Maximum Intensity Projection (maximum + intensity_projection)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Magnetic resonance microscopy at 17.6-Tesla on chicken embryos in vitro

JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 1 2001
Bianca Hogers PhD
Abstract The non-destructive nature and the rapid acquisition of a three-dimensional image makes magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) very attractive and suitable for functional imaging investigations. We explored the use of an ultra high magnetic field for MRM to increase image quality per image acquisition time. Improved image quality was characterized by a better signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), better image contrast, and higher resolution compared to images obtained at lower magnetic field strengths. Fixed chicken embryos at several stages of development were imaged at 7.0-T (300 MHz) and at 17.6-T (750 MHz). Maximum intensity projection resulted in three-dimensional vascular images with ample detail of the embryonic vasculature. We showed that at 750 MHz frequency, an image with approximately three times better SNR can be obtained by T1 -weighting using a standard gadolinium contrast agent, compared to the same measurement at 300 MHz. The image contrast improved by around 20 percent and the contrast-to-noise ratio improved by almost a factor of 3.5. Smaller blood vessels of the vascular system were identified at the high field, which indicates a better image resolution. Thus, ultra high field is beneficial for MRM and opens new areas for functional imaging research, in particular when SNR, resolution, and contrast are limited by acquisition time. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:83,86. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Morphological features and clinical feasibility of thoracic duct: Detection with nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging at 3.0 T

JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 1 2010
Yu De-xin MD
Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the detection of the thoracic duct using nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine the influence of some related disorders on the lymphatic duct. Materials and Methods: Highly fluid-sensitive sequence and fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging (FS-T2WI) were performed in a total of 139 cases. The axial and coronal images were used to locate the thoracic duct and the measurement and evaluation of its dimensions were performed using a 3D maximum intensity projection (MIP) reconstruction image. The differences in the dimensions among control, portal hypertension, and common bile duct obstruction groups were compared using one-way analysis of variance. Results: The cisterna chyli was shown in 91% of cases on FS-T2WI, while the thoracic duct appeared in 70% of the MIP images. The common configuration of the cisterna chyli was tubular or saccular in 73%. Eighty thoracic ducts had a slight turn declining to the left at the level of T8,10. There was a significant difference in the transverse diameter of the thoracic duct between the portal hypertension group and other groups (F = 5.638, P = 0.005). Conclusion: Nonenhanced MRI is feasible for locating and depicting the morphological features of the thoracic duct. Portal hypertension may influence the dimension of the thoracic duct. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;32:94,100. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography of intracranial lesions

JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 4 2008
Zhitong Zou MD
Abstract Purpose To determine if contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI of intracranial lesions benefits from time-resolved MR angiography (MRA) during contrast agent injection. Materials and Methods For 126 patients with suspected intracranial lesions undergoing routine CE MRI at 3.0T (N = 88) or 1.5T (N = 38), time-resolved CE MRA (three-dimensional [3D] time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics [TRICKS]) was performed during injection of the routine gadolinium (Gd) dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. Time to peak (TTP) enhancement of lesions as well as time to internal carotid artery (ICA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), superior sagittal sinus (SSS), and jugular vein enhancement were measured. Source and maximum intensity projection (MIP) images were reviewed to delineate the spatial relationship of lesions and the vasculature. Results In 61 patients (48%), additional important findings were detected on time-resolved MRA that were not seen on the routine CE protocol, including aneurysms (N = 6), arteriovenous malformations (N = 7), ICA stenoses (N = 2), vascular anomalies (N = 18), and relationships between lesions and vessels (N = 28). In addition, tumor TTP correlated with glioma grade (r = 0.87) and discriminated epithelial from nonepithelial meningiomas (P = 2.6 × 10,5). MRA added eight minutes to the total exam time. Conclusion Time-resolved MRA performed during contrast agent injection adds information to the routine brain CE MRI examination of intracranial lesions with only a small time penalty and no additional risk to the patient. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Effect of lateral target motion on image registration accuracy in CT-guided helical tomotherapy: A phantom study

