MR microscopy of the parotid glands in patients with Sjogren's syndrome: quantitative MR diagnostic criteria

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR imaging of the salivary glands has been applied to the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome; however, the diagnosis remains qualitative. We sought to establish and evaluate quantitative MR imaging criteria for the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome. METHODS: MR imaging with a 47-mm microscopy coil was performed in 83 patients with xerostomia (55 patients with Sjogren's syndrome, 28 without Sjogren's syndrome). MR images were obtained by T1-weighted and fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging and by MR sialography of the parotid glands. MR imaging findings of the parotid glands in Sjogren's syndome included increases in fat areas and decreases in intact lobule areas. These MR images were morphometrically analyzed for the diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: MR imaging with a microscopy coil demonstrated well the details of the damaged parotid glands in patients with xerostomia. Quantitative MR imaging of fat, intact gland lobule, and number of sialoectatic foci significantly and highly correlated with severity of disease. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that quantitative MR imaging yielded high diagnostic ability in differentiating patients with xerostomia who have Sjogren's syndrome from those without Sjogren's syndrome, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.94 for fat area, 0.98 for intact lobule area, and 0.91 for number of sialoectatic foci. The best cutoff points by quantitative MR imaging were each associated with high sensitivity and specificity, and, when used in combination, yielded 96% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CONCLUSION: Quantitative MR imaging effectively differentiated the parotid glands in patients with xerostomia who have Sjogren's syndrome from those without the syndrome and provided criteria for staging the gland disease.     

Diffusion-weighted echoplanar MR imaging of the salivary glands

OBJECTIVE: We determined the apparent diffusion coefficients of normal and dysfunctional salivary glands. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A diffusion-weighted single-shot spin-echo type of echoplanar MR imaging was performed on the parotid or submandibular glands, or both, in 36 healthy subjects, 20 patients with Sj?gren's syndrome, and six patients with sialoadenitis. The apparent diffusion coefficient of the salivary gland was calculated using two b factors (b = 500 and 1,000 sec/mm(2)). RESULTS: The apparent diffusion coefficient was lower in the parotid glands (0.28 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec) than that of the submandibular glands (0.37 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec). The apparent diffusion coefficient was increased in sialoadenitis, whereas it decreased with abscess formation. The apparent diffusion coefficients of the parotid glands in patients with Sj?gren's syndrome correlated with the salivary flow rates but not with the sialographic gradings of the glands. We also found a correlation of the decreases in apparent diffusion coefficients with the severity of gland damage as assessed on T1-weighted MR images. CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted echoplanar MR imaging may reveal diseased states of the salivary glands.     

Diffusion-weighted cranial MR imaging findings in a patient with hemophagocytic syndrome

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder of the immune system that is associated with frequent involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). The MR imaging and CT findings of the CNS infiltration have been reported in the past; however, the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings have not been previously described. We present MR imaging findings in a case of secondary HLH with CNS involvement, with an emphasis on the DWI findings.     

Diffusion-weighted MR study of femoral head avascular necrosis in severe acute respiratory syndrome patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN) in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine SARS patients with hip pain underwent both conventional and diffusion-weighted MRI (b-value=0-1000 seconds/mm(2)). The abnormal regions on the diffusion-weighted images were outlined by using the conventional images as guides, and the ADCs were calculated. The ADC differences between normal and AVN femoral heads were compared. RESULTS: Of the 158 hips examined, 28 had AVN (11 with bilateral hip AVN, three with right hip AVN, and three with left hip AVN). The mean ADC was markedly greater in the AVN femoral head (1.66 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second+/-0.20) than in the normal femoral head (0.47 x 10(-3) mm(2)/second+/-0.082; P<0.0001). There was no overlap between the normal and AVN femoral heads. CONCLUSION: DWI can provide valuable information regarding the diffusion properties of femoral head AVN, and markedly increased diffusion was identified in AVN.     

干燥综合征的腮腺MRI表现

目的探讨干燥综合征患者的腮腺MRI表现。方法对7例临床确诊为干燥综合征的患者行3.0TMRI检查,MRI扫描序列包括平扫轴位T1WI、T2脂肪抑制序列、冠状位及腮腺导管水成像序列,对各采集图像进行分析。结果7例患者双侧腮腺均有不同程度肿大,与正常腮腺MRI信号对比,7例患者的腮腺T1WI均表现为信号减低,并见弥漫分布大小不等点状、结节状低信号影,T2WI表现为腮腺信号增高,伴有弥漫分布的点状、结节状高信号影,T2WI冠状位压脂序列除能显示腮腺形态、信号改变外,另外能很好显示颈部淋巴结增大情况,本组7例均出现颈部多发淋巴结肿大,于T2WI压脂序列上呈较高信号。腮腺水成像显示,本组中1例表现为双侧腮腺主导管、分支导管管腔串珠状扩张及末梢导管球囊状扩张,6例仅表现为末梢导管点状、球囊状扩张,而主导管及分支导管形态正常。结论 MRI能很好的显示干燥综合征的腮腺形态和信号的改变,腮腺导管水成像是利用唾液天然对比剂功能而进行的一种无创性涎管造影检查,能很直观反映腮腺各级导管扩张的情况,从而能帮助临床对患者腮腺唾液的分泌及排空功能做一个很好的评估。     

