Quantitative MRI of the brain in children with sickle cell disease reveals abnormalities unseen by conventional MRI

Conventional MRI (cMRI) has shown that brain abnormalities without clinical stroke can manifest in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). We used quantitative MRI (qMRI) and psychometric testing to determine whether brain abnormalities can also be present in patients with SCD who appear normal on cMRI. Patients 4 years of age and older with no clinical evidence of stroke were stratified by cMRI as normal (n = 17) or abnormal (n = 13). Spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) of gray and white matter structures was measured by the precise and accurate inversion recovery (PAIR) qMRI method. Patient cognitive ability was assessed with a standard psychometric instrument (WISC-III or WISC-R). In all 30 patients with SCD, qMRI T1 was lower than in 24 age- and race-matched controls, in cortical gray matter (P < .0006) and caudate (P < .0009), as well as in the ratio of gray-to-white matter T1 (P < .008). In the 17 patients who were shown to be normal by cMRI, qMRI T1 was still lower than in controls, in both cortical gray matter (P < .02) and caudate (P < .004). Histograms of voxel T1 show that the proportion of voxels with T1 values intermediate between gray and white matter (ie, consistent with encephalomalacia) was 9% higher than controls in patients shown to be normal by cMRI (P < .05) and 15% higher than controls in patients shown to be abnormal by cMRI (P < .0005). The full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) of all patients with SCD was 75, compared to the FSIQ of 88 in a historical control group of patient siblings (P < .001). The FSIQ of patients shown to be normal by cMRI was 79, significantly lower than the FSIQ of patient siblings (P < .04). The FSIQ of 71 in patients shown to be abnormal by cMRI was significantly lower than both the patient siblings (P < .005) and the patients shown to be normal by cMRI (P < .04). Patients shown to be abnormal by cMRI scored lower than patients shown to be normal by cMRI, specifically on the subtests of vocabulary (P = .003) and information (P = .03). Cognitive impairment is thus significant, even in patients with SCD who were shown to be normal by cMRI, suggesting that cMRI may be insensitive to subtle neurologic damage that can be detected by qMRI. Because cognitive impairment can occur in children normal by cMRI, our findings imply that prophylactic therapy may be needed earlier in the course of SCD to mitigate neurologic damage.     

Age-related changes in proton T1 values of normal human brain

To determine whether there were age-related changes In the brain tissue of 55 healthy adult volunteers (29 men, 26 women; 18-72 years old) without known brain abnormalities, a standard inversion-recovery technique was optimized for precise and accurate T1 measurement within the constraints of a 15-minute examination. Measurements of water proton T1 were obtained in eight brain regions. T1 increased with age in the genu (P < 0.001) (analysis of variance), frontal white matter (P < 0.05), occipital white matter (P < 0.05), putamen (P < 0.001), and thalamus (P << 0.001). A significant decrease in T1 with age was found in cortical gray matter (P < 0.05). Thus, age-related changes in T1 are present in a healthy population, even if extremes of age are excluded, suggesting that T1 values generally increase with age. However, increases in T1 were also observed in the genu, putamen, and thalamus of a substantial fraction of volunteers less than 35 years old. Aging healthy persons can show subtle, nonsymp- tomatic brain changes, suggesting that brain aging is associated with occult processes that can begin at a relatively early age.     

Age-related changes in the pediatric brain: quantitative MR evidence of maturational changes during adolescence.

PURPOSETo determine whether a quantitative MR imaging method to map spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) can be used to characterize maturational changes in the normal human brain.METHODSAn inversion-recovery technique was used to map T1 transversely at the level of the basal ganglia in a study population of 19 healthy children (4 to 10 years old) and 31 healthy adolescents (10 to 20 years old), and in a normative population of 20 healthy adults (20 to 30 years old).RESULTSNonparametric analysis of variance showed that T1 decreases with age in the genu, frontal white matter, caudate, putamen, anterior thalamus, pulvinar nucleus, optic radiation, cortical gray matter (all P < .0001), and occipital white matter. There was a significant reduction in T1 between childhood (mean age, 7.1 +/- 1.4) and adolescence (mean age, 13.5 +/- 2.6) in all brain structures, but there was also a significant reduction in T1 between adolescence (mean age, 13.5 +/- 2.6) and adulthood (mean age, 26.5 +/- 3.4) in all brain structures except occipital white matter. Regression shows that T1 declines to within the range (mean +/- 2 SD) of young adult T1 values by about 2 years in the occipital white matter, by about 4 years in the genu, by 11 years in the cortical gray matter, by 11 years in the frontal white matter, and by 13 years in the thalamus.CONCLUSIONBrain structures mature at strikingly different rates, yet the ratio of gray matter T1 to white matter T1 does not change significantly with age. Thus, conventional MR imaging methods based on inherent contrast are insensitive to these changes. Age-related changes tend to reach completion sooner in white matter than in gray matter tracts. Such normative data are essential for studies of specific pediatric disorders and may be useful for assessing brain maturation in cases of developmental delay.     

