Robust rigid registration of retinal angiograms through optimization

Retinal fundus photographs are employed as standard diagnostic tools in ophthalmology. Serial photographs of the flow of fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) dye are used to determine the areas of the retinal lesions. For objective measurements of features, the registration of the images is a necessity. In this paper, we employ optimization techniques for registration with the help of 2-parameter translational motion model of retinal angiograms, based on non-linear pre-processing (Wiener filtering and morphological gradient) and computation of the similarity criteria for the alignment of the two gradient images for any given rigid transformation. The optimization methods are effectively employed to minimize the similarity criterion.

The presence of noise, the variations in the background and the temporal variation of the fluorescence level pose serious problems in obtaining a robust registration of the retinal images. Moreover, local search strategies are not robust in the case of ICG angiograms, even if one uses a multiresolution approach.

The present work makes a systematic comparison of different optimization techniques, namely the minimization method derived from the optical flow formulation, the Nelder-Mead local search and the HCIAC ant colony metaheuristic, each optimizing a similarity criterion for the gradient images. The impact of the resolution and median filtering of gradient image is studied and the robustness of the approaches is tested through experimental studies, performed on macular fluorescein and ICG angiographies.

Our proposed optimization techniques have shown interesting results especially for high resolution difficult registration problems. Moreover, this approach seems promising for affine (6-parameter motion model) or elastical registrations.     

肝占位病变扩散加权成像的图像质量评价

目的探讨肝脏扩散加权成像(DWI)时,b值与图像质量的相关性。方法对20例正常志愿者及60例行肝占位性病变患者行DWI并测量信噪比(SNR)及对比噪声比(CNR)。结果b为100s/mm2、300s/mm2时DWI图像的SNR平均值>5,b为600s/mm2、1100s/mm2时,SNR<5;随着b值的增大,血流灌注对表观扩散系数(ADC)影响逐渐减少,而图像伪影增多,CNR逐渐降低,囊性病变较实性病变的CNR降低明显。结论进行DWI扫描时选取b值为300~600s/mm2时最为合适。     

正常人及脑肿瘤患者听觉性中英文语言刺激的fMRI研究

目的应用BOLD-MfRI研究正常人及脑肿瘤患者听觉性中英文语言皮层定位并探讨其对脑肿瘤的临床应用价值。方法应用MarconiEclipse1.5T超导型磁共振机,30例受试者,行听觉性中、英文语言刺激的BOLD-MfRI,以定位正常人和脑肿瘤患者的语言皮层。结果正常人听觉性中英文语言任务激活区域均以左侧大脑半球为主,主要有双侧颞横回、Wernicke区、Broca区和SMA区。中文语言任务刺激时脑区激活面积和程度比英文语言任务大,但英文语言任务时可见更明显的Broca区和角回激活。累及功能皮层的脑肿瘤患者患侧半球可见残留部分功能激活区,但激活区移位,分布弥散,激活程度及范围较正常人略增高。未累及功能皮层者功能区定位与正常人大致相同。结论BOLD-MfRI是一种有效而无创的功能皮层定位方法,有利于脑肿瘤的精确定位诊断并指导临床治疗。     

应用64层CT一次扫描完成心脏冠脉成像及心功能分析的可行性初步研究

目的研究64层CT一次扫描同时完成心脏冠脉成像及心功能分析的可行性。方法96例患者均行MSCT心脏成像扫描和MR心脏检查,数据分别按照冠脉成像和心功能分析要求进行重建和后处理,评估。结果1271段冠脉血管中有约99%血管显示清晰,达到诊断要求;心功能分析数据左室舒张末期容积(LVEDV)、左室收缩末期容积(LVESV)、左室每搏输出量(LVSV)、左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室心肌容积(LVMV)与MR相关数据的相关系数分别为0.84、0.91、0.94、0.89、0.88。结论MSCT可以在一次扫描中完成冠脉成像和心功能数据采集,具有极高应用价值。     

64层螺旋CT在糖尿病下肢动脉硬化闭塞症中的诊断价值

目的评价64层螺旋CT下肢动脉成像在诊断糖尿病下肢动脉硬化闭塞症中的临床价值。方法对90例可疑下肢血管病变的Ⅱ型糖尿病患者进行64层螺旋CT血管造影检查,对所有扫描原始数据行容积再现(VR),最大密度投影(M IP),冠状、矢状面多平面重组(MPR)以及曲面重建(CPR)。结果64层螺旋CT下肢血管造影检查可以清晰显示自髂总至足背整个动脉系统病变的准确部位、范围及侧枝血管。90例患者中67例(77%)患者血管呈不同程度粥样硬化表现。其中轻或中度狭窄49例(56.3%),重度狭窄18例(20.7%),7例(8%)完全闭塞患者可见侧枝循环血管形成。结论64层螺旋CT下肢血管造影,对糖尿病下肢动脉硬化闭塞症的诊断和治疗具有重要价值。     

Ex vivo identification of atherosclerotic plaque calcification by a 31P solid-state magnetic resonance imaging technique.