Diffusion-weighted MR microscopy with fast spin-echo

A diffusion-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) imaging sequence for high-field MR microscopy was developed and experimentally validated in a phantom and in a live rat. Pulsed diffusion gradients were executed before and after the initial 180° pulse in the FSE pulse train. This produced diffusion-related reductions in image signal intensity corresponding to gradient (“b”) factors between 1.80 and 1352 s/mm². The degree of diffusion weighting was demonstrated to be independent of echo train length for experiments using trains up to 16 echoes long. Quantitative measurements on a phantom and on a live rat produced diffusion coefficients consistent with literature values. Importantly, the eight- to 16-fold increase in imaging efficiency with FSE was not accompanied by a significant loss of spatial resolution or contrast. This permits acquisition of in vivo three-dimensional data in time periods that are appropriate for evolving biological processes. The combination of accurate diffusion weighting and high spatial resolution provided by FSE makes the technique particularly useful for MR microscopy.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging findings of kidneys in patients with early phase of obstruction

Background

Diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an MR technique used to show molecular diffusion. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), as a quantitative parameter calculated from the DW MR images. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of DW MR imaging in early phase of obstruction due to urolithiasis.

Materials and methods

Twenty-six patients with acute dilatation of the pelvicalyceal system detected by intravenous urography were included in this study. MR imaging was performed using a 1.5 T whole-body superconducting MR scanner. DW imaging can be performed using single-shot spin–echo, echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequences with the following diffusion gradient b values: 100, 600, 1000 s/mm². Circular region of interest (ROI) was placed in the renal parenchyma for the measurement of ADC values in the normal and obstructed kidney. For statistical analyses, Paired t test were used.

Results

In spite of obstructed kidneys had the lower ADC values compared to normal kidneys, these alterations were statistically insignificant.

Conclusion

We did not observe significantly different ADC values of early phase of obstructed kidneys compared to normal kidneys.     

MR microimaging of the lung using volume projection encoding

Radial acquisition (RA) techniques have been extended to produce isotropic, three-dimensional images of lung in live laboratory animals at spatial resolution down to 0.013 mm³ with a signal-to-noise ratio of 30:1. The pulse sequence and reconstruction algorithm have been adapted to allow acquisition of image matrices of up to 256³ in less than 15 min. Scan-synchronous ventilation has been incorporated to limit breathing motion artifacts. The imaging sequence permits randomizing and/or discarding selected views to minimize the consequences of breathing motion. The signal in lung parenchyma was measured as a function of flip angle (α) for different repetition times and found to follow the predictions for which there is an optimum excitation (Ernst) angle. A single T₁, relaxation value of 780 ± 54 ms fits all data from six guinea pigs at 2.0 T. This T₁, value parameterizes the signal and allows for a priori optimization, such as calculation of the Ernst angle appropriate for lung imaging.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in leukodystrophies

Leukodystrophies are genetically determined metabolic diseases, in which the underlying biochemical abnormality interferes with the normal build-up and/or maintenance of myelin, which leads to hypo- (or arrested) myelination, or dysmyelination with resultant demyelination. Although conventional magnetic resonance imaging has significantly contributed to recent progress in the diagnostic work-up of these diseases, diffusion-weighted imaging has the potential to further improve our understanding of underlying pathological processes and their dynamics through the assessment of normal and abnormal diffusion properties of cerebral white matter. Evaluation of conventional diffusion-weighted and ADC map images allows the detection of major diffusion abnormalities and the identification of various edema types, of which the so-called myelin edema is particularly relevant to leukodystrophies. Depending on the nature of histopathological changes, stage and progression gradient of diseases, various diffusion-weighted imaging patterns may be seen in leukodystrophies. Absent or low-grade myelin edema is found in mucopolysaccharidoses, GM gangliosidoses, Zellweger disease, adrenomyeloneuropathy, L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, classical phenylketonuria, Van der Knaap disease and the vanishing white matter, medium grade myelin edema in metachromatic leukodystrophy, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy and HMG coenzyme lyase deficiency and high grade edema in Krabbe disease, Canavan disease, hyperhomocystinemias, maple syrup urine disease and leukodystrophy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and high lactate.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the brain