Prospective evaluation of the brain in asymptomatic children with neurofibromatosis type 1: relationship of macrocephaly to T1 relaxation changes and structural brain abnormalities

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mutation of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) gene may be associated with abnormal growth control in the brain. Because macrocephaly could be a sign of abnormal brain development and because 30% to 50% of children with NF-1 display macrocephaly in the absence of hydrocephalus, we sought to determine the relationship between macrocephaly and other brain abnormalities in young subjects with NF-1. These subjects were free of brain tumor, epilepsy, or other obvious neurologic problems. METHODS: We prospectively screened 18 neurologically asymptomatic subjects with NF-1, ages 6 to 16 years, using clinical measures, psychometric testing, conventional MR imaging, and quantitative MR imaging to measure T1. RESULTS: Cranial circumference was 2 or more SDs above the age norm in seven (39%) of 18 subjects, a frequency of macrocephaly 17-fold higher than normal. Conventional MR imaging showed abnormalities in all 18 children, although there were more extensive abnormalities in subjects with macrocephaly. Macrocephaly in NF-1 was associated with enlargement of multiple brain structures, and brain T1 in macrocephalic subjects was reduced with respect to controls in the genu, frontal white matter, caudate, putamen, thalamus, and cortex. In normocephalic subjects, T1 was reduced only in the genu and splenium. Volumetric analysis showed that macrocephaly was associated specifically with enlargement of white matter volume. CONCLUSION: Neurologically asymptomatic children with NF-1 showed macrocephaly, cognitive deficit, enlarged brain structures, and abnormally low brain T1. Macrocephaly in children with NF-1 may be associated with characteristic alterations in brain development, marked by more widespread and significant changes in T1, greater enlargement of midline structures, and greater volume of white matter.     

Cerebral White Matter in the Centrum Semiovale Exhibits a Larger N-acetyl Signal than Does Gray Matter in Long Echo Time 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging

Long echo time (272 ms) ¹H magnetic resonance spectro-scopic imaging was used to measure the relative magnitudes of the N-acetylaspartate (NAA) signal in a variety of anatomically defined brain structures (centrum semiovale, thalamus, medial frontal cortex, and genu of the corpus callosum) composed primarily of gray matter or white matter. Six normal young adult humans aged 30–40 were studied. With a 95% level of statistical confidence, the white matter in the centrum semiovale (CSO) produced a more intense NAA signal than did the gray matter in the thalamus and the frontal cortex. Differences between the white matter regions were also noted. The CSO white matter's NAA signal yielded a larger NAA signal than did the white matter of the genu of the corpus callosum. Possible reasons for the anatomical variation in the cerebral NAA signal intensity are discussed.     

足月新生儿动脉缺血性脑梗死早期磁共振成像特点

目的：探讨足月新生儿动脉缺血性脑梗死（NAIS）的早期MRI特点及不同MRI序列在NAIS的诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析2008年8月-2012年8月本院新生儿科收治的15例行MRI检查确诊的足月NAIS患儿的临床及MRI资料。15例患儿于出生后2～7d进行了头部MRI扫描,包括常规MRI及DWI检查,7例患儿同时行TOF—MRA检查。结果：15例NAIS患儿常规MRI中,14例T1WI呈异常信号,4例表现为受累区域弥漫低信号,10例稍低信号;15例T2WI呈异常信号,11例受累区域弥漫高信号,4例稍高信号,且灰白质分界不清。15例患儿首次DWI检查中均出现异常高信号,病灶边缘的较常规MRI清晰,DWI还显示了常规MRI未显示的胼胝体膝部、压部、丘脑及内囊后肢大脑脚等部位受累。7例患儿MRA检查中,6例出现梗死区域大脑中动脉（MCA）皮质分支增多增粗现象。结论：常规MRI可协助了解NAIS病程,DWI检查可早期诊断NAIS,并能清楚显示大脑深部小病灶的受累情况,尤其是皮质脊髓束的受累。NAIS早期MRA大多显示病变区MCA分支增多,与成人脑梗死的血管狭窄或完全闭塞不同。     

