Comparison of MR sequences in early cerebral infarction at 0.5 T

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic values of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and gradient spin-echo (GRASE) with those of conventional spin-echo (SE) and fast SE T2-weighted sequences in the evaluation of acute cerebrovascular lesions at 0.5 T.Material and Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients with the clinical diagnosis of acute cerebrovascular accident were examined by MR imaging within the first 48 h of ictus. MR examination included 5-mm axial conventional SE and turbo SE (TSE) T2-weighted, dual-echo GRASE and FLAIR sequences. The patients also had pre- and postcontrast T1-weighted axial images. Two examiners evaluated the images and scored the conspicuity of the acute lesions.Results: Regardless of location, FLAIR provided the best lesion conspicuity in the detection of acute infarcts, followed by the GRASE sequence. In the posterior fossa, TSE and SE demonstrated the lesions better than GRASE and FLAIR techniques. In the detection of hemorrhagic elements within the ischemic region, TSE demonstrated statistically significant superiority over other sequences.Conclusion: In the detection of acute ischemic lesions in locations other than the posterior fossa, FLAIR provided the best lesion conspicuity among four T2-weighted sequences, including SE, TSE, GRASE and FLAIR. However, for the posterior fossa examination, preference of SE or TSE T2-weighted sequences is suggested.     

Analysis of patellar cartilage. Comparison of conventional MR imaging and MR and CT arthrography in cadavers

Objective: To compare the sensitivity of conventional MR sequences, MR arthrography, and CT arthrography for the detection of cartilage lesions of the patella in cadavers.Material and Methods: Cartilage lesions in 10 cadaveric specimens were evaluated by MR imaging, including T1-weighted, proton density-weighted and T2-weighted sequences, and fat-suppressed spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (SPGR), MR arthrography including T1-weighted and SPGR sequences, and double-contrast CT arthrography including conventional and subtracted images. The sensitivities with regard to detection of lesions were compared to results from morphologic and histologic investigations of sectioned specimens.Results: Twenty-one lesions were detected morphologically. For the detection of these lesions, sensitivities were as follows: T1-weighted images 33.3%; proton density-weighted images 85.7%; T2-weighted images 85.7%; SPGR images 80.9%; MR arthrography with T1-SE sequences 57.1%; MR arthrography with SPGR sequence 90.5%; and CT arthrography, both regular and subtracted images 85.7%.Conclusion: For noninvasive techniques, T2-weighted images revealed the highest sensitivity for the detection of patellar cartilage lesions, which was surpassed only by MR arthrography using the SPGR sequence. CT arthrography delineated surface irregularities but failed to demonstrate intrachondral lesions.     

Radiologic-pathologic correlation of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign. A case report

To provide a histopathologic substrate of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery (MCA) sign in a patient with MCA infarction. The sign was found to be correlated with accumulation of erythrocytes, fibrin and cellular debris.     

Morphology and hemodynamics in dissection of the descending aorta. Assessment with MR imaging

Purpose: To obtain morphologic and functional information in patients with dissection of the descending aorta using contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) and MR blood flow quantification of the true and false lumina.Material and Methods: Fourteen patients were studied prospectively using a 1.5 T unit. MRA was performed with a 3D FISP sequence (TR/TE/flip angle 4.7/1.9 ms/30°) after injection of 0.2 mmol Gd-DTPA per kg b.w. Flow quantification with phase velocity mapping was done at the level of the diaphragm using a 2D FLASH technique (TR/TE/flip angle 28/6.5 ms/30°) with an average temporal resolution of 23 frames per cardiac cycle (34 ms). A spectral broadening index was applied to quantify the amount of flow irregularity within both channels of the aorta. Extension of the dissection and involvement of the major branch vessels were analyzed.Results: The mean flow volume per minute was 1982 ml (SD 1083 ml) in the true and 1052 ml (SD 763 ml) in the false lumen. Average peak-velocities were 98 cm/s (SD 33 cm/s) in the true channel and 47 cm/s (SD 26 cm/s) in the false channel. Ten patients had bidirectional flow in the false lumen with a reflux volume ranging between 6.8% and 98%. Only 1 patient presented with bidirectional flow in the true lumen (reflux volume 15%). A significantly higher degree of flow irregularity was found in the false lumen compared with the true channel.Conclusion: Different hemodynamic patterns were found in aortic dissection. Their prognostic value and the impact on therapy, specifically percutaneous interventional procedures, have to be further studied.     

