• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.475-480
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• 2018

In lower abdominal MRI scan, patients have been tested by physically contacting with the body array coil. In this study, we have designed the acrylic assistant equipment (ACR) which allows the contactless scan of the patient to the coil and evaluated the feasibility by comparing the acquired images with ACR to those obtained without ACR. We tested 10 cases (F: 5, m: 5) by using the Ingenia $3.0T^{TM}$ MR system and dStreamTM torso coil (Philips Healthcare, Netherlands). We implemented T1 AX TSE and eTHRIVE (GRE) techniques. The scanned images were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed. In qualitatively, the TSE shows 4.44 and 4.56 mean values with and without the ACR and 4.34 and 4.28 at the GRE, respectively. In quantitatively, the TSE shows 12.15 CNR, 17.95 SNR and 12.71 CNR, 18.96 SNR with and without the ACR. And GRE shows 17.72 CNR, 22.59 SNR and 18.26 CNR, 24.47 SNR with and without the ACR, respectively. We have designed and implemented the acrylic assistant equipment to lower abdominal patients. Our data indicate that it is possible to obtain similar image qualities to current lower abdominal MRI scan without the physical contact to the patient.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1069-1082
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• 2020

Coverage by National Health Insurance (NHI) was expanded in the abdominal imaging area as follows: upper abdominal ultrasound on April 1, 2018, lower abdominal ultrasound on February 1, 2019, and abdominal MRI on November 1, 2019. Many patients can benefit from the expansion of NHI coverage. Newly included diseases for NHI coverage includes liver cirrhosis, gallbladder polyps, hepatic adenoma/dysplastic nodules, pancreatic cysts, autoimmune pancreatitis and bile duct stone disease. However, the expansion of coverage made each examination more complex, including indications, follow-up strategy, the number of examination per patients, the standard images to be acquired, and the standard forms of the radiological report. Therefore, more careful consideration is mandatory when an abdominal imaging examination is prescribed and conducted.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.196-199
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• 2015

Obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly (OHVIRA) syndrome is an uncommon congenital abnormality of the female urogenital tract characterized by the triad of uterine didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. A 13-year-old female presented with acute lower abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed uterine didelphys, hematometrocolpos, obstructed hemivagina, and right ipsilateral agenesis, consistent with OHVIRA syndrome. Also, a well-defined mass with fluid signal intensity, mimicking adnexal neoplasm was seen in the right lower pelvic cavity adjacent to the posterior wall of the bladder. Vaginal septotomy and drainage of hematometrocolpos were done initially, but unilateral hysterectomy was later performed to relieve the patient's symptoms. The cystic mass in the right lower pelvic cavity was also excised and confirmed as a blind megaureter.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.280-285
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• 2023

Uterine leiomyoma is the most common benign pelvic tumor in female and being symptomatic is an indication for surgical removal. As laparoscopic surgery has been developed, some cases related to parasitic leiomyomas in the port site have been reported. A 40-year-old female who a history of previous laparoscopic surgery to remove uterine myoma 2 years ago visited in outpatient clinic of general surgery with palpable mass in left lower abdomen. Contrast enhanced abdomen CT and pelvis MRI were done to evaluate the mass. It was diagnosed parasitic leiomyoma in pathologic study after surgical removal and parasitic leiomyoma should be considered when patient visited presenting abdominal mass with the history of laparoscopic myomectomy.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 2001

Spinal epidural abscess(SEA) is a rare condition in children. Classic symptoms are spinal ache, root pain, weakness and paralysis. The earliest symptoms of SEA in the pediatric age group are nonspecific and variable. Early diagnosis may be almost impossible when local spinal pain is inconspicuous or absent, when toxic epiphenomena divert attention from subtle signs of neurologic dysfunction and when the patient is an acutely distressed and uncooperative child. Failure to diagnosis and treat condition on a timely basis may lead to permanent neurolgic dysfunction or even death. This infection, usually located in the dorsal epidural space of the mid thoracic or lower lumbar regions, is the result of hematogenous dissemination of bacteria, usually Staphylococci, from foci of infection in the skin, or respiratory or urinary tracts. MRI was the diagnostic method of choice. A combination of antibiotics and surgical drainage remains the treatment of choice. Prognosis is excellent if surgery is performed before the development of neurologic deficit. We report a case of SEA in a child whose first presenting symptom was abdominal pain rather than spinal pain. A case is diagnosed by MRI and successfully treated with laminectomy and drainage and antibiotics.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 2013

