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Inverse correlation between choline magnetic resonance spectroscopy signal intensity and the apparent diffusion coefficient in human glioma.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of human intracranial glioma were studied. Present knowledge suggests a hypothetical inverse relationship between the characteristic choline signal intensity elevation and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in glioma. Twenty cases of glioma were examined with diffusion-weighted echoplanar imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI). A statistically significant inverse correlation between the choline signal intensity and the ADC was found (P = 0.0004) in radiologically defined tumor-containing regions. This study is the first in which diffusion MRI and 1H-MRSI were used to evaluate human intracranial glioma jointly. It provides insight into how to interpret choline signal intensity elevation in terms of tumor cellularity and proliferative potential when ADC images are also available.

Adult↗

[A girl presenting clinical course and neuroimagings on MRI compatible with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease].

A 5-year-old girl who showed congenital nystagmus and mental and motor developmental delay, is described. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) revealed wave I at normal latency, but all of the following waves were absent. In T2-weighted images, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated diffuse high intensity area of cerebral white matter, suggesting extensive dysmyelination or demyelination. She has not shown any deterioration through her clinical course. Subsequent MRI examinations did not demonstrate a progressive disorder. These findings suggest the possibility of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher (P-M) disease in this patient, which is a rare form of sudanophilic leukodystrophy, transmitted by an X-linked recessive mutant gene. It is reported that the proteolipid protein, one of the major proteins of myelin, was absent in classical type P-M disease, resulting in dysmyelination. Because chromosomal study showed the normal female karyotype and no family history of a similar disease was found in this case, it might be different from classical P-M disease. Since P-M disease may be heterogeneous, more detailed chromosomal analysis in each case of congenital hypomyelination will give a clue to clarify the pathogenesis of P-M disease and other disorders showing failure in myelination.

Child, Preschool↗

[A lesion diagnosed by MRI in a case of transient global amnesia].

Transient global amnesia(TGA) had been recognized as a disease without abnormal findings on neuroimaging before magnetic resonance(MRI) imaging was practicable. Recently, abnormal findings on MRI reported in cases of TGA. We here reported a case of TGA showing a transient abnormal intensity in left hippocampus on MRI diffusion-weighted image. A 52-year-old man suddenly became to unable to keep his recent memory without histories of trauma or epilepsy. He showed no abnormal neurologic findings excepting for the recent memory. MRI performed within an hour after onset demonstrated no abnormality on T1- and T2-weighted images. Diffusion-weighted image (b = 1,000) showed hyperintensity in the left medial temporal lobe, and the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) in this region was lower(72.8 cm2/s) than that in the contralateral region(94.4 cm2/s). TGA was completely resolved 17 hours after onset.

Amnesia↗

Prospects for progress in diagnostic imaging.

New fast-imaging MRI systems designed specifically for cardiac magnetic resonance enable new applications of noninvasive vascular imaging. The use of functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging to map brain function and structure offers a new dimension to an understanding of the human condition. Clinical applications of functional MRI will influence many specialties including surgery, education, and rehabilitation. Functional imaging has the potential to visualize the regional concentration of specific proteins. This imaging at the level of molecules may be possible by use of a contrast material whose signal is changed by local enzymatic activity. The three-dimensional digital data collected in modern imaging techniques allow for virtual endoscopy in the respiratory, alimentary, and cardiovascular systems. Virtual endoscopy may replace many of the more invasive diagnostic methods in the near future. The measurement of clinical decision-making through observer performance studies better informs both the physician and the patient on how to improve upon the quality of clinical practice. These prospects for progress reinforce diagnostic imaging as a cornerstone in medical informatics. The history of creating images used in medicine reveals the invention of diagnostic tools which may provide new information but premature use can result in improper application of a poorly understood technology. Research into the use of new technology may be as important as the technology itself in improving the human condition.

