Acute chest pain: The role of MR imaging and MR angiography

MR imaging (MRI) and MR angiography (MRA) have gained a high level of diagnostic accuracy in cardiovascular disease. MRI in cardiac disease has been established as the non-invasive standard of reference in many pathologies. However, in acute chest pain the situation is somewhat special since many of the patients presenting in the emergency department suffer from potentially life-threatening disease including acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and acute aortic syndrome. Those patients need a fast and definitive evaluation under continuous monitoring of vital parameters. Due to those requirements MRI seems to be less suitable compared to X-ray coronary angiography and multislice computed tomography angiography (CTA). However, MRI allows for a comprehensive assessment of all clinically stable patients providing unique information on the cardiovascular system including ischemia, inflammation and function. Furthermore, MRI and MRA are considered the method of choice in patients with contraindications to CTA and for regular follow-up in known aortic disease. This review addresses specific features of MRI and MRA for different cardiovascular conditions presenting with acute chest pain.     

急性脊髓炎的磁共振诊断

作者报告２２例急性脊髓炎的ＭＲＩ影像资料。发现本病ＭＲＩ表现特点为：病变区脊髓均匀一致性肿胀增粗，外缘光整，多呈轻度增粗，少数增粗显著；Ｔ２加权像病变区脊髓信号增高；病变范围长，均超过５个椎体高度以上，上界常高于临床感觉平面；增强ＭＲＩ检查不显示强化或仅有轻度斑片状强化。对ＭＲＩ检查的诊断价值和鉴别诊断进行了讨论。     

Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging in intracranial tuberculosis

Summary Twenty-six patients with intracranial tuberculosis (Tb) (10 with acute meningitis, 5 with chronic meningitis, 5 with meningitic sequelae and 6 with localized tuberculoma(s) were examined with MR before and after Gd-DTPA enhancement (0.1 mmol/kg), using 2.0T superconducting unit, and the images were retrospectively analyzed and compared with CT scans. Without Gd-DTPA enhancement, the MR images were generally insensitive to detection of active meningeal inflammation and granulomas. The signal intensity of granulomas was usually isointense to gray matter on both T1- and T2-weighted images, whether they were associated with diffuse meningitis or presented as localized tuberculoma(s). A few granulomas showed focal hypointensity on T2-weighted images. Calcifications seen on CT of the meningitic sequelae group usually appeared markedly hypointense on all spin-echo sequences. On Gd-DTPA enhanced T1-weighted images, abnormal meningeal enhancement indicating active inflammation was conspicuous, and the granulomas often appeared as conglomerated ring-enhancing nodules, which seems to be characteristic of granulomas. Thin rim enhancement around the suprasellar calcifications were observed in two out of 5 patients with meningitic sequelae. Compared with CT, MR detected a few more ischemic infarcts, hemorrhagic infarcts, meningeal enhancement and granulomas in the acute meningitis group, but missed small calcifications in the basal cisterns well shown on CT in the sequelae group. Otherwise, MR generally matched CT scans. MR imaging appears to be superior to CT in evaluation of active intracranial Tb only if Gd-DTPA is used, while CT is better than MR in evaluating meningitic sequelae with calcification.     

New MR insights of cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathies are diseases of the myocardium, characterized by distinct morphological, electrophysiological and functional alterations of the heart. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers distinct advantages over other imaging tests in the study of cardiomyopathies to assess cardiac morphology, function, flow, perfusion, acute tissue injury, and fibrosis in a single setting. Delayed enhancement MR imaging can differentiate ischemic from non-ischemic cardiomyopathies based on patterns of enhancement and may be useful in discriminating different forms of non-ischemic cardiomyopathies.     

Ultrasound of the spinal cord in children: its role

This article covers the indications for spinal ultrasound including its advantages and disadvantages in comparison with spinal MR. We describe the features of a normal spinal ultrasound and those features which may be found in infants with spinal dysraphism. Electronic Publication     

Hepatic transplant complicated by hepatic artery thrombosis and bile duct necrosis: case report and potential application of contrast-enhanced MR cholangiography following intravenous mangafodipir trisodium in the emergency room setting

