Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J R Hesselink

Publications and source records attributed to J R Hesselink.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Neuroimaging of AIDS. I. Viral infections.

Viral infections of the brain and spinal cord cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients afflicted with AIDS. Debate continues over the specific mechanisms and pathways of how HIV-1 manifests itself in the brain and spinal cord. Attempts to predict which seropositive patients develop neurocognitive deficits caused by HIV-1 and how soon these deficits will occur in the course of disease have had limited success. The neuropathologic changes of HIV-1 must be distinguished from other viral infections, such as cytomegalovirus, JC papovavirus (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy), herpes simplex virus type 1, and varicella-zoster virus. In addition to cerebral spinal fluid sampling and serum testing, some specific features are seen with contrast-enhanced CT, MR imaging, proton MR spectroscopy, SPECT, and PET.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Quantitative analysis of signal intensities and contrast after fat suppression in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the spine.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We studied the effect of fat suppression on signal intensity and contrast on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images of the spine. METHODS: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted MR images were obtained at identical levels with and without fat suppression. Signal intensity and contrast were measured in regions of interest in fat, muscle, spinal bone marrow, and enhancing lesions. The differences in the mean values of these signal intensities and the mean values of contrast between enhanced tissues and bone marrow, fat, and muscle were subjected to statistical validation. RESULTS: Mean signal intensity of the extraspinal fat and bone marrow was lower after fat suppression (70% and 46% reduction, p < .001 and p < .05, respectively), whereas the signal intensity of muscle showed no significant change (p < .9). Enhancing spinal lesions showed a difference in mean signal intensity after fat suppression (22% increase, p < .2). Contrast between enhanced lesions and bone marrow and fat was higher after fat suppression (78% increase, p < .01 for bone marrow; 8% increase, p < .001 for fat). CONCLUSION: In contrast-enhanced MR examinations of the spine, the use of fat suppression may increase the signal intensity of the enhancing lesion by expanding the dynamic gray scale of the image and increases the contrast between the lesion and adjacent bone marrow and suppressed fat.

Adipose Tissue↗

MR imaging of spinal nerve roots: techniques, enhancement patterns, and imaging findings.

The purpose of this report was to review the MR techniques, contrast enhancement patterns, and MR imaging findings for the spinal nerve roots. The phenomenon of contrast enhancement of the nerve roots and its relationship to disk disease and failed-back-surgery syndrome are discussed. The MR imaging findings for various inflammatory and neoplastic disorders affecting the spinal nerve roots are described and illustrated.

Contrast Media↗

Normal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging anatomy of the globe, orbit, and visual pathways.

The presence of bone and fat in the orbit provide high contrast with normal structures on both CT and MR images. In patients with visual deficits or oculomotor paralysis, imaging studies should include the intracranial cavity to evaluate the visual pathways back to the occipital cortex and the cranial nerves within the cavernous sinuses and brainstem. Magnetic resonance images display the intracranial anatomy in exquisite detail. Fat-suppressed magnetic resonance sequences should be used in conjunction with gadolinium enhancement.

Cranial Nerves↗

Fat-suppression contrast-enhanced MRI in the failed back surgery syndrome: a prospective study.

We examined 25 patients with recurrent pain after lumbar disk surgery with MRI to evaluate the usefulness of gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced fat-suppression (FS) imaging in patients with failed back surgery. Pulse sequences included T1-weighted (T1W) images, Gd-enhanced T1W images, and Gd-enhanced T1W images with FS. The addition of FS to Gd-enhanced T1W images improved visualization of enhancing scar in all cases, helped distinguish scar from recurrent herniated disk, and showed more clearly the relationship of scar to the nerve roots and thecal sac. The images also demonstrated enhancement of the facet joints and theca in 23 and 11 cases, respectively. Intradural nerve roots were more conspicuous with FS in 21 cases. The combination of unenhanced and Gd-enhanced T1W images with FS is recommended for routine examination of the postoperative back.

Adipose Tissue↗

HIV-associated psychosis: a study of 20 cases. San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center Group.

