Neuroradiology
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Blood-brain barrier breakdown (BBBB) occurs in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Relative recirculation (rR), a BBBB surrogate, may show inflammation undetectable by gadolinium. We compared normal appearing white matter (NAWM) rR in patients with and without disability measured with Symbol Digit Modalities Test and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). ⋯ rR elevation in NAWM, NAGM, and basal ganglia appears sensitive to cognitive impairment but not EDSS.
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We aimed to identify non-invasive imaging parameters that can serve as biomarkers for the integrity of the spinal cord, which is paramount to neurological function. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices are sensitive to axonal and myelin damage, and have strong potential to serve as such biomarkers. However, averaging DTI indices over large regions of interest (ROIs), a common approach to analyzing the images of injured spinal cord, leads to loss of subject-specific information. We investigated if DTI-tractography-driven, subject-specific demarcation approach can yield measures that are more specific to impairment. ⋯ DTI tractography-driven, subject-specific injury demarcation approach provided measures that were more specific to impairment. Notably, DTI indices obtained from the IRRI region showed the highest specificity to impairment, demonstrating their strong potential as biomarkers for the SCI severity.
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Familial cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) patients present with multiple lesions that can grow both in number and size over time and are reliably detected on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Manual counting of lesions is arduous and subject to high variability. We aimed to develop an automated algorithm for counting CCM microbleeds (lesions <5 mm in diameter) on SWI images. ⋯ The automated algorithm is a consistent method for counting microbleeds in familial CCM patients that can facilitate lesion quantification and tracking.
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The aim of this study is to study the age, gender and lateral asymmetry-related white matter changes of long association tracts throughout late childhood and adolescence into adulthood using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). ⋯ Significant microstructural tract-specific maturation processes continue throughout late childhood into adulthood. These processes may represent stages in a cascade of age-related maturation in white matter microstructure.
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This paper aims to evaluate a new iterative metal artifact reduction algorithm for post-interventional evaluation of brain tissue and intracranial arteries. ⋯ The new iterative metal artifact reduction algorithm enhances non-enhanced CT image quality after clipping or coiling, but in CT-angiography images, the contrast of adjacent vessels can be compromised.