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Biomedical subjects

W Heindel

Publications and source records attributed to W Heindel.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Lactate imaging of the human brain at 1.5 T using a double-quantum filter.

The use of a double-quantum filtered 1H NMR spectroscopic imaging technique is described to detect the spatial distribution of lactate in the human brain. In two patients the feasibility of this technique is shown and compared with existing single-quantum spectroscopic imaging and single voxel techniques. Single-slice double-quantum filtered lactate images were obtained showing the lactate distribution over the entire slice in the brain. The lipid signal suppression was sufficient for the unambiguous detection of lactate. The signal loss of the lactate signal due to the incorporation of the double-quantum filter was 50-70% relative to the single-quantum signal.

Brain Diseases↗

Right proatlantal artery type I, right internal carotid occlusion, and left internal carotid stenosis: case report and review of the literature.

A 66-year-old man presented with right cerebellar infarction and ischemic lesions in the left dorsal thalamus and right upper parietal lobe. Angiography showed occlusion of the right internal carotid artery proximal to an ipsilateral proatlantal artery type I, 70% stenosis of the left internal carotid artery, and aplasia of both posterior communicating arteries. The carotid occlusion was successfully treated by thrombendarterectomy. Persistence of a proatlantal artery is a rare condition. In relation to the 38 literature reports on proatlantal arteries, this case demonstrates the clinical significance of a persistent proatlantal artery in the evolution of atypical ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Aged↗

In vivo imaging of glucose consumption and lactate concentration in human gliomas.

Twenty patients with histologically confirmed gliomas were studied with positron emission tomography (PET) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). PET with 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) provided tomograms of the metabolic rate of glucose. MRS images were obtained by combining volume-selective excitation with phase-encoded acquisition. With 32 x 32 gradient phase-encoding steps, an in-plane resolution of 7 x 7 mm was achieved. From this set of spectra, lactate maps were created and compared with PET maps of glucose metabolism. Maximum glucose metabolic rates within tumors (relative to metabolic rates of glucose in contralateral regions of the brain) were correlated significantly with maximum lactate concentrations (relative to N-acetyl aspartate peaks in the contralateral part of the brain). In 8 tumors, no lactate was detected, and in 7 of these the maximum glucose metabolic rate was below the median value. The tumor with the highest lactate concentration also had the highest glucose metabolic rate. The topographic relation between glucose metabolic rate and lactate concentration could be analyzed in 9 patients by three-dimensional alignment of the PET and MRS images. In that analysis, maximum lactate concentrations were often not found in the same location as maximum glucose metabolism, but lactate tended to accumulate in tumor cysts, necrotic areas, and the vicinity of the lateral ventricles. The combination of FDG PET and 1H-MRS imaging demonstrates details of the spatial relation between the two poles of nonoxidative glycolysis, glucose uptake and lactate deposition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Human brain tumors: spectral patterns detected with localized H-1 MR spectroscopy.

Image-guided localized proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy of intracranial tumors was performed to correlate spectral patterns and histologic findings. Thirty-six patients were examined prior to any specific treatment. Evaluation based on signal intensity ratios showed that all tumor spectra differed from spectra of healthy brain tissue. Ratios of creatine to choline-containing compounds (Cr/Cho) and nitrogen acetyl-aspartate to Cho (NAA/Cho) were reduced significantly in all tumor spectra compared with spectra of normal tissue in contralateral brain hemispheres (P less than .005). Noncerebral tumors typically showed a vanishing or missing NAA signal, strongly reduced Cr signal, and additional signals, assigned to alanine in meningiomas and lipids in metastases. In contrast, 11 gliomas of grades 2 and 3 exhibited NAA/Cho ratios and Cr/Cho ratios that were less than normal but that were significantly larger (P less than .01) than corresponding values in eight meningiomas. Ten glioblastomas displayed spectra with various signal ratios, so no significant differences between them and other tumor types could be established. In nine gliomas a clearly detectable lactate signal was present. However, no direct correlation between lactate level and histologic tumor grading was found.

Adult↗

Regional cerebral blood flow in patients with leuko-araiosis and atherosclerotic carotid artery disease.