OBJECTIVE: Psychosis is an uncommon but serious complication of infection with HIV. This article presents the results of a study of HIV-infected individuals with psychosis. METHOD: The authors evaluated 20 HIV-infected men who had noniatrogenic new-onset psychosis without delirium, current substance abuse, or previous psychotic episodes. Clinical, neuropsychological, CSF, magnetic resonance imaging, and neuropathologic assessments were made. A comparison group consisting of 20 nonpsychotic HIV-infected men matched to the psychotic subjects with respect to age, race, years of education, and Centers for Disease Control HIV stage was also evaluated. RESULTS: The psychotic patients differed from the nonpsychotic comparison subjects in having significantly higher rates of past stimulant and sedative/hypnotic abuse or dependence and, at follow-up, a significantly higher rate of mortality. They also showed a trend toward greater global neuropsychological impairment. CONCLUSIONS: New-onset psychosis may be, at least in part, a manifestation of an HIV-associated encephalopathy.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Extraspinal abnormalities detected on MR images of the spine.

Surface-coil MR imaging of the spine is one of the most commonly performed MR imaging procedures. As the spine is the region of interest in these studies, extraspinal abnormalities may be overlooked. Such lesions can be difficult to perceive because they are out of the area of interest or distant from the surface coil. MR studies may be interpreted without other radiographic studies for comparison, as the other studies often have been performed elsewhere. Consequently, it is important for radiologists to be aware of the extraspinal anatomy and the appearances of extraspinal abnormalities. We describe the appearances of some common extraspinal diseases and normal variants detected with surface-coil MR imaging of the spine.

Adult↗

MR imaging of the spine: recent advances in pulse sequences and special techniques.

A number of new techniques have been developed to enhance MR imaging of the spine. Fat-suppression techniques used in conjunction with gadolinium-based contrast material improve visualization of enhancing inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Fast spin-echo (FSE) sequences can be used to decrease imaging times, to increase resolution, or to improve signal-to-noise ratios on T2-weighted images. In general, FSE images provide a better myelographic effect with reduced magnetic susceptibility compared with gradient-recalled echo (GRE) techniques. With volume GRE sequences, thin contiguous sections can be obtained, and images can be reformatted into multiple planes from a single data set. High-contrast imaging can be accomplished by using three-dimensional (3D) turbo-fast low-angle shot (FLASH) or magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient-echo (MP RAGE) techniques with gadolinium contrast enhancement. Finally, CSF flow dynamics within the subarachnoid space and within cystic lesions can be elucidated with phase-contrast techniques. Judicious selection of these methods and other innovative MR techniques is necessary to maximize the potential of MR in diagnosis of spinal disease.

Contrast Media↗

MR detection of white matter disease of the brain in patients with HIV infection: fast spin-echo vs conventional spin-echo pulse sequences.

OBJECTIVE: Although fast spin-echo images and slower spin-echo images have similar contrast characteristics, the two techniques have not yet been shown to be equivalent in all aspects of brain imaging. To determine if the two sequences are equivalent, we compared detection of white matter lesions, image quality, and artifact degradation on fast spin-echo and spin-echo proton density-weighted and T2-weighted MR images of the brain in prospectively selected patients who were seropositive for HIV. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fast spin-echo and spin-echo MR images of the brain were obtained in 153 consecutive subjects. The images were reviewed independently by three experienced neuroradiologists. The size, number, and location of white matter lesions were compared for the two techniques. Image quality, motion artifact, CSF flow artifact, and gray-white matter differentiation were graded on a five-point scale. RESULTS: No statistical difference was found in gray-white matter differentiation. Overall image quality, CSF flow artifacts, and motion artifacts were slightly worse on the fast spin-echo images (p < .05). Although some variability existed in the detection of lesions less than 5 mm in diameter, the differences was small, and all larger lesions were detected by both techniques. Agreement between fast spin-echo and conventional spin-echo techniques was nearly exact with respect to characterizing findings in brain as either normal or abnormal. CONCLUSIONS: Fast spin-echo and spin-echo MR of the brain produce images of similar quality and show white matter lesions equally well. These results support the replacement of slower, conventional spin-echo pulse sequences with faster fast spin-echo sequences.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Blood flow dynamics in the vertebrobasilar system: correlation of a transparent elastic model and MR angiography.