Precise and accurate measurement of proton T1 in human brain in vivo: Validation and preliminary clinical application

Precise and accurate inversion-recovery (PAIR) magnetic resonance (MR) measurements of T1 were obtained in eight brain regions and cerebrospinal fluid of 26 healthy volunteers. Accuracy of the technique was assessed by measuring T1 in small fluid volumes with the PAIR technique and with two independent spectroscopic techniques. The mean difference between T1 measured with PAIR and with the two spectroscopic techniques was 3.1% ± 1.3. The precision (reproducibility) of measurements with the PAIR technique was excellent. The coefficient of variation (CV) across 16 measurements in a head phantom was 2.0%, compared with a CV of 2.7% across 45 separate measurements in a single subject. The within-subject CV was 1.8% ± 0.6 in white matter and 1.4% ± 1.0 in basal ganglia. The between-subject CV in 26 healthy volunteers was 3.6% ± 0.6 in white matter and 4.1% ± 1.9 in basal ganglia. Comparison between a patient with an active recurrent brain tumor and an agematched patient with an inactive brain tumor showed that T1 was significantly elevated throughout the brain of the active-tumor patient, especially in white matter tracts, even though no tumor or edema was detected in the white matter on standard MR images. Comparisons between five brain tumor patients and four healthy volunteers of similar age showed that T1 was significantly and substantially elevated throughout the white matter tracts and in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and thalamus. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that white matter tracts are selectively vulnerable to edema and that T1 increases in white matter are a sensitive indicator of patient status or tumor aggressiveness.     

急性一氧化碳中毒脑损伤的磁共振扩散张量成像

目的：利用磁共振扩散张量成像(DTI )评估急性一氧化碳(CO)中毒患者的脑结构损伤情况。方法25例急性(5.0 d±1.44 d) CO 中毒患者和37例性别、年龄、利手、受教育程度匹配的健康志愿者进行 DTI 扫描,获得扩散张量纤维束成像(DTT)图像,并分别测量双侧小脑半球(齿状核)、黑质、海马、额叶白质(侧脑室前角前下方、侧脑室体部上方)、尾状核头、苍白球、丘脑、内囊前肢、内囊后肢、枕叶白质(视中枢)、顶叶白质(侧脑室体部上方)及胼胝体膝部、压部共26个感兴趣(ROI)的各向异性分数(FA)值和表观扩散系数(ADC)值,进行组间配对 t 检验。结果病患组双侧苍白球、双侧内囊前肢、双侧黑质、右侧小脑、左侧额叶下部白质、右额叶上下部白质、胼胝体膝部的 FA 值显著低于对照组(P <0.05)。病患组右侧黑质、左侧苍白球的 ADC 值显著降低(P <0.05),病患组右额叶上下部白质及双侧枕叶白质 ADC 值显著升高(P <0.05)。结论急性 CO 中毒患者广泛脑微结构受损,提示脑微结构的原发损伤可能是 CO 中毒迟发性脑病潜在的病理生理基础。     

2个CADASIL患者的弥散张量成像与20例正常人的比较

目的　分析2例CADASIL患者的MR特点及弥散张量指标的变化。方法　收集2例通过病理和基因检查确诊为CA DASIL的先证者的临床资料,对其进行常规MR扫描和弥散张量成像,将弥散张量成像的指标与20例正常志愿者的指标进行比较。结果　2例CADASIL患者的MR主要表现为双侧额顶叶白质内多发腔梗、脱髓鞘改变和双侧颞叶前部白质脱髓鞘。1例患者双侧外囊、内囊后肢、胼胝体膝部和压部的部分各向异性(FA)值均小于正常组的平均值减去2倍标准差,另1例患者左侧外囊的FA值小于对照组的平均值减去2倍标准差。结论　常规MR表现和弥散张量成像指标的测量均反映了CADASIL患者中存在严重的白质病变。     