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides image contrast that is different from that provided by conventional MR techniques. It is particularly sensitive for detection of acute ischemic stroke and differentiation of acute stroke from other processes that manifest with sudden neurologic deficits. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging also provides adjunctive information for other cerebral diseases including neoplasms, intracranial infections, traumatic brain injury, and demyelinating processes. Because stroke is common and in the differential diagnosis of most acute neurologic events, diffusion-weighted MR imaging should be considered an essential sequence, and its use in most brain MR studies is recommended.     

MR microimaging of benign and malignant nodes in the neck

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the diagnostic criteria of high-resolution MRI in differentiating benign and malignant cervical nodes that were palpable and superficial in the neck. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed MR microimaging on 24 histologically proven metastatic nodes, 14 histologically proven lymphomas, and 35 histologically or clinically proven benign nodes in the necks of 26 patients. The lymph nodes were imaged with T1-weighted spin-echo, fat-suppressed T2-weighted turbo spin-echo, and spin-echo diffusion-weighted echo-planar sequences using a 47-mm microscopy coil. RESULTS: MR microimaging provided high-resolution images of the nodes. Hilar fat was lost in 92%, 79%, and 46% of the metastatic nodes, lymphomas, and benign nodes, respectively. Smooth nodal margins were lost in 58%, 23%, and 9% of metastatic nodes, lymphomas, and benign nodes, respectively. Heterogeneous nodal parenchyma on T1- or fat-suppressed T2-weighted images, or both, was observed in 88%, 29%, and 23% of metastatic nodes, lymphomas, and benign nodes, respectively. The apparent diffusion coefficients were significantly different among these three node groups (p < 0.001), with metastatic nodes being the highest, followed by benign nodes. Logistic regression analyses showed that heterogeneous nodal parenchyma and apparent diffusion coefficient levels were significant in discriminating metastatic nodes, and apparent diffusion coefficient levels in discriminating lymphomas. Combined use of these MR microscopic criteria on nodal architecture and apparent diffusion coefficients yielded 90% accuracy (86% sensitivity, 94% specificity) and 93% accuracy (85% sensitivity, 95% specificity) for discriminating metastatic nodes and lymphomas, respectively. CONCLUSION: The nodal architecture and apparent diffusion coefficient levels on MR microimaging may provide useful information in diagnosing benign and malignant nodes in the neck.     

High-resolution CT imaging of the lung for patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome

PURPOSE: To assess pulmonary abnormalities in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (PSS) using high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The HRCT scans of 24 patients with the diagnosis PSS were retrospectively reviewed regarding the presence, extension and distribution of 16 pathological findings. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (79.2%) showed pathological findings and in five patients (21.8%) the HRCT scan was judged to be normal. A predominance of abnormalities in the lower lobes and subpleural areas was detected. The following pathologies were found: bronchiectasis, thin-walled cysts and small pulmonary nodules (46.2%), ground-glass attenuation and emphysema (37.8%), interlobular-septal thickening (29.4%), honeycombing (25.2%), bronchial wall thickening, tree-in-bud pattern (21.0%), mosaic perfusion (16.8%), architectural distortion (12.6%). Airspace consolidation, air trapping, large nodules (10-30mm) and masses (>30mm), mediastinal lymph node enlargement (>15mm) and free pleural fluid were seen each in 4.2%. In 7 of the 11 patients with thin-walled cysts areas of ground-glass attenuation were detected. CONCLUSION: HRCT seems is contributive to the characterization of the wide variety of lung abnormalities in PSS. Airway disease alone or in association with the presence of varying degrees of interstitial disease represents the main findings in accordance with earlier reports. Unexpectedly, almost half of the patients had thin-walled cysts on the HRCT scans, which etiology is unclear but could be associated with areas of ground-glass attenuation indicating LIP.     