PURPOSE: To describe the flow patterns in a model of the vertebrobasilar artery and use these observations to explain the appearance of the flow on the MR images. METHODS: We created an anatomically precise, transparent elastic model of the human vertebrobasilar artery containing a basilar tip aneurysm and perfused the model with non-Newtonian fluid which has similar rheologic properties to blood. Flow patterns in the vessels were directly observed. MR angiogram images were obtained with commercially available two-dimensional time-of-flight, three-dimensional time-of-flight, and 3-D phase-contrast MR angiographic pulse sequences, and they were correlated with the directly seen flow patterns. Quantitative flow velocity measurements were performed with 2-D cine phase-contrast MR angiography and correlated with the flow measured with an electromagnetic flow meter. RESULTS: Visualization studies showed the dye stream patterns in the vertebrobasilar arteries to be extremely complex and variable. During the MR experiments we found that often the same segment of a vessel could appear very different depending on the pulse sequence. In some instances, the model experiments helped to explain the MR appearance of the vessels. Flow profiles measured with 2-D cine phase contrast were found to be consistent with those measured directly with an electromagnetic flow meter. CONCLUSION: Clear elastic models can be used to duplicate the flow in human cranial vessels and thus provide a unique means to observe these flow patterns directly. The flow patterns helped to explain the variation in appearance of the vessels and the artifacts with different MR angiography pulse sequences. The artifacts depend on both the geometry of the vessel and the flow pattern within it. Two-dimensional cine phase-contrast MR provides temporal flow field information that is directly related to physiological information about flow volumes and velocity patterns.

Adult↗

MR of the spine in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

MR examination of the spine after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine showed enhancement of the cauda equina in a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome. These MR observations may help confirm the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Cauda Equina↗

Evaluation of fat suppression in contrast-enhanced MR of neoplastic and inflammatory spine disease.

PURPOSE: To determine the benefit of fat suppression in conjunction with gadolinium enhancement for evaluating neoplastic and inflammatory diseases of the spine. METHODS: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images were compared with the corresponding contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images with fat suppression in 14 patients with various neoplastic and inflammatory spine diseases. RESULTS: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images with fat suppression showed enhancing lesions in all cases of vertebral disease (five cases), but in one case some metastases did not enhance. Paravertebral (nine lesions), epidural (seven lesions), and intradural-extramedullary (six lesions) were delineated better with contrast-enhanced fat suppression. In the 14 cases (29 lesions), nine lesions were seen only on contrast-enhanced images with fat suppression. Integrity of the vertebral end plates was assessed more accurately on fat-suppressed images. CONCLUSION: Although noncontrast T1-weighted images are sufficient to screen for vertebral disease, contrast-enhanced images with fat suppression may detect additional lesions. Fat suppression should be used in conjunction with gadolinium for evaluating epidural, paravertebral, and intradural-extramedullary spinal lesions.

Adipose Tissue↗

Cine magnetic resonance imaging and color Doppler flow mapping in infants and children with pulmonary artery bands.

Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and color Doppler flow mapping were performed in 12 infants and children (aged 3 to 35 months) after pulmonary artery banding to define the anatomy and physiology of the right ventricular outflow tract and evaluate the anatomy. MRI was performed using a 1.5 Tesla magnet in the sagittal, axial and oblique views with all patients studied in the 24 cm head coli following adequate sedation. High-resolution cine MRI was obtained in all patients and the narrowest flow diameter on cine MRI correlated well with the pressure gradient measured across the band in 11 patients at cardiac catheterization or surgery (r = -0.95). Signal loss was always seen distal to the band associated with turbulent flow as seen by color Doppler flow mapping. Signal loss in cine MRI was also seen proximal to the band. The length of this proximal signal void also correlated well with the pressure gradient measured across the band (r = 0.91) and was closely matched by the zone of proximal spatial acceleration defined by digital computer analysis of color Doppler flow map images (r = 0.89), which also demonstrated low grade variance associated with the laminar accelerating flow stream. The position of the band was accurately defined by cine MRI which identified inadequate pulmonary artery banding in 2 patients confirmed subsequently at cardiac catheterization and angiography. Cine MRI and color Doppler flow mapping when used together provide high-resolution detail about the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary artery band anatomy and function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Flow Velocity↗

Cerebral morphologic distinctions between Williams and Down syndromes.