3.0T MR弥散梯度编码方向对脑组织FA值测量的影响

目的:探讨超高场强MR下弥散张量成像中弥散梯度编码方向对脑组织弥散各向异性分数(FA)的影响。方法:使用3种不同的弥散梯度编码方向(6、13和21个)在3.0T MRI上对14名健康志愿者进行头颅弥散张量成像(DTI)。在FA图上分别测量两侧半卵圆中心、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部、两侧内囊、丘脑及桥脑FA值,并进行统计学分析。结果:胼胝体压部FA值最高,其次为胼胝体膝部、内囊和桥脑,丘脑FA值最低。随着弥散梯度编码方向的增加,FA图质量提高,对白质纤维束细节的显示也更清楚,尤其是对脑干结构的分辨,但成像时间延长;3种不同弥散梯度编码方向的DTI扫描方案所观察到的半卵圆中心、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部、内囊、丘脑及桥脑的FA值不存在统计学显著性差异。结论:超高场MRI弥散梯度编码方向数目对脑组织FA值的测量无显著性影响,在临床运用中可根据患者状况选择弥散梯度编码方向,以提高DTI检查的成功率。     

Brain volume in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease: evidence of volumetric growth delay?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite the large body of data available about somatic growth delay in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), virtually nothing is known about the effect of the disease on volumetric growth of the brain. This study was designed to test a hypothesis that children with SCD have a disease-related delay in brain volumetric growth compared with healthy children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate 83 children with SCD and 43 age-similar healthy children, including 27 patient siblings. Brain volume was measured by segmenting and classifying MR imaging data, by using at least three separate image sets (T1-, T2-, and proton density-weighted MR images). A linear model was used to compare the various brain volumes with the covariates of group (patient versus control) and age, with age treated as a continuous variable. RESULTS: With age controlled for, no significant difference was noted in total brain volume between patients and control subjects at age 9.5 years. However, patients showed a deficit specifically in gray matter volume (P=.005), without significant differences in white matter or ventricular volume. The deficit in patient gray matter was greater in central gray matter (P <.005) than in cortical gray matter (P <.02). In healthy control subjects, gray matter volume decreased significantly with age (P <.005), probably due to myelination of white matter tracts. In patients with SCD, gray matter volume did not change with age. CONCLUSION: Volumetric growth of brain gray matter may be delayed in children with SCD, suggesting that there may be neurodevelopmental consequences of this disease.     

0.5T磁共振机弥散加权像诊断急性脑梗塞

目的：分析０．５Ｔ磁共振机的弥散加权像（ＤＷＩ）对急性脑梗塞诊断的临床价值。材料与方法：计算５０例健康志愿者正常脑组织各不同部位的表观弥散系数（ＡＤＣ）值,并对急性脑梗塞发作后３～１２小时的１０名患者进行ＤＷＩ及常规Ｔ_１ＷＩ、Ｔ_２ＷＩ、ＦＬＡＩＲ及ＭＲＡ检查。结果：测得正常人额、顶、枕叶脑白质、半卵圆中心、基底节、脑干、小脑半球、脑脊液部位的ＡＤＣ平均值。对于临床患者,ＤＷＩ可明确显示急性期脑梗塞病灶,常规Ｔ_１ＷＩ、Ｔ_２ＷＩ、ＦＬＡＩＲ均不能显示或显示不清。结论：以ＤＷＩ为主,结合Ｔ_１ＷＩ、Ｔ_２ＷＩ、ＦＬＡＩＲ及ＭＲＡ序列能非常准确、可靠的诊断急性脑梗塞。     

