AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Aug 2018
Comparative StudyComparative Study of MRI Biomarkers in the Substantia Nigra to Discriminate Idiopathic Parkinson Disease.
Several new MR imaging techniques have shown promising results in patients with Parkinson disease; however, the comparative diagnostic values of these measures at the individual level remain unclear. Our aim was to compare the diagnostic value of MR imaging biomarkers of substantia nigra damage for distinguishing patients with Parkinson disease from healthy volunteers. ⋯ The combination of neuromelanin signal and volume changes with fractional anisotropy measurements in the substantia nigra showed excellent diagnostic accuracy. Moreover, the high diagnostic accuracy of visual assessment of substantia nigra changes using dorsolateral hyperintensity analysis or neuromelanin-sensitive signal changes indicates that these techniques are promising for clinical practice.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Aug 2018
ReviewResting-State Functional MRI: Everything That Nonexperts Have Always Wanted to Know.
Resting-state fMRI was first described by Biswal et al in 1995 and has since then been widely used in both healthy subjects and patients with various neurologic, neurosurgical, and psychiatric disorders. As opposed to paradigm- or task-based functional MR imaging, resting-state fMRI does not require subjects to perform any specific task. ⋯ In this review article, we will briefly describe a few of these and highlight the advantages and limitations of each. This description is to facilitate the adoption and use of resting-state fMRI in the clinical setting, helping neuroradiologists become familiar with these techniques and applying them for the care of patients with neurologic and psychiatric diseases.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Aug 2018
Morphology-Specific Discrimination between MS White Matter Lesions and Benign White Matter Hyperintensities Using Ultra-High-Field MRI.
Recently published North American Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis guidelines call for derivation of a specific radiologic definition of MS WM lesions and mimics. The purpose of this study was to use SWI and magnetization-prepared FLAIR images for sensitive differentiation of MS from benign WM lesions using the morphologic characteristics of WM lesions. ⋯ Nonconfluent lesions of >3 mm with ≥1 central vein were the most sensitive and specific differentiators between patients with MS and control subjects.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Aug 2018
Noncontrast Head CT in Children: National Variation in Radiation Dose Indices in the United States.
Radiologists should manage the radiation dose for pediatric patients to maintain reasonable diagnostic confidence. We assessed the variation in estimated radiation dose indices for pediatric noncontrast head CT in the United States. ⋯ Considerable variation in the radiation dose index for pediatric head CT exists. Median dose indices and practice variations at pediatric facilities were both lower compared with other practice settings. Decreasing dose variability through proper management of CT parameters in pediatric populations using benchmarks generated by data from registries can potentially decrease population exposure to ionizing radiation.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Aug 2018
Prognostic Implications of Gadolinium Enhancement of Skull Base Chordomas.
Skull base chordomas often demonstrate variable MR imaging characteristics, and there has been limited prior research investigating the potential clinical relevance of this variability. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the prognostic implications of signal intensity on standard imaging techniques for the biologic behavior of skull base chordomas. ⋯ Enhancement of skull base chordomas is a risk factor for tumor progression/recurrence following surgical resection.