MRI and in vivo proton MR spectroscopy in a racemose cysticercal cyst of the brain

Racemose cysticercal cyst is the subarachnoid manifestation of the larvae of Taenia solium. On MRI the cysts may resemble other cystic masses. We report the magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) features of a case on in vivo proton spectroscopy and discuss its role in the diagnosis of intracranial cysts of parasitic aetiology.     

MR imaging of intracranial cysticercosis: comparison with CT and anatomopathologic features

Eight patients with neurocysticercosis were studied with CT and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Two cysts were shown better with MR than with CT. A conspicuous, high-intensity mural nodule containing the scolex allowed specific identification of intraventricular and parenchymal cysticerci. CT evidence of calcification and metrizamide enhancement in the nodule was also noted in one case. Racemose cysts were seen in the cerebellopontine angle and under the anterior septum pellucidum. Fluid in apparently live cysticerci and in racemose cysts had MR signal properties closely paralleling CSF. A thin subependymal or subpial rim of high signal intensity around the intraventricular and one of the racemose cysts was consistent with tissue reaction and aided diagnosis. While MR showed only one of numerous calcifications, it may be more sensitive than CT in the recognition of perifocal edema and of parenchymal and subarachnoid cysts, may replace invasive ventriculography in the diagnosis of intraventricular cysts, and may be useful in determining the viability of cysts and their response to therapy.     

MR imaging of neurocysticercosis

Twenty-six patients with neurocysticercosis were studied with MR imaging to correlate their clinical presentation with the location and appearance of their neurocysticercosis lesions. Intraventricular cysts were present in 14 patients (54%), parenchymal cysts were present in 18 (69%), and intraventricular together with parenchymal cysts were present in six (23%). Intraventricular cysts were detected by mass effect, ventricular obstruction, detection of a cyst rim, and/or CSF flow void adjacent to the cyst. The intensity of most intraventricular and parenchymal cysts presumed to be viable was similar to that of CSF on both T1- and T2-weighted sequences. Cysts presumed to be degenerated had increased signal intensity on T1-weighted images, probably resulting from increased protein content. Pericystic high signal intensity surrounding lesions of various ages was seen on both proton-density- and T2-weighted images and represents gliosis, edema, and inflammation. Patients with parenchymal cysts had symptoms of seizures, while those with intraventricular cysts generally had symptoms related to obstructive hydrocephalus. Aqueductal stenosis, seen in 10 patients (38%), was possibly due to ependymal inflammation or adhesions caused by prior ventricular infection by neurocysticercosis. One patient with the racemose form of neurocysticercosis demonstrated abundant cyst wall proliferation resulting in obstructive hydrocephalus. In six patients scanned 1-6 months after oral praziquantel therapy, there was no change in the MR appearance of intraventricular cysts, while some parenchymal cysts showed evidence of degeneration. We found MR to be useful in detecting the cysts of neurocysticercosis and the accompanying signs of cyst degeneration and pericystic inflammation. MR was inferior to CT in the detection of parenchymal calcifications.     

Radiologic manifestations of intraventricular and subarachnoid racemose neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis is a major cause of acquired epilepsy around the globe. The racemose form of this disease, which has a predilection for the subarachnoid space, is rare in the US. The patient described here had a combination of intraventricular and subarachnoid cysticercal cysts. In the following report, the CT and MR characteristics of this rare form of neurocysticercosis both before and after treatment are described, and the current issues surrounding management are briefly discussed.     

CT myelography in spinal cysticercosis

Four cases of spinal cysticercosis were found in a series of 356 cases of CNS cysticercosis studied neuroradiologically. Cysticercal cysts were seen to migrate within the spinal subarachnoid space on myelographic studies. All four patients presented initially with hydrocephalus, which supports the notion that spinal leptomeningeal cysts have migrated from an intracranial site of origin. Computed tomographic myelography (metrizamide) allowed better localization and definition of the spinal cysticercal lesions.     

Multiple intracranial hydatid cysts: MR findings

Multiple intracranial hydatid cysts are uncommon and usually localized in the supratentorial compartment. We report a case studied by CT and MR of multiple intracranial hydatid cysts scattered in various anatomic sites: supratentorial, infratentorial and also intraventricular. Correspondence to: J. M. Pumar Cebreiro     

