[Influence of the Imaging Method on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Value in Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL): Comparison of Pulsed-ASL with Two-dimensional Acquisition and Pseudo-continuous-ASL with 3D Spiral Acquisition].

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to compare regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) images acquired by the pulsed arterial spin labeling with two-dimensional acquisition (PASL-2D) and the pseudo-continuous-ASL with three-dimensional spiral acquisition (pCASL-3D spiral), and to clarify the characteristics of rCBF values in both ASL methods. METHODS: PASL-2D and pCASL-3D spiral were performed in five healthy volunteers with no history of brain disease using 3T scanners from two venders in the same center. 3D T1-weighted images and rCBF images were acquired by both ASL methods for a total of 3 sessions: twice at the initial visit (1st and 2nd), and 1 hour and 1 week later. The rCBF images calculated by each MR machine were anatomically standardized using SPM12. The regions of interest (ROIs) were set on the territory of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), the middle cerebral artery (MCA), and the posterior cerebral artery (PCA). Mean and relative rCBF values were calculated at each arterial territory in each session. Reproducibility for rCBF value in each method was analyzed using Bland-Altman plots, the coefficient of repeatability (CR), and the repeatability index (RI). RESULTS: In all sessions, mean values of rCBF were the highest at PCA for PASL-2D and at MCA for pCASL-3D spiral. RIs of pCASL-3D spiral were lower than those of PASL-2D in all arterial territories. CONCLUSION: In the PASL-2D and the pCASL-3D spiral, we confirmed the characteristics of the mean and reproducibility of rCBF values in each arterial territory.

[Creation of Bone X-ray Radiography Manual Using Human Bone Specimens for Bone X-ray Radiography Education].

Senior radiological technologists have made various improvements and have supported the clinical and educational fields by explaining bone X-ray radiography to students and junior radiological technologists to understand the procedure using illustrations, X-ray images, and photographs in a way that corresponds to the design software available for that era. Because human bone specimens are only available in the anatomy laboratory of medical schools, they could not be used for the explanation of bone X-ray radiography until now. Therefore, we have developed a bone X-ray radiography manual using bone specimens for the bone X-ray radiography education, which helps students to understand the procedure of bone X-ray radiography. Previous bone X-ray radiography manuals had not been illustrated by bone specimens and bone specimen X-ray images, but this bone X-ray radiography manual using bone specimens has made it possible to understand the surface morphology of bone specimens and X-ray images of them. In addition, the data of bone X-ray radiography using this bone specimen were made into an electronic file, which can be easily used at the place of radiological examination or at home through electronic media.

[Creation of Stereo-paired Color Vascular Anatomical Charts Using 3-dimentional Images].

Three-dimensional (3D) images of blood vessels in the human body, which are acquired by X-ray computed tomography (CT) and cone-beam CT of Angiography devices, are widely used in medical diagnosis and treatment. Using the 3DCT images of blood vessels, we created stereo-paired color vascular anatomical charts for better understanding of vascular anatomy in clinical settings, patient explanations, and student education. Since it is difficult to distinguish branches of blood vessels that show three-dimensionally complicated running such as cerebral blood vessels, we made it easier to identify them anatomically by color-coding each branch of the blood vessel. Also, by using stereo-paired images, we can see the three-dimensional blood vessel running. In the past anatomical books and vascular anatomy atlas, there was no anatomical chart of the whole body blood vessels that could be color-coded and stereoscopically viewed. We have made it possible to identify blood vessels by the stereoscopic vision of the blood vessels using this stereo-paired color anatomical chart. In addition, this vascular anatomical chart can be additionally revised according to the needs of the clinical and educational settings to be used, and the data can be converted into an electronic file so that it can be easily used in the field of radiological examination or at home through electronic media.