AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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Presurgical sensorimotor mapping with functional MR imaging is gaining acceptance in clinical practice; however, to our knowledge, its therapeutic efficacy has not been assessed in a sizable group of patients. Our goal was to identify how preoperative sensorimotor functional studies were used to guide the treatment of neuro-oncologic and epilepsy surgery patients. ⋯ Preoperative functional MR imaging is useful to clinicians at three key stages in the preoperative clinical management paradigm of a substantial percentage of patients who are being considered for resective tumor or epilepsy surgery.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Sep 1999
Investigation of apparent diffusion coefficient and diffusion tensor anisotrophy in acute and chronic multiple sclerosis lesions.
The various stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) are characterized by de- and remyelination as well as by inflammation. Diffusion MR imaging is sensitive to tissue water motion, which might correspond to these pathologic processes. Our purpose was to demonstrate differences in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and diffusion tensor anisotropy in acute and chronic MS plaques and in normal-appearing brain. ⋯ ADC and diffusion anisotropic scalars reflect biophysical changes in the underlying pathology of the demyelinating process.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Sep 1999
Comparative StudyComparison of transcranial color-coded duplex sonography and cranial CT measurements for determining third ventricle midline shift in space-occupying stroke.
Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) allows the noninvasive, easily reproducible measurement of midline dislocation (MLD) of the third ventricle in space-occupying stroke, even in critically ill patients. However, the method has been validated only in a small number of subjects. The aim of this study was to test the method under clinical conditions. ⋯ TCCS provides a noninvasive, easily reproducible and reliable method for monitoring MLD of the third ventricle in stroke patients. It is particularly suitable for critically ill patients who are not fit for transportation.
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The most common cause of spinal cord disease among patients with AIDS or those infected with HIV-1 is AIDS-associated myelopathy. The purpose of this study was to determine the MR characteristics of the spinal cord in this patient population and to correlate these findings with the clinical severity of myelopathy. ⋯ MR findings in the spinal cord are abnormal in the majority of patients with AIDS-associated myelopathy, typically showing spinal cord atrophy, with or without intrinsic cord signal abnormality. Patients with moderate to severe myelopathy have an increased frequency of spinal cord abnormalities, but a definite correlation between clinical severity of myelopathy and extent of MR abnormalities remains to be established.
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Despite ongoing clinical suspicion regarding the relationship between sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction and lower extremity symptoms, there is a paucity of scientific literature addressing this topic. The purpose of this study was to describe patterns of contrast extravasation during SIJ arthrography and postarthrography CT in patients with lower back pain and to determine whether there are pathways of communication between the SIJ and nearby neural structures. ⋯ Three pathways between the SIJ and neural structures exist.