Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

R R Edelman

Publications and source records attributed to R R Edelman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Identification of anomalous coronary arteries and their anatomic course by magnetic resonance coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND: Anomalous coronary arteries are a rare but recognized cause of myocardial ischemia and sudden death. Identification currently requires x-ray angiography, which may have difficulty defining the three-dimensional course of the anomalous vessel. Magnetic resonance coronary angiography (MRCA) has been shown to image coronary artery anatomy noninvasively. We hypothesize that MRCA may be useful in the identification of anomalous coronary arteries and their anatomic course. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen patients (9 men, 7 women, age 44 to 81 years) with anomalous aortic origins of the coronary arteries by conventional x-ray angiography underwent MRCA. Multiple images of the major epicardial coronary arteries were obtained by use of a breathhold, fat-suppressed, segmented-k space, gradient-echo technique by investigators blinded to all patient data. Anomalous coronary artery pathology, by x-ray angiography, included right-sided left main coronary artery (n = 3), right-sided left circumflex artery (n = 6), separate left-sided left anterior descending and left circumflex arteries (n = 2), left-sided right coronary artery (n = 4), and an anteriorly displaced right coronary artery (n = 1). MRCA correctly identified the anomalous coronary vessel(s) in 14 of 15 patients. In 1 patient, the anomalous vessel was incorrectly identified, and in 2 patients the course of the anomalous vessel was not clearly seen; one of these was a nondominant, anomalous right coronary artery. CONCLUSIONS: MRCA is a useful technique for the noninvasive identification of anomalous coronary arteries and their anatomic course.

Adult

Perioperative imaging strategies for carotid endarterectomy. An analysis of morbidity and cost-effectiveness in symptomatic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of four diagnostic strategies for the preoperative evaluation of symptomatic patients who are potential candidates for carotid endarterectomy (ie, 70% to 99% stenosis): (1) duplex sonography (DS), (2) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), (3) contrast angiography (CA), and (4) the combination of DS and MRA supplemented by CA for disparate results. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis based largely on published clinical trial data. Sensitivities and specificities of noninvasive tests were estimated from 81 patients undergoing prospective evaluation with DS, MRA, and CA. OUTCOME MEASURE: Incremental cost per quality-adjusted year of life gained. RESULTS: For a hypothetical cohort of symptomatic patients undergoing evaluation for carotid endarterectomy, the combination of tests resulted in the greatest quality-adjusted life expectancy of the four options considered. After incorporating the costs of testing, surgery, and stroke, we found that neither the MRA nor the CA strategy was cost-effective. The combination of tests was more effective but more costly than DS, resulting in an additional cost of $22,400 per quality-adjusted year of life gained. For centers that do not have adequate MRA, CA resulted in an additional cost of $99,200 per quality-adjusted year of life saved compared with DS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that for the preoperative detection of a 70% to 99% carotid stenosis, the combination of DS and MRA, supplemented by CA for disparate results, is associated with the lowest long-term morbidity and mortality and has a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio. The combination of tests, or DS alone when MRA is not available, could potentially replace the current practice of using CA alone in the preoperative evaluation of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis.

Aged

Shared neural substrates controlling hand movements in human motor cortex.

Voluntary hand movements in humans involve the primary motor cortex (M1). A functional magnetic resonance imaging method that measures relative cerebral blood flow was used to identify a distributed, overlapping pattern of hand movement representation within the posterior precentral gyrus, which contains M1. The observed pattern resembles those reported in nonhuman primates and differs from a somatotopically organized plan typically used to portray human motor cortex organization. Finger and wrist movements activated a wide expanse of the posterior precentral gyrus, and representations for different finger movements overlapped each other and the wrist representation. Multiple sites of activation occurred in the precentral gyrus for all movements. The overlapping representations may mediate motor and cognitive functions requiring coordinated neural processing for finger and wrist actions rather than discrete control implied by somatotopic maps.