Neurobehavioral studies of Williams syndrome (WS) and Down syndrome (DS) have revealed distinct profiles of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. In a previous report, we described several gross brain morphologic distinctions on magnetic resonance images between these two disorders. While the observed cerebral hypoplasia was of equal degree in the two groups, cerebellar size was entirely normal in the subjects with WS but dramatically reduced in subjects with DS. In WS, paleocerebellar vermal lobules subtended a smaller area on midsagittal sections, but neocerebellar lobules were actually larger. These results suggested important distinctions between WS and DS in terms of the action and anatomic targets of factors that alter brain development in these syndromes. The present study extends the earlier findings by focusing in detail on the morphologic features of the cerebral hemispheres, particularly cerebral gray matter. The results suggest that some frontal and temporal limbic structures are relatively preserved in WS, while some basal ganglia and diencephalic structures are relatively preserved in DS.

Adolescent↗

Magnetic resonance imaging morphometric analysis of cerebral volume loss in human immunodeficiency virus infection. The HNRC Group.

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare male subjects seropositive for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV positive), with and without medical symptoms, with two groups of men who were seronegative (HIV negative). The control subjects included men at high risk for exposure to HIV-1 and those at low risk. None of the HIV-positive subjects met criteria for HIV-associated dementia or had detectable opportunistic brain disease. Quantitative image-analytic techniques were used to estimate volumes of ventricular and cortical cerebrospinal fluid, cerebral white matter, and cortical and subcortical gray matter structures. Relative to low-risk group control subjects and asymptomatic HIV-positive subjects, nondemented but medically symptomatic HIV-positive subjects showed significant increases in cerebrospinal fluid, reduced volume of cerebral white matter, and reduced cerebral gray matter volumes. Unexpectedly, however, some cerebrospinal fluid increases and gray matter volume decreases were present in the seronegative high-risk control subjects as well.

Adult↗

Cine magnetic resonance imaging and color Doppler flow mapping displays of flow velocity, spatial acceleration, and jet formation: a comparative in vitro study.

To study the effects of flow acceleration and high-velocity jets on the display characteristics of cine magnetic resonance imaging compared with color Doppler flow mapping, a custom-designed in vitro flow model was developed. This model consisted of a funnel segment tapering to an orifice (0.78 cm2) that leads into a confined receiving chamber with a second, discrete orifice (0.78 cm2) at its distal end. Cine magnetic resonance images obtained at varying flow rates (1.5 to 27.2 L/min) demonstrated loss of signal intensity throughout the tapering zone of spatial acceleration and a small zone of more marked signal loss immediately proximal to the second orifice (always < 50% of the signal intensity within the tapering funnel zone) associated with more rapid spatial acceleration. A formed jet was imaged distal to the first orifice, and the turbulence area surrounding the laminar central jet core correlated well with flow rate (r = 0.98), as did the distance from the orifice to the subsequent onset of flow relaminarization (r = 0.96). A turbulent spray area was always seen distal to the second, discrete orifice. Comparative observations with color Doppler flow mapping and continuous wave Doppler demonstrated that signal intensity on cine magnetic resonance imaging is reduced by both spatial acceleration, and the high-velocity and turbulent jets associated with obstructive and regurgitant lesions. In vitro evaluation of cine magnetic resonance imaging allows comparative observations to be made about the flow characteristics of cine magnetic resonance imaging and color Doppler flow mapping and provides a more rational basis for the interpretation of cine magnetic resonance imaging in the clinical setting.

Blood Flow Velocity↗