Diagnostic Imaging↗

Flow-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks involving the skull base are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, and often present a diagnostic challenge. Current diagnostic methods are invasive and cumbersome and involve substantial radiation exposure of the patient. The authors identified seven patients with clinically suspected CSF leaks and evaluated them with a flow-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence in addition to more conventional studies. In cases with active CSF leakage, flow characteristics were documented with slow-flow and diffusion-weighted MRI. Unlike current approaches, MRI offers the advantages of rapidity, non-invasiveness, and absence of ionizing radiation. Preliminary results suggest that flow-sensitive MRI may have a role in the evaluation of CSF leaks involving the skull base and temporal bone.

Adult↗

Intravascular lymphoma: magnetic resonance imaging correlates of disease dynamics within the central nervous system.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with relative predilection for the central nervous system. In the absence of extraneural manifestations, the disease is not recognised until autopsy in the majority of cases underlining the need for new clinical markers. METHODS: This is a retrospective series of five patients with IVL seen at a single institution over three years. An advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol was performed at various time points prior to diagnosis and during treatment. RESULTS: MRI revealed multiple lesions scattered throughout the cerebral hemispheres; the brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord were less frequently involved. On initial presentation, hyperintense lesions were seen on diffusion weighted images suggestive of ischaemia in three of four patients in whom the images were obtained at that time point. In four patients lesions were also identifiable as hyperintense areas on fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences. Initial contrast enhancement was encountered in three cases. Diffusion weighted imaging lesions either vanished or followed the typical pattern of an ischaemic small vessel stroke with evolution of abnormal FLAIR signal followed by enhancement with gadolinium in the subacute stage and tissue loss in the chronic stage. Diffusion weighted imaging and FLAIR abnormalities proved to be partially reversible, correlating with the response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: We provide the first detailed description of the dynamic pattern of diffusion weighted MRI in IVL. These patterns in combination with systemic findings may facilitate early diagnosis and serve as a new tool to monitor treatment response.

Adult↗

Monitoring response to convection-enhanced taxol delivery in brain tumor patients using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.

Convection-enhanced drug delivery (CEDD) is a novel approach to enhance the delivery of drugs directly into brain tumors. We have used diffusion-weighted MRI (DWMRI) to monitor the effects of intratumoral CEDD in three brain tumor patients treated with Taxol. Clear changes in the images and the water diffusion parameters were observed shortly after the initiation of treatment. Initially, a bright area corresponding to decreased diffusion appeared, followed by the appearance of a dark area of increased diffusion within the bright area. The time to appearance of the dark area varied among the patients, suggesting different response rates. In this work, we have demonstrated the feasibility of using DWMRI as a noninvasive tool to achieve unique early tissue characterization not attainable by other conventional imaging methods.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

[Steroid-responsive diffuse cerebral white matter lesions in a case of intractable fungal meningoencephalitis].

We report a case of fungal meningoencephalitis with steroid-responsive diffuse cerebral white matter lesions. A 49-year-old male developed auditory hallucination, confusion and fever, on April, 1994. He was diagnosed as having cryptococcal meningoencephalitis based on the detection of cryptococcal antigens in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Intravenous administration of fluconazole resulted in improvement of his neurologic symptoms and CSF findings. For the next seven months, he was treated with oral fluconazole and the neurological status was stable. However, soon after the dose of fluconazole was tapered, he became confused and febrile, which made him admitted to our hospital. Neurological examination on admission showed disturbance of consciousness, disorientation and meningeal irritation. The CSF examination revealed mild pleocytosis (mostly lymphocytes), elevated protein and normal glucose levels, although fungus was not detected. The T2-weighted image of brain MRI demonstrated diffuse hyperintense lesions in the bilateral cerebral white matters. GD-DTPA enhanced MRI showed spotty enhanced lesions in the periventricular white matters. The neurologic symptoms were once relieved after intravenous administration of fluconazole was started, but two months later, he became comatose and needed ventilatory support, despite amphotericine B therapy. Then, a needle brain biopsy targeting the white matter lesion was done. Histopathology of the specimen showed chronic inflammation with granuloma formation and T lymphycyte infiltrate around the small vessels, though fungus was not detected in the tissue. Combined therapy with corticosteroid and antifungal agents remarkably improved the neurological symptoms as well as the MRI findings. In the present case, fungal infection possibly induced an altered immune reactions which resulted in the steroid responsive diffuse cerebral white matter lesions.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