Brain Mapping

Acute human stroke studied by whole brain echo planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Our purpose was to use whole brain echo planar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify and characterize diffusion abnormalities in acute cerebral ischemia. We studied 40 patients as early as 3 hours after onset of signs and symptoms of cerebral ischemia. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the entire brain could be completed in 3 seconds or, using seven different diffusion sensitivities (maximum b = 1,271 sec/mm2), in 48 seconds. Measurements and synthetic maps were made of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC), a physiological parameter that characterizes the self-diffusion of water in tissue. Early ischemic lesions were identified with DWI as hyperintense regions of decreased ADC in all patients who subsequently developed infarction, before changes were evident on conventional MRI in cases studied earlier than 6 hours after onset of ischemic symptoms. Lesions as small as 4 mm in diameter were identified. The extent of lesions within white matter was best defined by controlling for the anisotropic effect of axonal orientation. The mean ADC (+/- SD) for control regions in the 36 patients was 9.15 (+/- 2.91) x 10(-4) mm2/sec. Mean ADC of ischemic regions was 56% of control values at 6 hours or less and stayed significantly reduced for 3 to 4 days after onset of ischemia. The relative ADC increased progressively over time to be pseudonormalized at 5 to 10 days and elevated in the chronic state, making the distinction of acute lesions adjacent to chronic infarcts readily apparent. DWI with echo planar imaging measures a unique physiological parameter that is sensitive to ischemic changes before conventional MRI. Its potential role in the quantitative study of human stroke pathophysiology and therapeutics is the subject of further investigation.

Adult

Dynamic contrast-enhanced subtraction MR angiography of the lower extremities: initial evaluation with a multisection two-dimensional time-of-flight sequence.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical feasibility of a contrast material--enhanced two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance (MR) angiographic sequence in lower extremity arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four healthy volunteers and 12 patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MR angiography; all patients also underwent conventional angiography. A 2D multisection gradient-echo sequence with image subtraction was used for all MR imaging examinations. RESULTS: Oblique-coronal contrast-enhanced MR angiography was completed in less than 4 minutes, with a 256 x 512 matrix. The arterial contrast enhancement ratio was 2.0 +/- 0.8 (standard deviation), and the pre- and post-contrast contrast-to-noise ratios were 2.1 +/- 13.8 and 46.2 +/- 18.7, respectively. The sensitivity for MR angiography was 100% and specificity was 69% for distinction of vessels with greater than 50% stenoses from normal or mildly stenotic vessels. CONCLUSION: Dynamic contrast-enhanced 2D MR angiography is capable of increasing intraarterial signal intensity and depicting small vessel anatomy of the lower extremities over a large field of view in a short imaging time.

Adult

Brain lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis: detection with echo-planar imaging.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the detection of brain lesions with echo-planar imaging relative to conventional spin-echo (SE) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 17 patients (three men, 14 women; mean age, 31 years) with multiple sclerosis, the following were compared: single-shot proton-density- and T2-weighted and thin-section T2-weighted echo-planar, proton-density- and T2-weighted multishot echo-planar, and conventional SE sequences. Quantitative and qualitative criteria as well as lesion detectability were evaluated. The proton-density-weighted SE sequence was used as the standard of reference. RESULTS: Multishot sequences were superior to single-shot sequences in image quality and lesion detectability. With the multishot proton-density-weighted sequence, 53 of 54 large lesions and 23 of 30 small lesions were detected; with the single-shot proton-density-weighted sequence, 38 of 54 large lesions and five of 30 small lesions were detected. CONCLUSION: With multishot echo-planar sequences, detectability of large lesions is similar to that with conventional SE imaging. Susceptibility artifact is diminished in comparison to single-shot echo-planar sequences.

Adult

Renal vasculature in potential renal transplant donors: comparison of MR imaging and digital subtraction angiography.

PURPOSE: To compare magnetic resonance (MR) angiography with a selective inversion-recovery sequence and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in renal transplant donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen potential donors underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T and conventional angiography. Blinded evaluation of imaging findings was performed. A selective inversion-recovery sequence was used to obtain MR arteriograms. RESULTS: Eight accessory vessels were present; MR angiography showed 100% sensitivity in accessory vessel detection. Both studies depicted early arterial branching in two vessels, mild fibromuscular dysplasia in one patient, normal renal size in all patients, and prominent fetal lobulation in two kidneys. A small cyst was detected with MR imaging only. Minor venous anomalies were noted in three patients, though these were not surgically confirmed owing to contralateral surgery. CONCLUSION: Despite the small study population, MR angiography with this sequence appears to have potential value in pretransplantation evaluation of the kidney. Advantages include short examination time, noninvasiveness, avoidance of iodinated contrast media, no radiation, and lower cost than DSA.