MR imaging of neurocysticercosis

Magnetic resonance (MR) was performed in 50 patients with neurocysticercosis. Comparison was made with other neuroradiological imaging modalities including CT, myelography, CT ventriculography, and CT myelocisternography. Eighteen patients were found to have intraventricular cysts. In several patients, these were multiple and 22 intraventricular cysts were discovered. Although 4 of the 22 ventricular cysts were missed by MR, T1-weighted images can play a significant role in the early detection of intraventricular cysticercosis cysts, showing the cyst wall (9 of 22), a high intensity mural nodule (6 of 22), and increased signal intensity of the cyst fluid (5 of 22). Cisternal cysts (14 cysts in 10 patients) could be identified; they appear similar to intraventricular cysts, but mural nodules are infrequently seen (1 of 14). Twenty-nine patients had 69 parenchymal cysts. An attempt was made to assess the viability of these parenchymal lesions by matching the CT and MR findings with the Escobar pathologic staging system. Neuroimaging findings seemed compatible with early parenchymal lesions in the vesicular stage in 11 instances. Findings in cases with later stage cysts tend to support the concept that a dying larva provokes pronounced inflammatory reaction in the adjacent brain. Computed tomography remains the superior modality for depicting parenchymal calcifications within dead larvae. A case of a spinal cysticercosis cyst demonstrated with MR (in a patient with extensive intracranial cisternal cysts and a fourth ventricular cyst) is described.     

Improved detection of intraventricular cysticercal cysts with the use of three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state MR sequences

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Before the advent of MR imaging, intraventricular cysts were difficult to diagnose noninvasively. Among the invasive procedures used were contrast ventriculography and CT ventriculography. MR imaging, with its multiplanar imaging capabilities, excellent depiction of tissue contrast, and versatile parameters, is an important tool in the assessment of intraventricular cystic lesions. We investigated the role of three-dimensional constructive interference in steady state (3D-CISS) MR sequences in the evaluation of intraventricular cysticercal cysts. METHODS: The study group comprised 11 patients with intraventricular cysticercal cysts. MR studies included spin-echo (SE) T1-weighted, turbo-SE T2-weighted, and 3D-CISS sequences. All images were obtained on a superconducting 1.5-T MR unit. The routine and 3D-CISS sequences were reviewed and interpreted separately by two neuroradiologists. RESULTS: All patients underwent surgery for excision of intraventricular cysticercal cysts. Eight patients had cysts in the fourth ventricle, two in the lateral ventricle, and one in the third ventricle. SE T1-weighted images showed the cystic wall in nine cases, the scolex in four, and the cystic fluid in two. Turbo-SE T2-weighted images showed the cystic wall and scolex in three and four cases, respectively. The routine sequences did not show the scolex, cystic wall, or cystic fluid together in any of the 11 patients. 3D-CISS images showed the scolex in all 11 patients and the cystic wall and cystic fluid in eight patients each. In seven of the 11 patients, 3D-CISS images showed the scolex, cystic wall, and fluid together. CONCLUSION: The 3D-CISS sequence is more sensitive and specific than routine SE sequences in the diagnosis of intraventricular cysticercal cysts.     

T2 relaxometry of ring lesions of the brain

AIM: To differentiate two common aetiologies of "ring lesions," tuberculomas and cysticercal cysts, using T2 relaxometry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five ring-enhancing lesions of the brain (32 cysticercal cysts; 23 tuberculomas) in 27 patients with focal seizures were studied for T2 relaxation times. RESULTS: The mean T2 relaxation times of cysticercal cysts was 617 ms (range 305-1365 ms; SD 272.2) and that of tuberculomas 161 ms (range 83-290 ms; SD 60.3; 95% confidence). CONCLUSION: T2 relaxometry is a simple, reliable and valuable non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to differentiate between intracranial cysticercal cysts and tuberculomas, and may be incorporated in routine diagnostic protocols.     

1H-MRS在卵巢肿块中的研究

目的探讨MR氢质子波谱(1H-MRS)在卵巢肿块中的应用价值,前瞻性分析各种代谢物对于卵巢肿块的鉴别作用。资料与方法对32例拟诊为卵巢肿块的患者行常规MRI及1H-MRS检查,采用点分辨单体素波谱成像,分析1H-MRS的特征波谱及对照病理结果。结果32例卵巢肿块波谱各有其特点,其中胆碱峰(Cho峰)出现于12例恶性肿瘤,余3例恶性肿瘤及17例良性肿块Cho峰呈阴性;乳酸峰(Lac峰)出现于4例脓肿中。以Cho峰鉴别良恶性卵巢肿块的敏感性为80%,特异性为100%;以Lac峰诊断脓肿的准确性为100%。结论1H-MRS在卵巢肿块中有一定的应用价值,其中Cho峰可作为偏实性恶性卵巢肿瘤的指标,Lac峰对于脓肿有较高的诊断率。     

Intraventricular cysticercal cysts: further neuroradiologic observations and neurosurgical implications

Intraventricular cysticercosis is potentially lethal. Six of 46 patients died from acute hydrocephalus shortly after hospital admission. The need for early computed tomographic scanning in immigrants from endemic areas complaining of headaches is emphasized by this experience. If time has elapsed since the initial diagnosis, these cysts may migrate within the ventricular system. Reconfirmation of the location of an intraventricular cysticercal cyst is advisable before surgery. Contrast enhancement of an intraventricular cysticercal cyst implies associated granular ependymitis. Surgical removal of such cysts probably should not be attempted as long as the cysts are not causing significant mass effect with neurologic signs and symptoms. Shunting alone is advocated for the treatment of hydrocephalus.     

