• Progress in Medical Physics
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.348-353
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to explore the potentials of a clinical 3T MRI in mouse brains and technical adaptation and optimization. T1-weighted images (T1WI), T2-weighted images (T2WI), FLAIR (Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery) images, Gadolinium enhanced T1-weighted images (Gd-T1WI), Diffusion weighted images (DWI) were acquired in brain of 2 mice (weight 20~25 g) with cerebral infarction by occlusion of right middle cerebral artery, 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours after infarction and 1 normal mouse brain using clinical 3T MRI scanner. We analyzed differentiation of striatum, ventricle, cerebral cortex, and possibility of detection of acute cerebral infarction. We could differentiate the striatum, ventricle, cerebral cortex on T2WI and on DWI, FLAIR, T1WI, the differentiation of each anatomy of brain was not definite, but acute cerebral infarction was detected on DWI of 1 hour, 24 hours, 72 hours after infarction and on T2WI, FLAIR of 24 hours, 72 hours after infarction. Clinical 3T MRI can be used in differentiation of anatomy of mouse brains and DWI can be helpul in detection of acute cerebral infarction in acute phase. With technical adaptation and optimization clinical 3T MRI can be useful tool for provide preclinical and clinical small animal studies.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.21-29
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the mutual relations by measuring SNR from T2 weighted image and ADC values on the basis of the stiffness values from liver tissues. This study was conducted that total 37 people(23 of males and 11 of females) were taken the liver MRI examination and average age was $54.5{\pm}12.7$ years old. The equipment was MAGNETOM Skyra 3.0T (SIEMENS, Erlangen, Germany) and 32 channel body-array coil. The examination were conducted with HASTE T2 weighted image by axial plane, Spin-echo EPI (echo planner image) DWI (b-value = 800) and Magnetic resonance elastography. The ROIs (region of interest: 200-300 $mm^2$) were established on the basis of the first axial stiffness image corresponded 95% confidence interval from axial stiffness image and then were measured values. After drawing the grid lines, signals were measured SNR from T2 weighted image and ADC values on the same locations that were analysed other 3 planes respectively. The results were showed correlation (0.057) that were increased to SNR from T2 weighted image by increasing stiffness value that no significant difference statistically p = 0.003. Other results were showed correlations (-0.301) that were decreased to ADC values by increasing stiffness values that no significant difference statistically p = 0.088. In the 3.0T equipment, the results may be error in much the same fashion as the 1.5T from ADC values by evaluation of fibrosis stage. However, Magnetic resonance elastography would be useful method that is used to diagnose exactly liver fibrosis stages in the 3.0T.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.178-185
• /
• 2015

Purpose: To compare the frequency of posterior globe flattening between two-dimensional T2-weighted imaging (2D T2WI) and three-dimensional (3D T2WI). Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients (31 female; mean age, 44.4 years) who had undergone both 5-mm axial T2WI and sagittal 3D 1-mm isovoxel T2WI of the whole brain for evaluation of various diseases (headache [n = 30], large hemorrhage [n = 19], large tumor or leptomeningeal tumor spread [n = 15], large infarct [n = 3], and bacterial meningitis [n = 2]) were used in this study. Two radiologists independently reviewed both sets of images at separate sessions. Axial T2WI and multi-planar imaging of 3D T2WI were visually assessed for the presence of globe flattening. The optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) was measured at a location 4 mm posterior to each globe on oblique coronal imaging reformatted from 3D T2WI. Results: There were significantly more globes showing posterior flattening on 3D T2WI (105/138 [76.1%]) than on 2D T2WI (27/138 [19.6%], P = 0.001). Inter-observer agreement was excellent for both 2D T2WI and 3D T2WI (Cohen's kappa = 0.928 and 0.962, respectively). Intra-class correlation coefficient for the ONSD was almost perfect (Cohen's kappa = 0.839). The globes with posterior flattening had significantly larger ONSD than those without on both 2D and 3D T2WI (P < 0.001; $6.14mm{\pm}0.44$ vs. $5.74mm{\pm}0.44$ on 2D T2WI; $5.90mm{\pm}0.47$ vs. $5.56mm{\pm}0.34$ on 3D T2WI). Optic nerve protrusion was significantly more frequent on reformatted 1-mm 3D T2WI than on 5-mm 2D T2WI (8 out of 138 globes on 3D T2WI versus one on 2D T2WI; P = 0.018). Conclusion: Posterior globe flattening is more frequently observed on 3D T2WI than on 2D T2WI in patients suspected of having increased intracranial pressure. The globes with posterior flattening have significantly larger ONSD than those without.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2009