Adult

Preoperative assessment of the carotid bifurcation. Can magnetic resonance angiography and duplex ultrasonography replace contrast arteriography?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Noninvasive studies are used with increasing frequency to assess the carotid bifurcation before endarterectomy. Therefore, assessment of their diagnostic accuracies is essential for appropriate patient management. We prospectively evaluate two noninvasive tests, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and duplex ultrasonography (DU), as potential replacements for contrast arteriography (CA). METHODS: A blinded comparison of three-dimensional time-of-flight (TOF) MRA, two-dimensional TOF MRA, and DU in 176 arteries was performed. CA was used as the standard of comparison. RESULTS: Three-dimensional TOF MRA had a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 85%, and an accuracy of 88% for the identification of 70% to 99% stenosis; two-dimensional TOF MRA had a sensitivity and specificity that were approximately 10% lower than those of three-dimensional TOF MRA. DU resulted in a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 83%, and an accuracy of 86%. Combining data from three-dimensional TOF MRA and DU, allowing for CA only for disparate results, yielded a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 91%, and an accuracy of 94% among concordant noninvasive tests, with CA required in 16% of arteries. MRA accurately differentiated 17 carotid occlusions from 16 high-grade (90% to 99%) stenoses, whereas with DU two patent arteries were identified as occluded and one occluded artery was identified as patent. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional TOF MRA is the most accurate noninvasive test. Combined use of MRA and DU results in a marked increase in accuracy to a level that obviates the need for CA in a majority of patients.

Aged

Blood-pool MR contrast material for detection and characterization of focal hepatic lesions: initial clinical experience with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (AMI-227).

OBJECTIVE: AMI-227 is an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide colloid known to enhance tissue T1 and T2 relaxation rates. Animal studies show that AMI-227 has an estimated blood half-life of more than 200 min. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of AMI-227 as an MR contrast agent for detection and characterization of focal hepatic lesions, with MR imaging done while the contrast agent is in the intravascular space (blood-pool phase). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with known or suspected focal hepatic masses underwent T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging of the liver at 1.5 T before and immediately after drip infusion of AMI-227 at doses of 0.8, 1.1, or 1.7 mg Fe/kg. Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced images were analyzed qualitatively (lesion detection and tissue characterization) and quantitatively (lesion-liver contrast-to-noise ratio). RESULTS: AMI-227 enhanced signal in normal liver and blood vessels on T1-weighted images and decreased signal in these tissues on T2-weighted images. Qualitatively and quantitatively, lesion-liver contrast was increased for solid tumors (non-cyst and nonhemangioma) at all three doses (p < .02) on both T1- and T2-weighted images. Differentiation between blood vessels and small lesions was easier on contrast-enhanced images, which allowed increased confidence in excluding lesions. Unique enhancement patterns were noted for hemangiomas, solid tumors, and cysts. CONCLUSION: Initial clinical experience suggests that AMI-227 is a useful contrast agent for detection and characterization of focal hepatic lesions.

Adult

Diffusion and perfusion imaging techniques.

Diffusion imaging techniques including the Stejskal-Tanner and the stimulated emission of amplitude echoes (STEAM) pulse sequences are discussed. The calculation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps is reviewed. The perfusion imaging techniques of blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) and first pass bolus perfusion techniques as well as the newer technique of echo-planar imaging with signal targeting and altering radiofrequency (EPISTAR) are also discussed. Finally, the theory of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and its relationship to both diffusion and perfusion phenomena is examined.

Brain Diseases

Magnetic resonance angiography of the abdomen.

The applications of abdominal MR angiography have been slow as compared with its applications in the head and neck mainly because of greater technical difficulties in dealing with respiratory motion and the use of the body coil, which has a poorer signal-to-noise ratio than head or surface coils. Further work is needed to reduce motion sensitivity and improve spatial resolution. Flow contrast and depiction of slowly flowing blood could be improved with the use of intravascular contrast agents. 52MR angiography is the imaging method of choice in the evaluation of the portal venous system, systemic veins, and aortic disease. With further technical improvements, it seems likely that applications of MR angiography will also be extended to smaller vessels.

Abdomen

Echo planar imaging of the abdomen.

