Publications by authors named "Hikaru Yoshikai"
Objectives: To evaluate a new motion correction method, named RT + NV Track, for upper abdominal DWI that combines the respiratory triggering (RT) method using a respiration sensor and the Navigator Track (NV Track) method using navigator echoes.
Materials And Methods: To evaluate image quality acquired upper abdominal DWI and ADC images with RT, NV, and RT + NV Track in 10 healthy volunteers and 35 patients, signal-to-noise efficiency (SNR) and the coefficient of variation (CV) of ADC values were measured. Five radiologists independently performed qualitative image-analysis assessments.
Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of obtaining black-blood imaging with a large FOV from the neck to the aortic arch at 3 T using a newly modified Relaxation-Enhanced Angiography without Contrast and Triggering for Black-Blood Imaging (REACT-BB).
Materials And Methods: REACT-BB provides black-blood images by adjusting the inversion time (TI) in REACT to the null point of blood. The optimal TI for REACT-BB was investigated in 10 healthy volunteers with TI varied from 200 ms to 1400 ms.
Purpose: To evaluate MRA and vessel wall imaging (VWI) image quality in the thoracic aorta using a novel method named BRIDGE (bright and dark blood images with multishot gradient-echo EPI).
Methods: The BRIDGE method consists of 3D multishot gradient-echo EPI acquisition using pulse gating, navigator gating, and magnetization preparation with a T -preparation pulse and a nonselective inversion-recovery pulse. The BRIDGE and conventional methods (noncontrast MRA based on 3D turbo-field-echo [TFE] and VWI based on 3D turbo spin echo with variable refocusing flip angle [VRFA-TSE]) were performed in 10 healthy volunteers and 10 patients.