脑瘫儿认知功能损害的3T多模态脑功能MR成像

目的:探索BOLD及DKI磁共振功能成像技术在认知功能损害脑瘫儿的应用。方法:选取伴有认知功能障碍脑瘫患儿(CP组)52例及正常小儿(CG组)50例,使用PhilipsIngenia3.0T多模态磁共振功能成像技术,在静息状态下行高分辨T1WI、BOLD及可行性DKI扫描,采集统计及分析MR功能数据。结果:CP组与CG组比较:①BOLD成像ALFF值:左丘脑、左壳核、左楔前回及右角回、右扣带回后部的ALFF值升高(P <0.05)。②ReHo值:左额上回、左岛叶皮质、左枕回、右额中回、右颞上回Reho值降低(P<0.05);左额叶白质、左顶下小叶、左丘脑、右额叶白质、右扣带回Reho值升高(P <0.05)。③DKI成像MK值:CP组双额叶、双顶叶、双枕叶MK值均低于CG组(P <0.05)。结论:RS-fMRI为无创性敏感研究认知功能障碍脑瘫儿脑灰白质功能、微观结构及病损的重要影像学方法。     

Magnetisation transfer measurements of the subcortical grey and white matter in Parkinson's disease with and without dementia and in progressive supranuclear palsy

We measured the magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) in the subcortical grey and white matter of 11 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) without dementia, six with PD with dementia (PDD), six with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and 12 elderly control subjects to assess regional differences in structural brain damage. There were no significant differences in MTR in any region between PD and controls. However, patients with PDD had significantly lower MTR in the subcortical white matter, including the frontal white matter and the genu of the corpus callosum than the controls, whereas PSP had significantly lower MTR in the subcortical grey matter, including the putamen, globus pallidus and thalamus, in addition to the subcortical white matter. This suggests that regional patterns of structural brain damage can be detected using the magnetisation transfer technique. Measurement of MTR in the subcortical grey and white matter may be useful in differential diagnosis. Received: 10 May 2000 Accepted: 14 July 2000     

Human fascioliasis: MR imaging findings of hepatic lesions

Our objective was to describe MR imaging findings of liver lesions in human fascioliasis. The MR imaging of the liver was performed in 29 patients with fascioliasis. Seventeen patients were women and 12 were men, with a mean age of 47.5 years (age range 17–75 years). Hepatic lesions were grouped into five types based on their signal characteristics. Three patients had normal imaging findings. One or more lesions were observed in the other 26 patients. The lesion types and the frequency of appearances were as follows: hyperintensity of the liver capsule on T2-weighted images (n=16, 55.2%); ill-defined slightly hyperintense areas on T2-weighted images (n=18, 62.1%); lesions which were hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images (n=10, 34.5%); hypointense on T1-weighted images and centrally hypo- or hyperintense, surrounded by peripherally less hyperintense area on T2-weighted images (n=4, 13.8%); and hypointense foci or ill-defined hypointense areas on T1- and T2-weighted images (n=10, 34.5%). We describe the MR imaging features of the disease. Our findings may help the differential diagnosis in which fascioliasis should be added to the list. Electronic Publication     

Brain imaging findings in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease

PURPOSE: To determine prevalence of imaging abnormalities in the brain of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and to identify clinical and methodological factors that influence prevalence estimate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiographic findings for 185 patients with SCD examined at St Jude Children's Research Hospital since 1993 were reviewed. At least two readers independently reviewed images. Standard MR imaging criteria were used to identify lacunae, loss of white matter volume, encephalomalacia, or leukoencephalopathy. Patients were assigned grades to indicate limited or extensive abnormalities. Standard MR angiographic criteria were used to identify arterial tortuosity (limited vasculopathy) and stenosis or occlusion (extensive vasculopathy). Findings were evaluated as a function of patient clinical status (including stroke) and diagnosis. Recent methods (T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging plus fluid-attenuated inversion recovery [FLAIR] at 3-mm section thickness) were compared with older methods (T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging without FLAIR at 5-mm section thickness). RESULTS: At mean age of 10 years, overall prevalence of infarction, ischemia, or atrophy in patients with SCD was 44% (82 of 185), and prevalence of vasculopathy was 55% (102 of 185), without evidence of a significant referral bias. Twenty-six of 27 patients with clinical stroke had abnormal findings at imaging, but even if patients with stroke were excluded, 35% (56 of 158) had a "silent infarction" (MR imaging-visible injury without clinical stroke), and 49% (78 of 158) had abnormal findings at MR angiography. Patients with clinically severe disease had more abnormalities at MR imaging (P <.001) and MR angiography (P <.004) than did patients with milder disease. Severe vasculopathy was more prevalent in patients with hemoglobin SS than in those with hemoglobin SC (P <.001). Recent imaging methods showed more abnormalities than did older methods (P <.01). With newer methods, 43% (29 of 67) of patients had extensive abnormalities, whereas with older methods, 28% (33 of 116) had extensive abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of ischemic brain injury in pediatric patients with SCD is substantially higher than was previously reported, in part because of improvements in imaging methods.     