Biliary tract strictures and leaks are the second most common complications following orthotopic liver transplantation. Nonanastomotic bile duct complications are most often caused by hepatic artery thrombosis and can result in fulminant hepatic necrosis, bile duct strictures, and bile duct leaks that increase the risk of cholangitis, sepsis, and abscess. The emergency physician and radiologist should strongly suspect biliary disease in a post-transplant patient presenting with elevated liver function tests, jaundice, fever, and/or abdominal pain in order to achieve diagnosis and treatment rapidly. We present the case of a liver transplant patient who developed bile duct necrosis and hepatic infarction secondary to hepatic artery thrombosis 5 months after surgery. In addition, we discuss a new contrast-enhanced MR cholangiographic technique that has the potential to be performed in the emergency setting as the only diagnostic test prior to appropriate therapy. Electronic Publication     

急性播散性脑脊髓炎的脑部MRI表现

目的　描述急性播散性脑脊髓炎的脑部MRI表现 ,探讨MRI对该病的诊断价值以及在评价疗效中的作用。方法　符合临床诊断标准的急性播散性脑脊髓炎患者 9例 ,男 8例 ,女 1例 ,年龄 9～ 47岁。 6例发病前有病毒感染或疫苗接种史。全部 9例行头部MRI检查 ,7例行MRI复查。结果　病变多发且分布不对称 ,9例大脑白质受累 ,6例同时累及丘脑 ,4例可见“垂直征” ,病变呈大小不等的片状或点状异常信号 ,6例可见异常对比增强 ,7例复查见异常信号缩小且数目减少。结论急性播散性脑脊髓炎的MRI脑部表现颇具特征性 ,结合病史及单时相病程可作出早期诊断 ,MRI随访是评价疗效的重要手段。MRI显示丘脑受累是鉴别本病与多发性硬化的主要依据。     

脑静脉窦血栓的磁共振表现及误漏诊分析

目的总结脑静脉窦血栓（CVST）的磁共振表现,并进行误漏诊分析. 资料与方法回顾性分析32例脑静脉窦血栓的磁共振表现.全部病例均进行MRI检查,其中17例同时行磁共振静脉成像（MRV）检查,12例行增强扫描,29例行CT检查.全部病例经DSA证实. 结果 32例CVST患者中,MRI SE序列扫描确诊26例,其中亚急性期病变20例,急性期4例,慢性期2例.6例急性期病变MRI平扫漏诊,其中4例经MRV确诊,2例经DSA诊断.急性期CVST MRI信号复杂,T1WI呈低、中等或稍高信号,T2WI呈明显低信号.亚急性期T1WI和T2WI均呈高信号,表现典型;慢性期血栓信号不断地降低.MRV表现为静脉窦闭塞或静脉窦内充盈缺损.本组病例中有7例曾被误诊为肿瘤、脑梗死等其他病变. 结论 MRI和MRV是诊断CVST的良好检查方法,可提供更多可靠信息.应用适当的检查技术,以及对MR征象进行认真分析,可避免误诊及漏诊.     

State-of-the-art MR Imaging for Thoracic Diseases

Since thoracic MR imaging was first used in a clinical setting, it has been suggested that MR imaging has limited clinical utility for thoracic diseases, especially lung diseases, in comparison with x-ray CT and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. However, in many countries and states and for specific indications, MR imaging has recently become practicable. In addition, recently developed pulmonary MR imaging with ultra-short TE (UTE) and zero TE (ZTE) has enhanced the utility of MR imaging for thoracic diseases in routine clinical practice. Furthermore, MR imaging has been introduced as being capable of assessing pulmonary function. It should be borne in mind, however, that these applications have so far been academically and clinically used only for healthy volunteers, but not for patients with various pulmonary diseases in Japan or other countries. In 2020, the Fleischner Society published a new report, which provides consensus expert opinions regarding appropriate clinical indications of pulmonary MR imaging for not only oncologic but also pulmonary diseases. This review article presents a brief history of MR imaging for thoracic diseases regarding its technical aspects and major clinical indications in Japan 1) in terms of what is currently available, 2) promising but requiring further validation or evaluation, and 3) developments warranting research investigations in preclinical or patient studies. State-of-the-art MR imaging can non-invasively visualize lung structural and functional abnormalities without ionizing radiation and thus provide an alternative to CT. MR imaging is considered as a tool for providing unique information. Moreover, prospective, randomized, and multi-center trials should be conducted to directly compare MR imaging with conventional methods to determine whether the former has equal or superior clinical relevance. The results of these trials together with continued improvements are expected to update or modify recommendations for the use of MRI in near future.     