A case of lymphomatoid granulomatosis/angiocentric immunoproliferative lesion with long clinical course and diffuse brain involvement.

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG)/angiocentric immunoproliferative lesions (AIL) consist of angiocentric and angiodestructive lymphoreticular proliferation predominantly involving the lungs and other extranodal sites, such as the central nervous system (CNS). This clinical entity is considered as a B cell process related to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and EBV positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The CNS is involved in 20% of cases of LYG, but initial involvement is rare. In cases without pulmonary symptoms, diagnosis may be difficult. We report a rare case involving initial progression of CNS symptoms followed by a pulmonary abnormality.A 14-year-old girl suffered from high fever, ataxic gait and paraparesis. MRI revealed diffuse T2 high signals with multiple gadolinium enhancements in the cerebellum, brain stem and cerebral white matter. Her symptoms briefly improved after steroid therapy, but ataxia gradually progressed. Dyspnea due to pulmonary interstitial involvement appeared when she was 18 years old. Steroid therapy proved effective for respiratory symptoms. At 20 years old she suffered from disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) and hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) with respiratory symptoms and repeated seizures. Her symptoms improved after the administration of cyclophosphamide. Mild hemiparesis and gait disturbance appeared when she was 22 years old. MRI revealed new lesions at the basal ganglia and subcortical white matter, brain atrophy and diffuse T2 high intensity of cerebral white matter. Cyclophosphamide was effective and there has been no recurrence of symptoms in the last 5 years. We reviewed the non-tumorous LYG/AIL involving the CNS, and discussed the clinical features, MRI imaging and diagnosis of the LYG/AIL.

Adolescent↗

Failure to demonstrate peri-infarct depolarizations by repetitive MR diffusion imaging in acute human stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Peri-infarct depolarizations (PIDs) have been demonstrated with diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) in experimental stroke and are regarded as an important mechanism of ischemic injury. We tested the hypothesis that PIDs are of relevance for the early enlargement of human brain infarcts. METHODS: Ten stroke patients were investigated by repetitive imaging of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the acute phase (7 patients) or subacute phase (3 patients) of developing cortical infarction. In each patient, 20 ADC maps were obtained from serially measured echo-planar DWI (interval of 45 seconds). Data analysis focused on the potential spatial and temporal ADC changes, including structured qualitative analysis, calculation of subtraction images, serial analysis of regions of interest positioned in the infarct core and border, and calculation of hemispheric lesion areas, depending on various ADC thresholds ranging between 0 and 800 microm(2)/s. RESULTS: Data analysis was unable to disclose any time-dependent changes in ADC that would resemble PID. In ischemic regions, the ADC reduction significantly progressed from the infarct border (555+/-96 microm(2)/s) to the infarct core (431+/-104 microm(2)/s, P:<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: By using an MRI protocol with high temporal resolution and elaborated postprocessing, we were unable to demonstrate a pattern of diffusion changes that would be indicative of PID in human stroke. Experimental infarction and human stroke may differ in the detectability of PID.

