Biomedical subjects

V M Runge

Publications and source records attributed to V M Runge.

130 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The bright pituitary gland--a normal MR appearance in infancy.

Signal intensities of the pituitary gland were measured on T1-weighted sagittal MR images of 25 patients younger than 20 years old. We found that the signal intensities in the eight patients who were 8 weeks old or younger were higher (shorter T1) than those in the 17 older patients. We also noted a difference in the signal intensities across the pituitary gland, the signal being higher in the posterior part of the gland than in the anterior part. We attribute the high signal intensities to the rapid intrauterine pituitary growth, so that at term pituitary protein synthetic activity is at a maximum. Possibly, an increase in the bound fraction of the water molecules of the gland may also be present in the neonatal pituitary as compared with the older gland, but this remains to be proved. The higher signal in the posterior pituitary gland may be due to lipid in the pituicyte cells of the posterior pituitary gland.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The clinical significance of hindbrain herniation and deformity as shown on MR images of patients with Chiari II malformation.

This study investigates whether the degree of brainstem herniation and the nature of the cervicomedullary deformity seen on sagittal plane MR images correlates with the clinical syndrome in patients with the Chiari II malformation. The amount of brainstem herniation was assessed by relating the position of the midbrain and pons to the sella turcica and the anterior lip of the foramen magnum, respectively. The cervicomedullary deformity was graded into degrees of increasing severity. We found that the neurologic status of these children was not affected by either the amount of herniation or the characteristics of the cervicomedullary deformities. Because of these findings, we believe that other factors, such as disorganization of the brainstem nuclei, may be the likely cause for the breathing and swallowing difficulties experienced by children with the Chiari II malformation.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Dyke Award. Evaluation of contrast-enhanced MR imaging in a brain-abscess model.

An alpha-streptococcus brain abscess was produced in five dogs and studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (0.5 T) and computed tomography (CT). Non-contrast- and contrast-enhanced CT scans were obtained using gadolinium diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (Gd DTPA) for MR imaging and meglumine iothalamate for CT scanning. Each animal was evaluated in the early and later cerebritis stages of abscess evolution. On MR, the area of cerebritis enhanced after administration of Gd DTPA in a manner similar to that observed with contrast-enhanced CT. However, contrast enhancement was greater on the MR examination. Early lesions in two animals were detected only with contrast-enhanced MR imaging. This experience suggests that intravenously administered agents such as Gd DTPA should increase the diagnostic potential of MR imaging in neurologic diseases, especially those altering the blood-brain barrier.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The mucopolysaccharidoses: characterization by cranial MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To characterize MR findings in mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), to aid in diagnosis and categorization, and to define the role of MR in preoperative evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six children with Hurler syndrome (MPS IH), five with Hunter syndrome (MPS II), and three with Sanfilippo A syndrome (MPS IIIA) were studied by routine T1-weighted and T2-weighted images at 1.5 T. MR findings were graded retrospectively. RESULTS: All had hallmark cribriform changes (sieve-like or multicystic) involving peri- and supraventricular, parietal, white matter (12), corpus callosum (8), and basal ganglia (4), which did not enhance. The cerebellum and brain stem were not involved with these cribriform changes. The most severe degree of cribriform changes occurred in children with Hunter and Hurler syndromes, correlating with non-central nervous system somatic involvement, but inversely related to degree of atrophy, ventricular enlargement, and white matter changes. Mental retardation was most severe in children with Hurler syndrome and correlated with chronicity of the disease. Severity of mental retardation did not correlate with severity of cribriform changes. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our observations, we postulate that in the natural course of MPS, cribriform changes occurred first, followed by white-matter changes and, last, atrophy. More severe degrees of cribriform changes plus involvement of the corpus callosum may suggest a poorer prognosis. Optimal therapeutic intervention may be at the time of cribriform changes before atrophy has occurred. MR can define and grade these changes.

Adolescent↗