The relation between white-matter lesions (WMLs), demonstrated with magnetic resonance imaging, and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), measured with dynamic positron emission tomography and [18F] fluoromethane, was investigated in 20 patients with atherosclerotic disease of the internal carotid artery. There was no correlation between the extent of small patchy WMLs and hemispheric CBF, but hemispheric CBF was significantly reduced in 5 patients with multiple large or confluent lesions. Distinct focal cortical CBF reductions were observed when large WMLs (greater than 5 mm) were located directly beneath the cortex, whereas large WMLs in deeper white matter were associated with a more diffuse decrease of cortical perfusion. There was no evidence of preferential CBF reduction in vascular border zones with increasing severity of WMLs or stenosis of the internal carotid artery. The side of previous transient ischemic symptoms correlated significantly with hemispheric CBF asymmetries, but not with asymmetries of WMLs and internal carotid artery stenosis. It can be concluded from these results that the presence of small patchy WMLs shown by magnetic resonance imaging cannot be used as evidence of impaired cerebral perfusion, while large lesions indicate clinically relevant cerebrovascular disease affecting cortical blood flow.

Adult↗

Subcortical abnormalities detected in bipolar affective disorder using magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and neuropsychological significance.

Magnetic resonance imaging was utilized to determine the nature and rate of subcortical abnormalities in bipolar affective disorder. Nine of 19 bipolar patients and no controls demonstrated subcortical signal hyperintensities on blind evaluation of the images. There was no apparent change in the appearance of the hyperintensities in 7 of 7 subjects with abnormal magnetic resonance images who underwent repeated imaging at 1 year. Bipolar patients with abnormalities had a history of more hospitalizations and appeared more impaired on tests of fluency and recall when compared with bipolar patients without abnormalities or with controls. The possible etiology and significance of signal hyperintensities in bipolar affective disorder is discussed.

Adult↗

[Localized 31P-NMR-spectroscopy using ISIS (image-selected in vivo spectroscopy) and surface coils: methodology and initial applications to studies of the liver, the transplanted kidney and the mediastinum].

A new method for image-guided localized phosphorus NMR spectroscopy of superficial tissues has been investigated using a 1.5 Tesla whole-body-MR-System. We used a surface coil combined with adiabatic excitation pulses and a modified ISIS sequence. This approach is related to imaging sequences and thus permits a flexible and accurate determination of the volume of interest from "conventional" proton images. The scope and advantages of the method are demonstrated by phantom studies. Clinical applications to the liver, renal transplants, and the mediastinum are described.

Humans↗

[Intracranial hemorrhages in the magnetic resonance tomogram. Studies on sensitivity, on the development of hematomas and on the determination of the cause of the hemorrhage].

One hundred and forty-six intracranial hematomas in 129 patients were examined by MRI (136 examinations) and CT (147 examinations). Even using a high field MR system (1.5 T) and gradient-echo sequences, CT was the more sensitive method during the acute phase (46% compared with 93%). During the sub-acute phase, MR was superior to CT (97% compared with 58%), as it was in the chronic phase (93% compared with 17%). Petechial bleedings and discreet foci of contusion could only be demonstrated by MRI. Moreover, MRI showed evidence of residues from hemorrhage (signal reduction due to hemosiderin deposition) long after CT has become normal. Analyses of MRI images allows one to date the bleed and to distinguish between a) the formation of clot in a haemorrhagic cavity, b) bleeding into the tissues and c) a liquefying hematoma. Bearing in mind this classification, the localisation of the hematoma and the clinical findings mostly allow it is possible to determine the cause of the bleeding. Another advantage is the certain detection of vessels supplying arterio-venous malformations and cavernous hemangiomas.

Adolescent↗

Metabolic imaging of patients with intracranial tumors: H-1 MR spectroscopic imaging and PET.

Hydrogen-1 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic images of patients with intracranial tumors were obtained. Metabolite maps of N-acetyl aspartate, choline, lactate, and creatine concentrations were reconstructed with a nominal spatial resolution of 7 mm and a section thickness of 25 mm. The metabolite maps showed variations in metabolite concentrations across the tumor. In one patient, it was observed that choline concentration was increased in one part of the tumor but decreased in another part. In another patient, the concentration of N-acetyl aspartate was extremely low in one part of the tumor but only slightly increased in another part of the tumor. Lactate was observed in all patients. In one patient, a combined measurement made with positron emission tomography (PET) and MR spectroscopic imaging was performed. This demonstrated that increased lactate concentration measured with H-1 MR spectroscopic imaging corresponded topographically with increased glucose uptake measured with fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxyglucose PET. Combined MR spectroscopic and PET measurements provide an opportunity to investigate, in greater detail than before, glucose uptake and catabolism by intracranial tumors.

