Journal of computer assisted tomography
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J Comput Assist Tomogr · Jul 2005
Comparative Study Clinical TrialEfficacy of contrast medium use for neuroimaging at 3.0 T: utility of IR-FSE compared to other T1-weighted pulse sequences.
As inversion-recovery (IR) technique improves T1 contrast at high field strength, signal enhancement by T1-shortening contrast media may be affected. To clarify the different enhancement properties at 3.0 T, the authors compared T1-weighted sequences. Twelve contrast-enhancing lesions were investigated by spin-echo (SE), inversion recovery fast spin-echo (IR-FSE), two-dimensional gradient-echo (2D GE), and magnetization-prepared three-dimensional gradient-echo (3D GE) sequences and evaluated by comparing signal-intensity enhancements within the lesions. ⋯ CNR of gray matter versus white matter was significantly higher for IR SE and GE imaging than for genuine SE and 2D GE acquisitions (Wilcoxon test), while 2D GE imaging alone had an excellent SNR. As IR-FSE images provide an excellent CNR for gray and white matter in the brain and contrast enhancement performs almost similarly well compared with SE imaging, this technique appears to be well suited for T1-weighted neuroimaging without and with contrast enhancement at 3.0 T. However, the inherent blurring of the IR-FSE can lead to poor performance for very small lesions.
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J Comput Assist Tomogr · May 2005
High-resolution computed tomography features of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia and usual interstitial pneumonia.
To assess the accuracy of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in the diagnosis of nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). We hypothesized that the computed tomography (CT) features of NSIP could be distinguished from those of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). ⋯ In contrast to previous reports, NSIP can be separated from UIP in most cases. The presence of honeycombing as a predominant imaging finding is highly specific for UIP and can be used to differentiate it from NSIP, particularly when the distribution is patchy and subpleural predominant. The presence of predominant ground-glass and reticular opacity is highly characteristic of NSIP, but there is a subset of patients with UIP who have this pattern and may require biopsy for differentiation from NSIP.
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J Comput Assist Tomogr · Mar 2005
Comparative StudyCharacterization of hepatocellular tumors: value of mangafodipir-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
To assess the value of mangafodipir trisodium-enhanced MR imaging for characterization of hepatocellular lesions. ⋯ Administration of mangafodipir improves the differentiation between adenoma or HCC and "nonsurgical" lesions (FNH or regenerative nodules). The accuracy for arriving at a specific diagnosis is higher when unenhanced and mangafodipir-enhanced images are considered together than for unenhanced MR images alone.
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J Comput Assist Tomogr · Mar 2005
Sulcal hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis: iodinated contrast media as its possible cause and the association with hemorrhagic transformation.
To investigate the effect of iodinated contrast medium on sulcal hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging immediately after intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke and to determine whether it may be associated with subsequent hemorrhagic transformation (HT). ⋯ In acute ischemic patients treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis, sulcal hyperintensity on FLAIR imaging may be caused by iodinated contrast medium, which should not be considered SAH. Sulcal hyperintensity is significantly associated with subsequent HT.
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To evaluate, in the spine, the relationship between the amount of epidural fat to body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), presence of obesity, depth of posterior subcutaneous fat, as well as gender and age. ⋯ Weight but not body habitus is associated with specific, usually posterior, patterns of epidural fat deposition. Overall obesity is unrelated to epidural fat.