顺磁性对比剂Gd-DTPA对短暂性脑缺血发作1H MRS的影响

目的:分析短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)患者MR脑灌注成像(PWI)后顺磁性对比剂钆喷酸葡甲胺(Gd DTPA)对质子磁共振波谱(1H MRS)的影响,探讨用PWI检查指导1H MRS定位的可行性.方法:对20例临床诊断为TIA的患者行PWI检查,分别在PWI检查前后于双侧半卵圆中心行1H MRS检查,扫描参数及兴趣区(VOI)均相同.对比分析注射Gd-DTPA前后两次1H MRS主要代谢产物氮-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、胆碱复合物(Cho)和肌酸复合物(Cr)谱线的形态(峰高和半高宽)及相对浓度值(峰下面积比值).结果:注射Gd-DTPA前后两次1H MRS检查NAA、Cho和Cr谱线的形态未发现明显改变,同一区域代谢物谱线的各项参数差异均无显著性意义(P＞0.05).结论:TIA患者PWI检查注射顺磁性对比剂Gd-DTPA对1H MRS没有明显影响,可以通过PWI显示的灌注异常,指导TIA患者的1H MRS定位.     

1.5 T磁共振兔VX2肝癌活体二维多体素1H-MRS应用初探

目的探讨应用1.5 T磁共振仪对兔VX2肝癌进行活体二维多体素氢质子磁共振波谱（1H-MRS）检查的可行性,对所得1H-MRS图作初步观察. 材料与方法采用经腹腔瘤块种植法建立兔VX2肝癌模型,利用1.5 T磁共振仪进行常规MR平扫和二维多体素1H-MRS,包括激励回波采样模式（STEAM）和点分辨波谱（PRESS）序列检查,初步比较肿瘤实质、瘤周和邻近正常肝组织的1H-MRS图的差别.扫描结束次日处死动物,取其相应位置肝脏组织块进行病理组织学分析. 结果建立兔VX2肝癌模型共计16只,均按照计划进行了MR平扫和二维多体素1H-MRS检查,共24瘤次,其中22瘤次获得令人满意的1H-MRS图,技术成功率达到92.0%.1H-MRS图上可见4个主要的波峰,包括脂质（Lip）、谷氨酰胺和谷氨酸复合物（Glx）、胆碱（Cho）、糖原和葡萄糖复合物（Glyu）.发现瘤周和邻近正常肝组织内Cho峰和Glyu峰较肿瘤实质内的要高,Lip峰稍降低.其他参数相同的情况下,STEAM和PRESS序列在本研究1H-MRS扫描中所得波谱谱图无明显区别. 结论应用1.5 T磁共振仪对兔VX2肝癌进行活体二维多体素1H-MRS检查是可行的.     

Central nervous system trans-synaptic effects of acute axonal injury: a 1h magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

N-acetylaspartate (NAA) has previously been proposed as a neuronal marker. ¹H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is able to detect NAA in brain, and decreases of NAA have been documented after brain injury. The reason for this decrease is not fully understood and neuron loss damage and “dysfunction” have all been proposed. It is hypothesized that acute central nervous system (CNS) deafferentation causes a trans-synaptic NAA decrease and that high resolution ¹H MRS is able to detect such a decrease. To test this hypothesis, an experimental model was used in which axonal lesions were obtained by stretch injury in guinea pig right optic nerve (95–99% crossed fibers). The trans-synaptic concentration of NAA, total creatine (Cr), and the NAA/Cr ratio in lateral geniculate bodies (LGB) and superior colliculi (SC) sample extracts were measured 72 h later by high resolution ¹H MRS. In the left LGB/SC, which is where right optic nerve fibers project, reductions of NAA and NAA/Cr were found whereas Cr levels were normal. NAA, NAA/Cr, and Cr values were all normal in the right LGB/SC. Histology and EM findings revealed no abnormalities. At 7 days, left LGB/SC NAA and NAA/Cr values were in the normal range. It was concluded that 1) acute deafferentation in the CNS causes a trans-synaptic decrease of NAA levels that can be detected by ¹H MRS and 2) NAA decrease may be due to changes of NAA metabolism caused by functional neuronal inactivity rather than neuronal loss, injury or “dysfunction.” ¹H MRS is a potential tool for the study of functional effect of CNS lesions in vivo.     