MR imaging in abdominal emergencies

The use of MR imaging in the emergency setting is evolving. Clear indications include situations in need of contrast media when iodinated contrast cannot be administered or to facilitate assessments in pregnant patients and children when exposure to ionizing radiation is considered unacceptable. The availability of rapid, motion-immune sequences now makes MR imaging a feasible study in less cooperative patients extending the range of patients for whom a diagnostic study can be achieved. Capitalizing on the unique benefits of MR imaging there is optimism that MR imaging can eliminate test redundancy and impact patient care in a cost-effective manner. Further investigations are needed to identify the diagnostic algorithms for which this favorable use holds true.     

Acquired lesions of the corpus callosum: MR imaging

In this pictorial review, we illustrate acquired diseases or conditions of the corpus callosum that may be found by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain, including infarction, bleeding, diffuse axonal injury, multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Marchiafava-Bignami disease, glioblastoma, gliomatosis cerebri, lymphoma, metastasis, germinoma, infections, metabolic diseases, transient splenial lesion, dilated Virchow-Robin spaces, wallerian degeneration after hemispheric damage and focal splenial gliosis. MR imaging is useful for the detection and differential diagnosis of corpus callosal lesions. Due to the anatomical shape and location of the corpus callosum, both coronal and sagittal fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images are most useful for visualizing lesions of this structure.     

MR弥散技术对脊柱压缩性骨折诊断价值初探

目的：初步评价MR弥散技术对脊柱单纯性和病理性压缩性骨折的诊断价值。方法：7l例脊柱椎体压缩性骨折行X线、MRI平扫和弥散序列检查(35例加作增强扫描)，其中53例另作CT检查。病理性骨折38例(包括转移性肿瘤29例，骨髓瘤4例，嗜酸性肉芽肿2例，结核3例)；单纯性分析33例(包括单纯外伤所致18例，骨质疏松所致l5例)。病理性分析者行CT引导下经皮骨穿刺检查或手术病理证实；外伤或骨质疏松所致椎体压缩性骨折均符合临床、实验室检查及MRI表现，部分经随访证实。结果：急性单纯性压缩性骨折和病理性骨折在常规MRI上有各自的特点。9％(3／33)单纯性压缩性骨折在DWI表现为等低信号混有条状高信号；24％(8／33)表现为等低信号；67％(22／33)表现为高信号。93％(36／38)病理性椎体压缩性骨折DWI上表现为高信号；7％(2／38)表现为等低信号。DWI上均至高信号的单纯性压缩和病理性压缩经统计分析无显著性意义(P＞0．05)。结论：单凭MRI弥散序列的信号改变不能非常准确地鉴别脊柱单纯性压缩性分析和病理性骨折，需进一步深入定量研究。     

头颈部CTA联合MR的DWI序列在诊断急性期脑梗死中的应用

目的：探讨螺旋CT脑血管成像（CTA）技术、MR的DWI序列的成像原理及其对急性期脑梗死的诊断价值。方法：对33例临床高度怀疑急性期脑梗死的患者,先行头颅MR检查,DWI上发现极高信号,然后行头颈部CTA检查,综合分析临床症状和影像学结果。结果：头颈部CTA可精确显示3级以上颅内动脉狭窄的部位、程度、附壁斑块,狭窄血管的供血区与DWI上的极高信号均一致。结论：在急性期脑梗死患者中,DWI的检测很敏感,且具有相对特异性;CTA为病变血管的定位、临床治疗方法的制定及预后初步判断提供了有效的依据。颅脑MR的DWI序列上出现极高信号,应立即进行CTA检查。     

肝细胞急性坏死与凋亡的磁共振波谱研究

 目的 建立大鼠肝细胞坏死和凋亡的动物模型,将不同时间点的MRS检测结果与病理学所见进行对照研究,以评估MRS检测及鉴别肝细胞凋亡和坏死的能力与价值.方法 72只S-D大鼠随机分成假手术对照组、右侧肝动脉与门静脉分支均结扎组(HA+PV组)和单独右侧门静脉分支结扎组(PV组),实验组各分成4个亚组,每个亚组6只,分别于术后3 h、12 h、24 h、72 h行普通MRI和单体素PRESS 35序列MRS,得到肝右叶与左叶各代谢物浓度,以及肝右叶内代谢物相对比值.结果 HA+PV及PV组术后3 h,少量肝细胞发生坏死与凋亡时,肝右叶Lip-Lac较左叶相比即有明显增高,随着凋亡与坏死细胞增多,Lip-Lac增高更加明显.术后12 h肝右叶Cho较左叶相比出现降低,也随时间延长逐渐明显;肝右叶Lip-Lac/Cho比值在HA+PV及PV组术后3 h均有增高,以PV 3 h组增高更显著.结论 凋亡与坏死组织在1H MRS中都有Lip-Lac增加,Cho降低.肝细胞凋亡后早期,Lip-Lac/Cho比值增高较坏死明显,采用Lip-Lac/Cho比值对鉴别早期肝细胞坏死与凋亡具有一定意义.     