Purpose : A parallel imaging method provides us to improve temporal resolution to obtain three-dimensional (3D) MR images. The objective of this study was to optimize three 3D MRI techniques by adjusting 2D SESNE factors of the parallel imaging method in phantom and human brain. Materials and Methods : With a 3 Tesla MRI system and an 8-channel phase-array sensitivity-encoding (SENSE) coil, three 3D MRI techniques of 3D T1-weighted imaging (3D T1WI), 3D T2-weighted imaging (3D T2WI) and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery (3D FLAIR) imaging were optimized with adjusting SESNE factors in a water phantom and three human brains. The 2D SENSE factor was applied on the phase-encoding and the slice-encoding directions. Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR), percent signal reduction rate(%R), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) were calculated by using signal intensities obtained in specific regions-of-interest (ROI). Results : In the phantom study, SENSE factor = 3 was provided in 0.2% reduction of signals against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T1WI. SENSE factor = 2 was provided in 0.98% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging within 5 minutes for 3D T2WI. SENSE factor = 4 was provided in 0.2% signal reduction against without using SENSE with imaging around 6 minutes for 3D FLAIR. In the human brain study, SNR and CNR were higher with SENSE factors = 3 than 4 for all three imaging techniques. Conclusion : This study was performed to optimize 2D SENSE factors in the three 3D MRI techniques that can be scanned in clinical time limitations with minimizing SNR reductions. Without compromising SNR and CNR, the optimum 2D SENSE factors were 3 and 4, yielding the scan time of about 5 to 6 minutes. Further studies are necessary to optimize 3D MRI techniques in other areas in human body.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.53-56
• /
• 2009

The authors report here a rare case of cerebellar schistosomiasis identified by pathological diagnosis, lacking extracranial involvement. The clinical symptoms included headache, dizziness, and nausea. Studies in blood were normal and no parasite eggs were detected in stool. Computed tomography of brains showed hypodense signal, and magnetic resonance imaging showed isointense signal on T1-weighted images, hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images, and intensely enhancing nodules in the right cerebellum after intravenous administration of gadolinium. A high-grade glioma was suspected, and an operation was performed. The pathologic examination of the biopsy specimen revealed schistosomal granulomas scattered within the parenchyma of the cerebellum. The definitive diagnosis was cerebellar schistosomiasis japonica. A standard use of praziquantel and corticosteroid drugs was applied, and the prognosis was good. When the pattern of imaging examinations is present as mentioned above, a diagnosis of brain schistosomiasis should be considered.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.241-245
• /
• 2001

A 16-year-old female was admitted to Wonkwang dental hospital with a chief complaint of painful ulceration on right buccal mucosa around mandibular 3rd molar area. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed relative large soft tissue mass on the infratemporal fossa and masseter muscle region. By the feature of T1-weighted and T2-weighted of MR imaging, we suspected this mass as a kind of myogenic sarcoma. Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies established a definitive diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. A review of the literature was also presented.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2017