Echo planar imaging (EPI) is an ultrafast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method first proposed more than 15 years ago. With EPI, all the information necessary to create an image is obtained very rapidly (typically on the order of 50-150 ms). Special hardware modifications are needed, particularly in the magnetic field gradients and data acquisition systems, to permit such high-speed imaging. In the abdomen, EPI images are insensitive to degradation from breathing or peristaltic motion. The essentially infinite repetition time and lack of motion-induced blurring can improve lesion characterization compared with standard imaging methods. Segmented EPI permits high-resolution T2-weighted images to be acquired within a single breath-hold. Diffusion imaging, which was previously restricted to the brain, can now be done in the abdomen because of the relative insensitivity of EPI images to bulk motion. Diffusion imaging of the kidney has been found to correlate with its functional status. By using EPI readouts, MR angiography can be done more quickly. Further work is needed to improve the spatial resolution and overcome magnetic susceptibility artifacts, particularly with single-shot EPI. Nonetheless, EPI offers considerable potential for improved anatomical and functional imaging of the abdomen.

Abdomen

In vivo measurement of water diffusion in the human heart.

Existing magnetic resonance methods for diffusion imaging, including echo planar, are ineffective in the beating heart due to motion-induced signal attenuation. To overcome this problem, we used a diffusion-weighted stimulated echo-echo planar magnetic resonance imaging sequence. The two lobes of the diffusion-sensitizing gradient were synchronized to the same point in successive cardiac cycles in order to fix the cardiac position and avoid bulk motion effects. The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of the interventricular septum in 12 healthy subjects for diffusion gradients along the x-, y-, and z-directions were 1.40 +/- 0.27, 1.48 +/- 0.35, and 1.78 +/- 0.27 x 10(-3) mm2/s. The ADCs of the interventricular septum in a second group of 15 healthy subjects for diffusion gradients along the short axis, horizontal and vertical long axes were 0.92 +/- 0.15, 1.50 +/- 0.15, and 1.10 +/- 0.24 x 10(-3) mm2/s. Because the ADCs were less than the measured values for skeletal muscle and their standard deviations were low, it seems unlikely that bulk motion effects made the dominant contribution to the measured myocardial ADC for the interventricular septum, although motion and/or susceptibility artifacts frequently degraded measurements in the free wall of the left ventricle. Additional evidence that ADC was not predominantly determined by wall motion was obtained in a third group of patients with various cardiac abnormalities, in whom there was only a weak correlation between ADC and ejection fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

[The in-vivo diffusion measurements of the liver, kidneys, spleen and m. erector with an echo-planar imaging system in normal subjects].

A diffusion sensitive pulse sequence using a stimulated echo (STEAM) type excitation and echo-planar (EPI) readout was developed on a 1.5 T echo-planar MR imaging system. Using this sequence the authors measured the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) of water in normal human liver, spleen, muscle and kidney in 12 volunteers. ADCs measured in normal volunteers were: liver, 1.39 +/- 0.16 x 10(-3) mm2/s, spleen, 0.95 +/- 0.15 x 10(-3) mm2/s, muscle, 1.99 +/- 0.16 x 10(-3) mm2/s, kidney, 3.54 +/- 0.47 x 10(-3) mm2/s. A large scatter of the ADCs in the kidneys was found in the different degrees of hydration status among the volunteers and also due to inter-subject variability. With further clinical experience, in vivo diffusion measurements of the abdominal organs may prove helpful in the identification and classification of abdominal disease by MRI.

Adult

Functional imaging of the kidney by means of measurement of the apparent diffusion coefficient.

PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three volunteers and seven pigs underwent diffusion-sensitive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the kidneys with a stimulated-echo acquisition mode excitation and echo-planar imaging readout under various physiologic conditions. The effect of hydration and anisotropic diffusion was studied in human subjects, and the effect of renal artery stenosis, ureteral obstruction, and diuresis was studied in the animal model. RESULTS: The renal ADC values of dehydrated subjects were substantially increased with rehydration. Diffusion was highest in the medulla, with a pronounced radial component in the renal collecting system. In the pig model, induced renal artery stenosis resulted in immediate decrease in renal ADC; the degree of change was related to the flow deficit. The ADC also decreased with ureteral obstruction, but diuresis had no meaningful effect. CONCLUSION: In vivo measurement of ADC has the potential for use as a noninvasive means to explore the functional status of the kidney.

Adult