Sonography of intracranial infection in infants and children

Summary Congenital and acquired infections of the central nervous system (CNS) pose a significant threat to the developing brain, even in the face of appropriate medical treatment. During the past five years, a number of reports have described the ultrasound features of intracranial infection, including echogenic sulci, extra-axial fluid collections, ventricular enlargement, calcifications, abnormal parenchymal echogenicity, abscess formation, cystic degeneration of the brain parenchyma, intraventricular echogenicity, ventricular septations and irregularity and prominence of the ventricular walls. These features permit ultrasound diagnosis of intracranial infection and help to guide decisions affecting patient management.     

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of choroid plexus tumors in children.

A variety of lesions may present as intraventricular masses in children. We report quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of two intraventricular tumors of the choroid plexus: choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) and choroid plexus papilloma (CPP). Both lesions were characterized by high levels of choline-containing compounds and a complete absence of creatine and the neuronal/axonal marker N-acetyl aspartate. The CPC showed higher levels of choline compared to the CPP, and it also had elevated lactate. These preliminary results, if confirmed in a larger cohort of patients, indicate that proton MRS may have a role in the presurgical diagnosis of choroid plexus tumors in children, which may also have important implications for therapy and prognosis.     

Intracranial tumors in children: small single-voxel proton MR spectroscopy using short- and long-echo sequences

We report preliminary experience using single-voxel, proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) employing small voxels of interest, in combination with short and long echo-time protocols, for the assessment of primary intracranial tumors in children. We examined 23 children with primary intracranial tumors detected by MRI, and 32 controls with similar ages, using MRS on a 1.5 T system. Localized single-voxel (3.7±1.3 cc) proton spectra were obtained with short-echo (2,000/18), stimulated-echo (STEAM) and long-echo (2,000/270) spin-echo (PRESS) protocols. All spectra were evaluated qualitatively; 10 tumor and 19 control spectra were processed for peak area quantification. Small voxels of interest were able to account for tissue heterogeneity. Combined acquisition of short- and long-echo spectra increased the number of detectable metabolites. The solid portion of all tumors exhibited reducedN-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), strong contribution from cholines (Cho) and inositols or glycine, minimal presence of total creatine (tCr), enhanced broad mobile lipid resonances and accumulated lactate. Calculated selected metabolite ratios of Cho/tCr and Cho/NAA were substantially increased from control values. The cystic portions of the masses showed only lipid and lactate peaks.     

正常婴幼儿脑组织发育的~1H-MRS研究

目的应用氢质子磁共振波谱(1H-MRS)测定正常婴幼儿脑组织不同部位代谢物浓度,计算其比值并观察代谢化合物比值随年龄变化的规律。资料与方法用多体素1H-MRS点分辨波谱(PRESS)序列测定240名健康婴幼儿正常脑组织的左右丘脑、左右基底节区代谢物浓度,观察氮-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、胆碱(Cho)、肌酸(Cr)的波峰特点,计算和分析Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho、NAA/Cr的比值。结果正常脑实质代谢物比值无性别和左右侧差异,NAA/Cho、NAA/Cr均与年龄的增长呈正相关,随年龄增长呈对数曲线增长趋势,Cho/Cr随年龄的增长呈负相关,随年龄增长遵循对数曲线降低趋势。结论多体素1H-MRS可以测定NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho浓度比值,不同解剖部位代谢物浓度不尽相同,为颅脑代谢异常提供参考标准,1H-MRS测定应以波峰下面积的比值作为诊断标准,不需要考虑性别和左右同等部位的因素,但要考虑年龄因素。     

1HMRS在脑肿瘤中的应用

^1H MRS能无创性的提供脑肿瘤的生化信息，是传统影像学方法所不能获得的。本文主要综述了^1H MRS在不同脑肿瘤中代谢物的变化及其对脑肿瘤诊断、鉴别诊断、肿瘤转归、穿刺活检定位等方面的应用。     

In vivo and in vitro MR spectroscopic profile of central neurocytomas

This study reports in vivo and in vitro magnetic resonance spectroscopic findings in two cases of central neurocytomas (CNC) confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Volume localized in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was carried out before surgery using a point resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence with a repetition time of six seconds and an echo time of 135 msec. Normal spectrum was obtained from gray matter from a volunteer for comparison. (1)H and (31)P in vitro MRS studies were carried out at 9.4 T on the extracts prepared from the surgically excised tumors. The in vivo spectra showed prominent glycine (Gly) and choline (Cho) and low N-acetyl aspartate compared to the normal. The Gly peak was assigned using the in vitro studies. These studies showed that the major contribution to the Cho peak observed in vivo is from phosphocholine. A combination of the presence of NAA and an increased Gly in the proton MR spectrum could be a characteristic feature of CNCs, which are rare intraventricular tumors of neuronal origin.