhage are observed: subdural and epidural; subarachnoid; parenchymal hemorrhage; and microbleed. The stages of the ICH were classified into 4 groups: acute (n = 34); early subacute (n = 11); late subacute (n = 15); chronic (n = 8); stage-unknown microbleeds (n = 27). The acute and early subacute hemorrhage showed heterogeneous mixed hyper-, iso-, and hypo-signal intensity; the late subacute hemorrhage showed homogeneous hyper-intensity, and the chronic hemorrhage showed a shrunken iso-signal intensity with the hyper-signal rim. All acute subarachnoid hemorrhages showed a homogeneous hyper-signal intensity. All parenchymal hemorrhages (> 3 mm) showed a dipole artifact on the phase images; however, microbleeds of less than 3 mm showed no dipole artifact. Larger hematomas showed a heterogeneous mixture of hyper-, iso-, and hypo-signal intensities. Conclusion: The pattern of the phase value of the SWI showed difference, according to the type, stage, and size.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.244-252
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• 2009

자화율(susceptibility) 및 강자성체(ferromagnetic body)에 의한 인공물(artifact) 영향을 줄이기 위하여 중심주파수(center frequency) 정렬과 송 신호강도(transmission gain)값의 변화로 영상의 질을 보상하고자 한다. 본원에 내원한 환자 중 총 30명에 대하여 두 경부(head and neck)질환을 의심한 환자 중 남자 15명, 여자 15명으로 평균나이는 45세이었다. 사용된 장비는 GE 1.5T unit (GE, General Electric medical system, High Density)를 사용하여 Transmission gain (TG) 값을 평균 몸무게 60 kg을 기준으로 70, 90, 110, 130, 150까지 변환하여 검사를 하였다(p<0.05). 본 연구의 결과로서, 조영제 주입 전과 후의 지방소거 결과는 TG (70, 90, 110, 130, $150=3.23{\pm}0.35$, $4.31{\pm}0.02$, $4.23{\pm}0.21$, $5.12{\pm}0.25$, $7.13{\pm}0.72$, $8.31{\pm}0.01$, $5.21{\pm}0.15$, $6.14{\pm}0.08$, $5.23{\pm}0.72$, $5.91{\pm}0.06$)값에 다른 점수 분포를 나타났다(p<0.05). 절대값 대조도대 잡음비는 (TG, CNRpre, CNRpost, 70: $-1.44{\pm}0.11$, $-2.7{\pm}0.04$, 90: $-2.18{\pm}0.42$, $-4.41{\pm}0.43$, 110: $-2.89{\pm}0.43$, $-5.23{\pm}0.02$, 130: $-2.34{\pm}0.05$, $-5.26{\pm}0.01$, 150: $-2.09{\pm}0.08$, $-3.87{\pm}0.12$)을 얻었다(p<0.05). 본 실험에서 중심주파수 조정과 송 신호강도(transmission gain)값의 변화에 따라 인공물이 있을 때 영상의 질을 보상할 수 있다는 것을 확인하였다.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.44-52
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• 2016

Purpose: To quantitatively and qualitatively compare fat-suppressed MRI quality using iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (IDEAL) with that using frequency selective fat-suppression (FSFS) T2- and postcontrast T1-weighted fast spin-echo images of the head and neck at 3T. Materials and Methods: The study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Prospective MR image analysis was performed in 36 individuals at a single-center. Axial fat suppressed T2- and postcontrast T1-weighted images with IDEAL and FSFS were compared. Visual assessment was performed by two independent readers with respect to; 1) metallic artifacts around oral cavity, 2) susceptibility artifacts around upper airway, paranasal sinus, and head-neck junction, 3) homogeneity of fat suppression, 4) image sharpness, 5) tissue contrast of pathologies and lymph nodes. The signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) for each image sequence were assessed. Results: Both IDEAL fat suppressed T2- and T1-weighted images significantly reduced artifacts around airway, paranasal sinus, and head-neck junction, and significantly improved homogeneous fat suppression in compared to those using FSFS (P < 0.05 for all). IDEAL significantly decreased artifacts around oral cavity on T2-weighted images (P < 0.05, respectively) and improved sharpness, lesion-to-tissue, and lymph node-to-tissue contrast on T1-weighted images (P < 0.05 for all). The mean SNRs were significantly improved on both T1- and T2-weighted IDEAL images (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: IDEAL technique improves image quality in the head and neck by reducing artifacts with homogeneous fat suppression, while maintaining a high SNR.