Acute Disease↗

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging in 12 cases.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a potentially devastating neurologic syndrome, but timely treatment may lead to complete reversal of the disease course. We reviewed 12 cases of PRES and describe the clinical history and imaging findings, including conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and calculated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, used to establish the diagnosis of PRES. Three male and nine female patients aged between 11 and 70 years (mean, 37 years) with clinical and imaging findings consistent with PRES were enrolled in the study. All patients had undergone conventional MRI and 10 had undergone additional DWI studies. Ten patients had follow-up MRI studies. DWI was performed using a 1.5T system with a single-shot spin-echo echoplanar pulse sequence. Initial and follow-up neuroimaging and clinical history were reviewed. Lesions were almost always present over the posterior circulation, mainly the parieto-occipital region, affecting primarily the white matter. The anterior circulation region, brainstem, cerebellum, deep cerebral white matter, and thalamus were also involved in five cases. Conventional MRI revealed hyperintensity on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. DWI showed isointensity and increased signal intensity on ADC values in all cases, indicating vasogenic edema. Clinical and MRI follow-up showed that the symptoms and radiologic abnormalities could be reversed after appropriate treatment of the causes of PRES in most patients (9 of 10). In one patient, the ADC value was lower on follow-up images, indicating cytotoxic edema with ischemic infarct. DWI was a useful complement to MRI in the diagnosis of PRES.

Adolescent↗

Regional ischemia and ischemic injury in patients with acute middle cerebral artery stroke as defined by early diffusion-weighted and perfusion-weighted MRI.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to map early regional ischemia and infarction in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke and compare them with final infarct size using advanced MRI techniques. MRI can now delineate very early infarction by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and abnormal tissue perfusion by perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI). METHODS: Seventeen patients seen within 12 hours of onset of MCA stroke had MR angiography, standard MRI, and PWI and DWI MRI. PWI maps were generated by analysis of the passage of intravenous contrast bolus through the brain. Cerebral blood volume (CBV) was determined after quantitative analysis of PWI data. Volumes of the initial DWI and PWI lesion were calculated and compared with a final infarct volume from a follow-up imaging study (CT scan or MRI). RESULTS: Group 1 (10 patients) had MCA stem (M1) occlusion by MR angiography. DWI lesion volumes were smaller than the volumes of CBV abnormality. In 7 patients the final stroke volume was larger or the same, and in 3 it was smaller than the initial CBV lesion. Group 2 (7 patients) had an open M1 on MR angiography with distal MCA stroke. In 6 group 2 patients, the initial DWI lesion matched the initial CBV abnormality and the final infarct. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with M1 occlusion showed progression of infarction into the region of abnormal perfusion. In contrast, patients with open M1 had strokes consistent with distal branch occlusion and had maximal extent of injury on DWI at initial presentation. Application of these MRI techniques should improve definition of different acute stroke syndromes and facilitate clinical decision making.

Acute Disease↗

Diffusion tensor imaging and axonal tracking in the human brainstem.

Diffusion tensor MRI was used to demonstrate in vivo anatomical mapping of brainstem axonal connections. It was possible to identify the corticospinal tract (CST), medial lemniscus, and the superior, medial, and inferior cerebellar peduncles. In addition, the cerebral peduncle could be subparcellated into component tracts, namely, the frontopontine tract, the CST, and the temporo-/parieto-/occipitopontine tract. Anatomical landmarks and tracking thresholds were established for each fiber and, using these standards, reproducibility of automated tracking as assessed by intra- and interrater reliability was found to be high (kappa > 0.82). Reconstructed fibers corresponded well to existing anatomical knowledge, validating the tracking. Information on the location of individual tracts was coregistered with quantitative MRI maps to automatically measure MRI parameters on a tract-by-tract basis. The results reveal that each tract has a unique spatial signature in terms of water relaxation and diffusion anisotropy.

Adult↗

A magnetic resonance abnormality correlating with permeability of the blood-brain barrier in a child with chemical meningitis during central nervous system prophylaxis for acute leukemia.

Chemical meningitis developed in a boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed pleocytosis and a high protein level. There were no malignant cytological findings. Calculated permeability of albumin across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was more elevated than that of immunoglobulin or alfa2-macroglobulin. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed diffuse pachymeningeal enhancement without any intracerebral lesion. Subsequent CNS prophylaxis was postponed. CSF findings and BBB permeability returned to normal, correlating well with the decrease of MRI abnormality.