Adult↗

Positron emission tomography of fluorine-18-deoxyglucose and image-guided phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy in brain tumors.

Positron emission tomography (PET) of 2(18F)-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and volume-selective phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) are methods used to assess the energy metabolism of the brain. Both methods were studied with respect to their contribution to differential diagnosis in 23 patients with various brain tumors. The various neuroectodermal tumors differed with respect to their metabolic rate for glucose (MRGL). Benign and malignant tumors could be better differentiated by using tumor metabolism relative to contralateral brain and by evaluating heterogeneities in tumors. Low-grade gliomas usually showed normal 31P-MR spectra; high-grade gliomas were characterized by reduced and often split phosphodiester peaks and alkaline pH. Meningiomas, which had variable MRGL, typically showed extremely low phosphocreatine levels, reduced phosphodiesters, and alkaline pH. We concluded that FDG-PET and 31P-MRS examine different aspects of tumor metabolism. Therefore, both can contribute independently and complementarily to the differential diagnosis of brain tumors.

Astrocytoma↗

[The importance of magnetic resonance tomography in the diagnosis of cerebral infections].

Amongst 1.345 MR examinations of the skull 49 patients were suspected of a cerebral infection. With a knowledge of the clinical situation, the abnormal findings were classified according to their localization, number, extent and distribution. The final diagnoses included meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and abscesses of varying etiology. CT was carried out in 29 patients; it was found that MRI was more sensitive and able to show the lesion at an earlier stage (sensitivity 90% compared with 66%). Observations of proton density and relaxation time combined with morphological criteria and clinical history reduced differential diagnoses. On the other hand, the changes due to intracranial infections lead to an inflammatory reaction that may be similar to the findings in degenerative or even tumorous cerebral lesions. This explains why twelve patients with abnormal MRI findings were erroneously diagnosed as having cerebral infections.

Brain↗

[Metabolic studies of gliomas with positron emission tomography and phosphorus 31 MR spectroscopy in diagnosis and treatment planning].

Glioma are often histologically heterogenous. As many of these tumors are not removable in toto, due to their localisation, the most malignant part of the tumor may be missed and information for optimum therapeutic management is incomplete. Furthermore, low grade gliomas tend to become more malignant in their development; additional surgical intervention is often not possible. Non-invasive measurement of tumor glucose metabolism with (F-18)-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) and positron-emission-tomography (PET) may be used to evaluate tumor malignancy. Malignant gliomas (astrocytoma III degree and glioblastoma) frequently showed increased peak metabolic rates (in comparison with normal white matter) and uncoupling of FDG transport and phosphorylation. Preliminary experiences with image-guided localized phosphorus-31 MR spectroscopy (P-31 MRS) demonstrated a decrease of phosphodiesters in malignant gliomas, whereas the phosphomonoesters showed an increase in several cases. The phosphocreatine peak was often reduced. A more active therapy of low grade gliomas might be indicated when signs of hypermetabolism in FDG-PET and alteration of energy-rich phosphates or membrane-phosphates in P-31 MRS are found.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

[Image-guided localized 31P NMR spectroscopy of the human brain at 1.5T].

Using a 1.5 Tesla whole body system, image-guided localized 31P NMR spectra of normal brain tissue and of various intracranial tumours have been obtained. The spectra of normal brain tissue were reproducible, although further studies are necessary to determine physiological variability. Compared with the normal spectrum, the spectra of tumours usually showed reduced intensity of the phosphocreatine peaks and increased intensity of the peaks of inorganic phosphate, of phosphodiesters and particularly phosphomonoesters. To our limited experience there has been no correlation between the spectra and tumour histology. In follow-up studies of brain tumours undergoing treatment by chemotherapy or radiotherapy 31P MR spectroscopy demonstrated metabolic changes at a time when 1H MR imaging did not show any changes in tumour size or structure. Further investigations have to be done in order to evaluate the usefulness of 31P MRS for detecting therapeutic response in follow-up studies.

Brain↗

Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging artifacts. Report of three cases.

Artifacts are occasionally encountered on magnetic resonance imaging after operation. These may be due to minute metallic particles from neurosurgical instruments. Particles not detectable on plain x-ray films or computerized tomography scans may cause local change of magnetic resonance activity, resulting in a deceptive magnetic resonance appearance. Three illustrative case reports are presented.

Adult↗