Magnetization transfer measurements in normal-appearing cerebral white matter in patients with chronic obstructive hydrocephalus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to assess the presence of subtle changes in normal-appearing white matter on T2-weighted MR images in patients with chronic obstructive hydrocephalus using magnetization transfer (MT) measurements. METHOD: In 12 patients with chronic obstructive hydrocephalus, MT ratios (MTRs) of normal-appearing rostral (PR) and caudal (PC) periventricular white matter, of the genu (CG) and the splenium (CS) of the corpus callosum, and of the thalamus (TH) were measured and compared with those of 16 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: We found a significantly lower MTR in chronic obstructive hydrocephalus than in the normal group for PR, PC, CG, and CS but not for TH. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that MT measurements give additional information that cannot be gained by conventional SE MRI, suggesting that chronic obstructive hydrocephalus is associated with diffuse white matter damage that also affects normal-appearing cerebral white matter.     

海绵状血管瘤的MRI表现及分析

目的:通过分析海绵状血管瘤在磁共振成像和磁共振血管成像上的表现,总结海绵状血管瘤的诊断要点。材料和方法:分析43例海绵状血管瘤的发病部位,病灶的T_1加权像和T_2加权像的表现以及MRA的表现。结果:海绵状血管瘤在T_2加权像上表现为“铁环征”;在T_1加权像上表现为高低信号的混杂影,并且大部分可观察到血管状断面的低信号;在MRA上病灶表现为节结状的、与正常血管无关系的高信号影。结论:由于MR的信号能够特异地反映海绵状血管瘤的结构,它是目前诊断该病的最佳手段。     

Normal brain maturation during childhood: developmental trends characterized with diffusion-tensor MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To characterize the maturational changes in water diffusion within central gray matter nuclei and central white matter pathways of the human brain by using diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of normal MR examination findings in 153 subjects (age range, 1 day to 11 years) referred for clinical neuroimaging was performed. All studies included diffusion tensor-encoded echo-planar MR imaging. Isotropic diffusion coefficient (D) and diffusion anisotropy (A(sigma)) were measured in the corpus callosum, internal capsule, caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus, and thalamus. RESULTS: exhibited biexponential decay with age in gray and white matter regions, except for monoexponential decay in the genu of the corpus callosum. There was a steep nonlinear increase of A(sigma) in white matter tracts that paralleled the time course of the decline in D. In basal ganglia, only a small linear increase in A(sigma) was observed in patients. A(sigma) changes in the thalamus were intermediate between basal ganglia and white matter structures. CONCLUSION: Changes in magnitude and anisotropy of water diffusion follow stereotypical time courses during brain development that can be empirically described with multiexponential regression models, which suggests that quantitative scalar parameters derived from diffusion-tensor MR imaging may provide clinically useful developmental milestones for brain maturity.     

3.0T磁共振磁敏感加权成像诊断脑发育性静脉畸形

目的 评价磁敏感加权成像(SWI)在诊断脑发育性静脉畸形(DVA)中的临床应用价值.方法 选取采用3.0T超高场磁共振的SWI及常规MR序列(包括自旋回波T_1加权像、快速自旋回波T_2加权像)诊断为脑发育性静脉畸形的24例患者,对SWI及常规MR序列进行分析.结果 24例脑发育性静脉畸形中发生于额叶白质11例,顶叶白质6例,颞叶2例,小脑半球5例.MR平扫显示DVA病灶11例,其中表现为条状流空信号者4例,表现为T_2WI放射状高信号者7例;MR增强检查显示所有病灶,表现为"海蛇头"样强化特征.SWI检查清晰显示所有病灶,表现为"海蛇头"样低信号影.结论 SWI对小静脉病变较敏感,能取代MR增强检查用于脑发育性静脉畸形的诊断和随访.