Albumins↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of the submandibular-sublingual complex.

The submandibular-sublingual complex (SSC) was studied in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 4.7 and 7.05 Tesla in rat and mouse. A correlation was found between histology and MRI signal. The mainly mucous sublingual gland emitted a more intense signal than the mainly serous submandibular gland. Ventral to the glands, cutis, subcutaneous adipose tissue and two planes of muscular tissue separated by connective laminae were visible in vivo. Autopsy and histology confirmed the in vivo description provided by MRI. The reactivity of the salivary system after pharmacological stimulation was studied in mice at 7.05 Tesla. Stimulation of salivary secretion by pilocarpine nitrate injected in the subcutaneous space ventrally to the SSC resulted in an augmentation of the salivary liquid visible in the oral cavity by MRI. The diffusion of pilocarpine nitrate in the connective tissue located ventrally the SSC and in the glandular parenchyma was also followed in vivo. These results show that MRI is a potentially useful tool for studying the salivary glands in vivo.

Animals↗

[Rapidly progressing dementia as the presenting symptom of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia: findings from magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in Bing Neel syndrome].

CASE REPORT: A 68 year old male with no relevant clinical history was admitted to hospital because of symptoms of cognitive impairment (attentional deficit, short term memory disorders and behavioural disorders), accompanied by apraxia of gait and rectal and urinary incontinence. Results of a general clinical exploration were normal. In the MRI study of the brain numerous areas of hypersignal were observed in different arterial territories, which stood out in the T2, FLAIR and, above all, in diffusion weighted sequences. Analytical studies showed hypergammaglobulinemia with monoclonal IgM k and a bone marrow biopsy revealed infiltration by plasmatic cells. Bing Neel syndrome was diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: We underline this exceptional form of presentation of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and highlight the findings of diffusion weighted MRI, which suggested multiple infarcts for which a neoplastic vascular obstruction mechanism similar to that involved in malignant angioendotheliomatosis is posited.

Aged↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of herpes simplex encephalitis.

Eight brain magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) and one spinal MRI of 7 small infants and children with herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) were retrospectively studied. Hypointense and hyperintense areas of gray and white matters on T1- and T2- weighted images, respectively, were commonly present, with temporal lobes being the most common lesion sites. Hemorrhagic lesions were found in 4 patients (57%). Early involvement of the white matter, as early as day 4, was a common MRI finding in these patients. One patient had relapsed encephalomyelitis, whose spinal MRI showed diffuse hyperintense T2 signals from the lumbar spinal cord to the conus medullaris. All patients but one survived with major neurological sequelae. Our results indicate that MRI is a sensitive diagnostic modality in cases of HSE, and early involvement of white matter is not an uncommon MRI finding of HSE. Spinal MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of relapsed herpes encephalomyelitis.

Brain↗

Effects of restricted diffusion on MR signal formation.

Numerous functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion MR studies have recently boosted interest in the theory of MR signal formation in biological systems in the presence of mesoscopic magnetic field in homogeneities. Herein we report an exact solution to the problem of free induction decay (FID) and spin echo (SE) signal formation in the presence of a constant field gradient in three models of one-, two-, and three-dimensional restricted diffusion. We demonstrate the transition with increasing diffusion coefficient from the oscillating FID signal behavior in the static dephasing regime to a monotonic exponential behavior in the motional narrowing regime. Quantitative criteria are presented for applicability of the Gaussian approximation for the description of the MR signal. The spatial distribution of signal density and the edge enhancement effect are analyzed. We also demonstrate that the presence of restrictive barriers in a one-compartment model can lead to a quasi-two-compartment behavior of the MR signal. This result suggests a simple rationale for the experimental findings of biexponential echo attenuation curves in MR diffusion experiments with tissue systems.

Diffusion↗