胎盘功能不全胎儿的胎盘磁共振扩散加权成像研究

目的对有或无胎儿宫内发育迟缓(IUGR)并可疑胎盘功能不全的胎儿行胎盘磁共振扩散加权成像评估。材料与方法此项研究经伦理委员会批准,所有病人均签署知情     

MR扩散加权成像在胰腺癌中的应用

胰腺癌是腹部最常见的恶性肿瘤,5年生存率不超过5%[1]或只有0.4%~2%.据报道,胰腺癌患者在过去30年几乎没有提高生存率[2].早期胰腺癌一般局限于实质内,直径<2 cm,无胰腺外浸润及淋巴结转移,其临床表现隐匿不易发现,有80%~90%的患者因为发现太迟以至于失去手术机会[3].所以对提高胰腺癌患者的生存率来说,快速准确的诊断显得尤为重要.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in Japanese encephalitis

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of Japanese encephalitis (JE) and to look for any relationship of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values with duration of the illness. METHODS: We performed DWI in fourteen patients of JE. T2 weighted (T2W) and DWI were compared for number and location of lesions in all patients. Based on imaging patients were divided in three groups: group 1 (n=9) showing more lesions on DWI compared with T2W images, group 2 (n=3) with equal number of lesions on T2W and DWI and group 3 (n=2) with lesions more pronounced on T2W than DWI. ADC values were computed for all the lesions. The time interval between onset of neurologic signs/symptoms and MRI were charted and correlated with ADC values. RESULTS: DWI was helpful in making early diagnosis of JE by showing characteristic involvement of bilateral thalami in four patients. Nine out of fourteen patients showed additional lesions on DWI. ADC from lesions in groups I, II and III measured 0.648 +/- 0.099 x 10 mm/s, 0.739 +/- 0.166 x 10 mm/s and 1.123 +/- 0.185 x 10 mm/s respectively. The ADC from the lesions in group 1 was significantly lower compared with group 2 (P value <0.05) while it was higher in group 3 lesions compared with the other two groups. There was a significant direct correlation of ADC values with the disease duration in these cases (r=0.847, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: DWI is helpful in early diagnosis and characterization of the duration of the lesions in JE.     

~1H-MRS与DWI在骨质疏松症中的初步应用

目的 探讨绝经后女性腰椎骨髓脂肪分数(fat fraction,FF)、表观扩散系数(apparent diffusion coefficient,ADC)值与骨密度(bone mineral densities,BMD)的关系.资料与方法 将行腰椎双能量X线吸收测定(dual X-rayabsorptionmetry,DXA)的60例绝经后女性根据T值分为3组:骨质正常组(T>-1.0)20例,骨质减少组(T=-1.0～-2.5)20例,骨质疏松组(T<-2.5)20例.所有研究对象均行氢质子磁共振波谱分析(~1H MR spectroscopy,~1H-MRS)、MR扩散加权成像(diffusion weighted imaging,DWI),分别测定L_3椎体FF和ADC值.采用组间t检验对不同骨质组间FF、ADC值差异进行统计学分析.采用Pearson相关分析3组间FF、ADC值与BMD的相关性. 结果骨质疏松组脂肪含量[(59.1±8.8)%,P=0.003]与骨质减少组脂肪含量[(54±7.6)%,P=0.039]均比骨质正常组[(49±9.1)%]高.骨质疏松组比骨质减少组椎体脂肪含量高(P=0.045).椎体骨髓ADC值与T值无相关性.所有绝经后女性患者FF值与T值呈负相关(r=-0.46,P<0.01),与ADC值间呈轻度负相关(r=-0.25,P<0.05),但骨质疏松组中FF值与ADC值间呈较明显负相关(r=-0.72,P<0.01).ADC值与T值无相关性(r=0.315,P>0.05).结论 绝经女性椎体骨髓脂肪含量随着BMD的减小而增大.MRS可作为BMD检查的辅助手段.MRS与DWI可以无创性了解骨质疏松症患者骨髓的生理、病理变化,单纯DWI并不能反映BMD的改变.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome: a pictorial essay

Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome is characterized by reversible white matter lesions. However, ischemic injury with irreversible damage may occur. This pictorial essay illustrates MR features associated with posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome. We will emphasize the role of diffusion-weighted imaging for the discrimination of irreversible ischemic injury from reversible vasogenic edema.     

Diffusion-weighted MR in reversible Wernicke encephalopathy

Diffusion-weighted images (DWI) of a patient with Wernicke encephalopathy were obtained during routine MR examination. Mammillary bodies were hyperintense on T2-weighted and enhanced on T1-weighted images; on DWI, a mild hyperintensity was noticed. Calculation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) demonstrated an increased diffusion on the affected regions; the hyperintensity on DWI was probably due to a "T2-shine-through" effect. These findings are consistent with the presence of extracellular oedema, without significant neuronal damage. The patient recovered promptly after thiamine administration, and MR alterations disappeared. The favourable evolution indicates that no relevant neuronal death occurred. This is consistent with DWI findings. DWI are more sensitive than ordinary T1- and T2-weighted images to neuronal irreversible damage, and may differentiate between neuronal necrosis and extracellular oedema in various brain pathologies. The demonstration of a limited neuronal damage may represent a favourable prognostic factor in patients with WE.