Calcified tissue is a common component of atherosclerotic plaques, and occurs most often in mature plaques. The process of calcification is a poorly understood risk factor that may contribute to a plaque's vulnerability to sudden rupture. In this study a solid-state imaging sequence, termed single-point imaging (SPI), was used to observe calcification directly in ex vivo atherosclerotic plaques. Standards were used to validate the ability of (31)P SPI to detect and differentiate calcification from crystalline cholesterol, phospholipids, and other plaque components. After suitable experimental parameters were found, human carotid specimens obtained by endarterectomy were imaged ex vivo by (31)P solid-state imaging and standard (1)H methods. In contrast to (1)H imaging methods, (31)P imaging detected only the calcification in the plaque.     

原发性肝癌的彩色多普勒及三维血流能量成像特征及其临床意义

目的:探讨三维血流能量成像(3D-CPA)和彩色多普勒血流成像(CDFI)的临床应用价值。方法:对47例原发性肝癌的病灶进行二维、CDFI及3D-CPA的检查,比较CDFI及3D-CPA显示肿瘤瘤内或瘤周血流多普勒信号丰富程度及血管分布类型,并检测肿瘤的血流参数。结果:3D-CPA显示肿瘤血流分布丰富程度及血管分布类型与CDFI均有显著性差异(均P<0.05),CDFI均可探及肿瘤的搏动性动脉血流,其中,收缩期峰值血流速度(PSV)为43~157cm/s,阻力指数(RI)为0.49~0.82,大于0.65者45例。结论:3D-CPA结合彩色多普勒血流参数的检测可作为临床评价原发性肝癌血供及血管分布的常规检查方法。     

精神分裂症首次发病患者的磁共振弥散张量显像研究

目的探讨从未用过药的精神分裂症首次发病(以下简称首发)患者的重要白质及部分灰质区的磁共振弥散张量显像(DTI)的特点。方法选取9例首发精神分裂症患者(患者组)及9名年龄、性别、受教育程度与患者组相配对的健康者,应用DTI成像技术检测脑额颞交界处、内囊等白质区和颞中回灰质、中央前回、中央后回等灰质区的各向异性(FA)、表观扩散系数(ADC)及双侧海马体积。结果患者组及对照组组内左右两侧兴趣区FA值及ADC值的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);患者组与对照组各感兴趣区FA值差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),但患者组颞中回灰质(8.655×10-9)、中央前回(7.816×10-9)、中央后回(7.855×10-9)ADC值高于对照组(分别为7.428×10-9,6.921×10-9,7.013×10-9;P=0.049,0.009,0.005);两组内及组间双侧海马体积比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论首发精神分裂症患者与健康者DTI参数之间没有明显区别。     

磁共振成像在肝移植术后并发症诊断中的应用

目的探讨磁共振成像在肝移植并发症诊断中的价值。方法回顾分析11例肝移植术后发生并发症者的磁共振检查影像资料。结果11例患者术后出现皮肤和巩膜黄染、发热以及尿黄等症状，丙氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、γ-谷氨酰转移酶和胆红素升高．经B型超声波检查不能明确原因，采用磁共振（MRI、MRA和MRCP）检查，明确肝动脉吻合口狭窄1例；肝动脉闭塞2例；下腔静脉吻合口狭窄及血栓形成各1例；胆管吻合口狭窄4例，其中1例伴胆汁瘤形成；肝门水平非吻合口狭窄6例；肝坏死2例；肝包膜下血肿及右肾上腺出血各1例；均显示不等量的右侧胸腔积液、腹腔积液及肝门部水肿。结论磁共振一次检查可显示肝内外的多种结构，能为肝移植术后并发症的诊断提供丰富的肝脏、血管、胆道以及肝外结构的图像信息。     

Derivation of Power M-Mode Transcranial Doppler Criteria for Angiographic Proven MCA Occlusion

BACKGROUND: Stringent transcranial Doppler (TCD) criteria for diagnosing occlusion are needed for more reliable TCD performance at bedside in the acute stroke setting. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: At three academic stroke centers, we performed TCD examination for patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia who underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA). We used a standard insonation protocol with power M-mode Doppler (PMD) TCD (TCD 100 M, Spencer Technologies Inc., Seattle, WA). We collected mean flow velocity (MFV), pulsatility indices (PI), and power M-mode resistance signature (absent, high, or low) in symptomatic middle (MCA), anterior (ACA), posterior (PCA), and in affected (a), ipsilateral (i), and contralateral (c-lat) cerebral arteries. Ratios of aMCA/c-lat MCA, aMCA/iACA, and aMCA/iPCA MFV were subsequently calculated. PMD-TCD flow findings were evaluated with a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for angiographically proven MCA occlusion. RESULTS: We studied 120 patients with acute cerebral ischemia with PMD-TCD examinations prior to or immediately after DSA. Lower aMCA velocities pointed to higher probability of occlusion (P= .055). The aMCA/iPCA MFV ratio was superior to the aMCA/iACA ratio and strongly predictive of occlusion at a threshold ratio of 0.5 (RR 2.31 CI(95) 2.13-2.51). High resistance or absent M-mode flow signatures in the proximal MCA were present in 87% of M1 and M2 MCA occlusions (probability 87%). In the presence of a low-resistance PMD signature, obtaining the aMCA/iPCA MFV ratio <0.5 increases probability of occlusion to 87%. Normal MFV ratios and low-resistance M-mode signatures are highly predictive of a negative angiogram for MCA occlusion. CONCLUSION: In acute cerebral ischemia, reliable criteria for proximal MCA occlusion have been developed based on combination of MFV ratios and M-mode flow resistance signatures. Validation of these criteria will require multicenter studies.