To determine the factors affecting the external radiation dose rates of patients undergoing PET-MRI examinations and to assess the trends of these differences, we measured the changes in the dose rates of $^{18}F$-FDG during a set period of time for each body region. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the dose rate decreased over time in patients undergoing PET-MRI examinations. Furthermore, immediately after the $^{18}F$-FDG injection, the dose rate in the chest region was the highest, followed by the abdominal region, the head region, and the foot region. The dose rate decreased drastically as time passed, by 2.47-fold, from $339.23{\pm}74.70mSv\;h^{-1}$ ($6.73{\pm}5.79$ min) at the time point immediately after the $^{18}F$-FDG injection to $102.71{\pm}26.17mSv\;h^{-1}$ ($136.11{\pm}25.64$ min) after the examination. In the foot region, there were no significant changes over time, from $32.05{\pm}20.23mSv\;h^{-1}$ ($6.73{\pm}5.79$ min) at the time point immediately after the $^{18}F$-FDG injection, to $23.89{\pm}9.14mSv\;h^{-1}$ ($136.11{\pm}25.64$ min) after the examination. The dose rate is dependent on the individual characteristics of the patient, and differed depending on the body region and time point. However, the dose rates were higher in patients who had a lower body weight, shorter stature, fewer urinations, lower fluid intake, and history of diabetes mellitus. To decrease radiation exposure, it is difficult or impossible to change factors inherent to the patient, such as sex, age, height, body weight, obesity, and history of diabetes mellitus. However, factors which can be changed, such as the $^{18}F$-FDG dose, fasting time, fluid intake, number of urinations, and contrast agent dose can be controlled to minimize the external radiation exposure of the patient.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.253-257
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• 2014

Wandering spleen is a rare clinical condition caused by lax splenic suspensory ligaments. The laxity of ligaments causes torsion of splenic vascular pedicle. CT scan of a 7-year-old girl with abdominal pain showed a non-enhancing lobular mass in lower abdomen. Small bowel loops were located at the right-sided abdomen and colonic loops at the left-sided abdomen. MRI scan showed non-enhancing heterogeneous mass with twisted vascular pedicle. To our knowledge, only a few cases have been reported about wandering spleen diagnosed on MRI.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.79 no.6
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• pp.337-339
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• 2018

Parovarian cyst is usually simple cyst, and accounts for 10%-20% of adnexal masses. Borderline or malignant parovarian tumor is rare, and it contains papillary projection at the smooth inner wall. We report the ultrasonography, CT and MRI findings of a parovarian serous borderline tumor in 19-year-old female presenting left lower quadrant abdominal discomfort for 2 days.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2011

Purpose: Ultrasonography (US) is widely used as a screening test in patients with abdominal pain (AP). We investigated the usefulness of US by a pediatrician in children with AP. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of children with AP who undertook US from December, 2008 to July, 2010. Results: A total of 628 patients (325 male, 303 female) were enrolled in this study. The mean age of patients was $8.08{\pm}4.61$ years. Duration of AP was acute in 427 and chronic in 201 patients. Localization of AP was diffuse (36.9%), periumbilical (24.4%), epigastric (21.0%), and right lower quadrant (8.1%). On the examination, there were no abnormal findings in 327 patients (52.1%). Abnormal ultrasonographic findings were mesenteric lymphadenitis (27.1%), intestinal mural thickening (10.0%), intussusception (3.0%), appendicitis (2.6%), choledochal cyst (1.6%), and pancreatitis (0.3%). We performed additional imaging studies such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 39 patients who showed obscure findings on the US. In 33 patients (84.6%), the same results were obtained from CT or MRI. Two cases of appendicitis, one case of pancreatitis and one case of Henoch-Sh$\ddot{o}$nlein purpura were diagnosed by the CT examination. However, there were two cases of appendicitis diagnosed by US thathad no evidence of appendicitis on the CT. Diagnostic accuracy of initial US in children with abdominal pain was 99.4%. Conclusion: US by a pediatrician as a screening test in children with AP provides a rapid and accurate diagnostic indication and has non-invasive and radiation-free advantages.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-106
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• 2014

Purpose : To describe how a robust implementation of a radial 3D gradient-echo sequence with stack-of-stars sampling can be achieved, to review the imaging properties of radial acquisitions, and to share the experience from more than 5000 clinical patient scans. Materials and Methods: A radial stack-of-stars sequence was implemented and installed on 9 clinical MR systems operating at 1.5 and 3 Tesla. Protocols were designed for various applications in which motion artifacts frequently pose a problem with conventional Cartesian techniques. Radial scans were added to routine examinations without selection of specific patient cohorts. Results: Radial acquisitions show significantly lower sensitivity to motion and allow examinations during free breathing. Elimination of breath-holding reduces failure rates for non-compliant patients and enables imaging at higher resolution. Residual artifacts appear as streaks, which are easy to identify and rarely obscure diagnostic information. The improved robustness comes at the expense of longer scan durations, the requirement for fat suppression, and the nonexistence of a time-to-center value. Care needs to be taken during the configuration of receive coils. Conclusion: Routine clinical use of radial stack-of-stars sequences is feasible with current MR systems and may serve as substitute for conventional fat-suppressed T1-weighted protocols in applications where motion is likely to degrade the image quality.