16层螺旋CT颈脑动脉联合成像的技术评价

目的:探讨16层螺旋CT颈脑动脉联合成像技术的可行性,评价其图像质量。方法:134例缺血性脑血管病患者应用SiemensSensation16层螺旋CT行颈脑动脉联合CTA检查。扫描准直16×0.75mm,Pitch值0.8～1.0,球管旋转时间0.5s/r。采用对比剂自动跟踪技术,对比剂使用Ultravist(370mgI/ml)100ml和30～40ml无菌生理盐水,注射流率3.5ml/s。于Wizard工作站参考DSA造影的操作顺序和投照角度,行颈脑动脉多平面重组、最大密度投影、曲面图像重建及容积再现CTA图像。技术分析包括扫描延迟时间及数据采集时间,分析图像质量。结果:134例CTA扫描延迟时间最快17.1s,最迟37.2s,平均21.5s,<20s者26例,20-30s者87例,>30s者21例;数据采集时间最少者13.1s,最多者为17.5s,平均15.6s,<15s者30例,>15s者104例。134例脑动脉CTA图像质量优者113例,质量好者16例,质量中等者5例,质量差者0例,无局部伪影病例,所有病例图像均满足诊断需要;颈动脉CTA图像,除11例患者存在局部伪影外,余123例图像质量均满足诊断需要。结论:应用16层螺旋CT可以在20s内完成颈部与脑动脉的一次性扫描,此技术是可行的;其CTA图像质量能够满足诊断需要。     

Diagnosis of meningeoma. A comparison of costs before CT, during CT and after introduction of MR imaging

Objective: To assess whether the capital investment required by advances in radiological technology is offset by savings in the direct costs of diagnostic services.Material and Methods: Meningeoma was used as an indicator case. All meningeoma patients from three study periods were included: Twenty patients in 1976-77 before the introduction of CT, 22 patients in 1984-85 when CT was used and 16 patients in 1992 when MR imaging had replaced CT as the most informative imaging modality. Radiological and other diagnostic investigations, and the hospital stay were identified and cost analyzed.Results: The costs of radiological examinations increased from 293 Euros in 1976-77 to 513 Euros in 1992. The average number of diagnostic examinations per patient decreased from 5.1 in 1976-77 to 2.4 in 1992. The length of hospital stay decreased from 11.5 to 2.7 days and the total costs of the diagnostic work-up decreased to one-third of the original, i.e. from 3423 Euros in 1976-77 to 1282 Euros in 1992.Conclusion: The costs of the radiological examinations rose, but the development of radiological technology simplified the diagnostic practice. The hospital stay drastically decreased. The total costs of diagnostic work-up per patient dropped to one-third of the baseline costs.     

DTI对鉴别脑低级别胶质瘤、脑梗死和病毒性脑炎的价值

目的:探讨磁共振扩散张量成像在鉴别低级别脑胶质瘤、脑梗死和病毒性脑炎中的应用价值。方法:22例低级别脑胶质瘤、26例急性或亚急性期脑梗死和18例病毒性脑炎患者在治疗或手术前行常规MRI和DTI检查。脑低级别胶质瘤患者均经手术病理证实,病毒性脑炎和脑梗死患者均经临床治疗及随访证实。测量并计算3组病灶的表观扩散系数(ADC)值和相对表观扩散系数(rADC)值、各向异性分数(FA)值和相对各向异性分数(rFA)值,并进行统计学分析。结果:脑低级别胶质瘤组平均ADC、rADC、FA和rFA值分别为(1.55±0.08)×10-3 mm2/s、1.68±0.25、0.17±0.03和0.42±0.08,脑梗死组分别为(0.54±0.12)×10-3 mm2/s、0.64±0.12、0.14±0.03和0.30±0.05,病毒性脑炎组分别为(0.84±0.07)×10-3 mm2/s、1.07±0.05、0.17±0.02和0.43±0.09。三组病例的平均ADC值及rADC值间的差异有高度统计学意义(P<0.01),脑低级别胶质瘤与脑梗死的FA值和rFA值之间、病毒性脑炎与脑梗死的FA值和rFA值之间差异有高度统计学意义(P<0.01),脑低级别胶质瘤与病毒性脑炎的FA值和rFA值之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:综合利用DTI的ADC值、rADC值、FA值及rFA值,对鉴别脑低级别胶质瘤、脑梗死和病毒性脑炎具有较高的指导价值。     

Zonal frequency analysis of infarct extent. Part II: anterior and posterior cerebral artery infarctions

The object of the study was to test the hypotheses that analysis of the anatomic zones affected by single anterior (A), posterior (P), and middle (M) cerebral artery (CA) infarcts, and by dual- and triple-vessel infarcts, will disclose (i) sites most frequently involved by each infarct type (peak sites), (ii) sites most frequently injured by multiple different infarct types (vulnerable zones), and (iii) anatomically overlapping sites in which the relative infarct frequency becomes equal for two or more different infarct types and/or in which infarct frequency shifts greatly between single and multivessel infarcts (potential border zones). Precise definitions of each vascular territory were adopted. CT and MRI studies from 20 ACA, 20 PCA, three dual ACA-PCA, and four triple ACA-PCA-MCA infarcts were mapped onto a standard template (Part I). Relative infarct frequencies in each zone were analyzed within and across infarct types to identify the centers and peripheries of each infarct type, the zones most frequently affected by multiple different infarct types, the zones where relative infarct frequency was equal for different infarcts, and the zones where infarct frequency shifted markedly from single- to multiple-vessel infarcts. Zonal frequency analysis provided quantitative data on the relative infarct frequency in each anatomic zone for each infarct type. It displayed zones of peak infarct frequency for each infarct, zones more vulnerable to diverse types of infarct, peripheral "overlap" zones of equal infarct frequency, and zones where infarct frequency shifted markedly between single- and multiple-vessel infarcts. It is concluded that the hypotheses are correct.