PROPELLER FSE磁共振扩散加权技术在诊断超急性和急性脑梗死中的价值

目的比较螺旋桨扫描技术(PROPELLER FSE)和平面回波成像(EPI)两种扩散加权成像(DWI)序列,探讨PROPELLER技术在DWI的应用价值。资料与方法选取67例临床疑诊急性脑梗死的患者分别行PROPEL-LER FSE DWI、EPI DWI和常规T1WI、T2WI、T2WI液体衰减反转恢复序列(FLAIR)检查,比较两种不同的DWI序列的图像质量,病灶检出率和对病变的显示程度。结果67例EPI DWI图像均不同程度地存在磁化率伪影,67例PROPELLER FSE DWI图像未见明显伪影及变形。67例中共发现并确诊46个急性脑梗死灶(4例为颅内多发病灶),其中病灶位于颅底区域12个,非颅底区域34个。PROPELLER FSE DWI和EPI DWI均可分辩出所有非颅底区域梗死灶。对12个颅底病灶PROPELLER FSE DWI检出率达100%,而EPI DWI可以明确诊断的7个,检出率达58.3%,病灶形态显示不充分或变形者3个,占25%,漏诊2个,漏诊率为16.7%。所有颅底区域病灶EPI DWI上信噪比(SNR)低于相应PROPELLER FSE DWI的SNR(t=-2.874,P<0.05)。结论PROPELLER FSE DWI能提高图像SNR,有效消除颅底磁化率伪影,改善图像质量,提高颅底病变的检出率。     

颅内静脉窦血栓形成的早期MRI诊断及病理基础

目的:研究颅内静脉窦血栓形成(CVST)的MR表现及其病理基础,旨在提高早期诊断水平.方法:回顾分析经临床和影像学方法确诊的11例CVST患者.MR检查技术包括平扫、增强扫描及MRV;其中4例行CT平扫检查;3例行DSA检查.结果:11例CVST累及上矢状窦5例,横窦1例,乙状窦1例,直窦1例,上矢状窦及横窦及乙状窦联合受累2例,横窦及乙状窦联合受累1例.CVST的直接征象:急性期血栓3例,T1 WI呈等信号或等高混杂信号,T2 WI呈低信号,周围可见稍高信号的环,为增厚的硬膜;亚急性期血栓8例,T1 WI及T2 WI均以高信号为主.增强扫描受累静脉窦可见空"三角"征或"充盈缺损"征.MRV可显示受累静脉窦不显影或者充盈缺损形成.CVST的继发脑损害包括脑肿胀、出血及梗死等.结论:磁共振检查对CVST的早期诊断具有重要价值.对于T2 WI呈低信号的急性期血栓,应仔细观察围是否有较高信号的环形改变,进一步行增强扫描结合MRV检查可作出早期准确的诊断.     

Association of peripheral vertical meniscal tears with anterior cruciate ligament tears

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe a type of meniscal tear seen on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the peripheral vertical tear, and to determine the prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in knees with this type of meniscal tear compared to knees with other types of meniscal tears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective review of 200 knee MR examinations with imaging diagnoses of 'meniscal tear' was performed to assess the location and morphology of the meniscal tear, and to assess the status of the ACL. RESULTS: Nineteen peripheral vertical meniscal tears were identified in 17 patients, 14 of whom had acute ACL tears, prior ACL reconstruction, or chronic ACL deficiency. Three peripheral vertical tears were seen in the setting of a normal ACL. Of the 183 examinations with other types of meniscal tears, there were 17 cases with acute ACL tears, prior ACL reconstruction, or chronic ACL deficiency. The difference in the prevalence of ACL tear, reconstruction, or deficiency in knees with meniscal tears of the peripheral vertical type (82.4%) compared with the prevalence of ACL tear, reconstruction, or deficiency in knees with other types of meniscal tears (9.3%) was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The calculated specificity of the presence of peripheral vertical tear morphology in detecting an ACL injury in patients with meniscal tears was 98.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral vertical meniscal tears, particularly when involving the posterior horn, are highly associated with ACL tear, deficiency, or reconstruction. The finding of this type of tear on knee MR imaging should prompt close inspection of the ACL for evidence of acute or chronic injury, and its presence may help make the diagnosis of ACL tear in equivocal cases.     