Purpose: To optimize the saturation time and maximizing the pH-weighted difference between the normal and ischemic brain regions, on 3-tesla amide proton transfer (APT) imaging using an in vivo rat model. Materials and Methods: Three male Wistar rats underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion, and were examined in a 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. APT imaging acquisition was performed with 3-dimensional turbo spin-echo imaging, using a 32-channel head coil and 2-channel parallel radiofrequency transmission. An off-resonance radiofrequency pulse was applied with a Sinc-Gauss pulse at a $B_{1,rms}$ amplitude of $1.2{\mu}T$ using a 2-channel parallel transmission. Saturation times of 3, 4, or 5 s were tested. The APT effect was quantified using the magnetization-transfer-ratio asymmetry at 3.5 ppm with respect to the water resonance (APT-weighted signal), and compared with the normal and ischemic regions. The result was then applied to an acute stroke patient to evaluate feasibility. Results: Visual detection of ischemic regions was achieved with the 3-, 4-, and 5-s protocols. Among the different saturation times at $1.2{\mu}T$ power, 4 s showed the maximum difference between the ischemic and normal regions (-0.95%, P = 0.029). The APTw signal difference for 3 and 5 s was -0.9% and -0.7%, respectively. The 4-s saturation time protocol also successfully depicted the pH-weighted differences in an acute stroke patient. Conclusion: For 3-tesla turbo spin-echo APT imaging, the maximal pH-weighted difference achieved when using the $1.2{\mu}T$ power, was with the 4 s saturation time. This protocol will be helpful to depict pH-weighted difference in stroke patients in clinical settings.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.121-125
• /
• 2006

A 48-year-old man presented with a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) of the scalp associated with local recurrence. Axial T1- and T2-weighted images demonstrated a well-circumscribed hypointense and intermediate hyperintense mass in the skin and subcutaneous layer of the scalp, respectively. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images showed the strongly enhanced mass invasion to the skin, subcutaneous layer and adjacent galeal layer. Scalp DFSP is very uncommon but is an aggressive tumor, so MR imaging diagnosis of the extent of the lesion to underlying structures, and initial wide local resection is important to prevent recurrence.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.63 no.3
• /
• pp.26.1-26.5
• /
• 2023

Syringobulbia is a rare neurological disorder characterized by a fluid-filled cavity in the brainstem. In this study, clinical signs, features on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the diseases present concurrently with syringobulbia were investigated in 33 small breed dogs. Most dogs (97%) had concurrent syringomyelia, and some dogs (24%) presented with vestibular or cranial nerve symptoms associated with the medulla oblongata. MRIs revealed slit-like, bulbous, and vertical linear shapes of the cavities on T2-weighted hyperintense and T1-weighted hypointense signals similar to the cerebrospinal fluid. Chiari-like malformations were identified in all dogs. This study highlights the association of syringobulbia with syringomyelia and Chiari-like malformations in small breed dogs with or without brainstem-associated clinical signs.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.90-97
• /
• 2020

Background: To minimize damage to the ovarian reserve, it is necessary to evaluate the follicular density in the ovarian tissue surrounding endometriosis on preoperative imaging. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of subtraction pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect ovarian reserve. Methods: A subtracted T1-weighted image (^subT1WI) was obtained by subtracting unenhanced T1WI from contrast-enhanced T1WI (^ceT1WI) with similar parameters in 22 patients with ovarian endometriosis. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in ovarian endometriosis, which was classified into the high signal intensity and iso-to-low signal intensity groups on the T2-weighted image, was compared to that in normal ovarian tissue. To evaluate the effect of contrast enhancement, a standardization map was obtained by dividing ^subT1WI by ^ceT1WI. Results: On visual assessment of 22 patients with ovarian endometriosis, 16 patients showed a high signal intensity, and 6 patients showed an iso-to-low signal intensity on T1WI. Although SNR in endometriosis with a high signal intensity was higher than that with an iso-to-low signal intensity, there was no difference in SNR after the subtraction (13.72±77.55 vs. 63.03±43.90, p=0.126). The area of the affected ovary was smaller than that of the normal ovary (121.10±22.48 vs. 380.51±75.87 ㎟, p=0.002), but the mean number of pixels in the viable remaining tissue of the affected ovary was similar to that of the normal ovary (0.53±0.09 vs. 0.47±0.09, p=0.682). Conclusion: The subtraction technique used with pelvic MRI could reveal the extent of endometrial invasion of the normal ovarian tissue and viable remnant ovarian tissue.