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL IMAGING AND RADIATION ONCOLOGY, Issue 3 2010
J Medwig
Summary Optimisation of imaging modes for kilovoltage CT (kVCT) used for treatment planning and megavoltage CT (MVCT) image guidance used in ungated helical tomotherapy was investigated for laterally moving targets. Computed tomography images of the QUASARÔ Respiratory Motion Phantom were acquired without target motion and for lateral motion of the target, with 2-cm peak-to-peak amplitude and a period of 4 s. Reference kVCT images were obtained using a 16-slice CT scanner in standard fast helical CT mode, untagged average CT mode and various post-processed 4D-CT modes (0% phase, average and maximum intensity projection). Three sets of MVCT images with different inter-slice spacings of were obtained on a Hi-Art tomotherapy system with the phantom displaced by a known offset position. Eight radiation therapists performed co-registration of MVCT obtained with 2-, 4- and 6-mm slice spacing and kVCT studies independently for all 15 CT imaging combinations. In the investigated case, the untagged average kVCT and 4-mm slice spacing for the MVCT yielded more accurate registration in the transverse plane. The average residual uncertainty of this combination of imaging procedures was 0.61 ± 0.16 mm in the longitudinal direction, 0.45 ± 0.14 mm in the anterior,posterior direction and insignificant in the lateral direction. Manual registration of MVCT,kVCT study pairs is necessary to account for a target in significant lateral motion with respect to bony structures. [source]


Apparent density of the primate calcaneo-cuboid joint and its association with locomotor mode, foot posture, and the "midtarsal break"

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Matthew G. Nowak
Abstract Primates use a range of locomotor modes during which they incorporate various foot postures. Humans are unique compared with other primates in that humans lack a mobile fore- and midfoot. Rigidity in the human foot is often attributed to increased propulsive and stability requirements during bipedalism. Conversely, fore- and midfoot mobility in nonhuman primates facilitates locomotion in arboreal settings. Here, we evaluated apparent density (AD) in the subchondral bone of human, ape, and monkey calcanei exhibiting different types of foot loading. We used computed tomography osteoabsorptiometry and maximum intensity projection (MIP) maps to visualize AD in subchondral bone at the cuboid articular surface of calcanei. MIPs represent 3D volumes (of subchondral bone) condensed into 2D images by extracting AD maxima from columns of voxels comprising the volumes. False-color maps are assigned to MIPs by binning pixels in the 2D images according to brightness values. We compared quantities and distributions of AD pixels in the highest bin to test predictions relating AD patterns to habitual locomotor modes and foot posture categories of humans and several nonhuman primates. Nonhuman primates exhibit dorsally positioned high AD concentrations, where maximum compressive loading between the calcaneus and cuboid likely occurs during "midtarsal break" of support. Humans exhibit less widespread areas of high AD, which could reflect reduced fore- and midfoot mobility. Analysis of the internal morphology of the tarsus, such as subchondral bone AD, potentially offers new insights for evaluating primate foot function during locomotion. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Characterization of a New Pulmonary Vein Variant Using Magnetic Resonance Angiography:

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2004
Imaging, Incidence, Interventional Implications of the "Right Top Pulmonary Vein"
Introduction: Catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) for prevention of recurrent atrial fibrillation requires precise anatomic information. We describe the characteristics of a new anatomic variant of PV anatomy using magnetic resonance angiography. Methods and Results: A 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging system with a body coil or a torso phased-array coil was used before and after gadolinium injection. Magnetic resonance angiograms were acquired with a breath-hold three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient-echo imaging sequence in the coronal plane. Three-dimensional reconstruction with maximum intensity projections and multiplanar reformations was performed. A newly described variant PV ascending from the roof of the left atrium was found in 3 of 91 subjects. The mean ostial diameter of the roof PV was 7 ± 2 mm, the mean distance from the ostium to the first branching point was 22 ± 8.5 mm, and the mean distance to the right superior PV was 3.3 ± 0.6 mm. Conclusion: We refer to the newly described variant of PV anatomy as the "right top pulmonary vein." It is important to be aware of this anatomic pattern to avoid inadvertent catheter intubation, which can result in misleading mapping results and PV stenosis. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 538-543, May 2004) [source]


Diffusion-weighted images of the liver: Comparison of tumor detection before and after contrast enhancement with superparamagnetic iron oxide

JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 6 2005
Shinji Naganawa MD
Abstract Purpose To study the recognition of malignant lesions of the liver on diffusion-weighted images (DWI) can be improved by the administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). Materials and Methods Pre- and post-SPIO mediated DWI of the liver was compared in six patients with suspected malignant liver lesions at 1.5 Tesla using a parallel imaging technique. Results Post-SPIO DWI showed improved contrast-to-noise ratio between malignant lesions and liver. Furthermore, the spleen signal was decreased on post-SPIO DWI, thus avoiding the overlap of the spleen and left lobe of the liver on maximum intensity projections (MIP). Conclusion Recognition of malignant lesions of the liver was improved by SPIO on DWI. On MIP images of DWI, SPIO helped to decrease the overlap of spleen signal on the liver in some projection angles. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:836,840. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]