Assessment of brain perfusion with MRI: methodology and application to acute stroke

We review the methodology of brain perfusion measurements with MRI and their application to acute stroke, with particular emphasis on the work awarded by the 6th Lucien Appel Prize for Neuroradiology. The application of the indicator dilution theory to the dynamic susceptibility-weighted bolus-tracking method is explained, as is the approach to obtaining quantitative measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and volume (CBV). Our contribution to methodological developments, such as CBV measurement with the frequency-shifted burst sequence, development of the PRESTO sequence, comparison of different deconvolution methods and of spin- and gradient-echo sequences, and the validation of MRI measurements against positron emission tomography is summarised. The pathophysiology of brain ischaemia and the role of neuroimaging in the setting of acute stroke are reviewed, with an introduction to the concepts of ischaemic penumbra and diffusion/perfusion mismatch. Our work on the determination of absolute CBF and CBV thresholds for predicting the area of infarct growth, identification of the best perfusion parameters (relative or absolute) for predicting the area of infarct growth and the role of MR angiography is also summarised. We conclude that MRI is a very powerful way to assess brain perfusion and that its use might help in selecting patients who will benefit most from treatment such as thrombolysis.An addendum to this article can be found at     

Intramedullary and extramedullary fat globules on magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic sign for osteomyelitis

We retrospectively studied the frequency of persistent foci of fat signal on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in osteomyelitis to assess its frequency, cause and diagnostic value. The radiographs and MR scans of 100 patients with a final diagnosis of osteomyelitis referred to a specialist orthopaedic oncology service with the presumptive diagnosis of a bone tumour were reviewed. The MR signal and morphological characteristics were recorded with particular attention to the presence of persistent fat signal within the infected area, which was classified as diffuse or focal. Seventeen cases were classified on radiographic grounds as acute, 63 as subacute and 20 as chronic osteomyelitis. In the acute group 12 (70%) showed replacement of the marrow with fluid containing residual fatty signal, diffuse in seven and focal in five cases. Two cases showed predominantly fatty marrow with very early marrow oedema and three cases (18%) showed replacement of marrow fat with fluid and no residual fatty foci. None of the subacute group showed foci of fatty signal and two cases of inactive sclerosing osyeomyelitis in the chronic group showed restoration of normal marrow. Persistent fatty signal within the bone as well as soft tissues on MR imaging is a frequent finding in acute osteomyelitis. Radiological–pathological correlation suggests that the increasing intramedullary pressure leads to septic necrosis with death of the lipocytes and release of free fatty globules. This characteristic, but not pathognomonic, MR finding supports the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and may help to exclude the presence of a tumour.     

质子脂肪抑制序列在四肢隐性骨折中的诊断价值

目的探讨质子脂肪抑制序列(PDFASAT)在四肢隐性骨折中的诊断价值。方法31例四肢关节外伤患者在伤后45d内均行X线平片及多序列高场强(1．5T)MR检查，检查序列包括快速SE T1WI、T2WI，PDF ASAT等。受伤部位为膝关节21例，髋关节6例，肘关节1例，肩关节2例，踝关节1例。结果31例X线平片均未见明显骨折征象。MR检查发现：21例(21／31)膝关节受伤病例中腓骨近端隐性骨折10例，胫骨近端4例，股骨髁7例；6例(6／31)髋关节受伤病例中粗隆问隐性骨折2例，股骨颈隐性骨折2例，髋臼隐性骨折2例；1例(1／31)肘关节受伤病例显示肱骨远端隐性骨折；2例(2／31)肩关节受伤病例显示肱骨近端隐性骨折；1例(1／31)踝关节受伤病例显示腓骨远端隐性骨折；MR信号主要表现为T1WI、T1WI呈细线状、条带状低信号影，PDFASAT呈更清晰锐利的细线状、条带状高信号影，PDFASAT序列更易认识辨别。结论MRI能发现早期至慢性期隐性骨折的存在，如临床强烈提示骨折可能而X线检查阴性者，MR检查的PDFASAT序列是明确诊断的最佳序列。