Clinical imaging
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Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system that usually presents with acute myelitis and/or optic neuritis. Recently, some brain magnetic resonance imaging findings have been described in NMO that are important in the differential diagnosis. ⋯ Recognizing these lesions and enhancement patterns may expedite the diagnosis and allows early effective treatment. The purpose of this article is to review the latest knowledge and to share our experience with the contrast enhancement patterns of NMO brain lesions.
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development is a multifactorial process that is more prevalent among people ≥65years of age. Major risk factors are obesity, male sex, history of smoking (at least 100 cigarettes in a person's lifetime), and history of AAA in a first-degree relative. The United States Preventative Task Force has recommended a one-time ultrasound screening for men aged 65-75years. Based on studies, negative results on a single ultrasound examination around the age of 65years appear to virtually exclude the risk for future AAA rupture or death. While ultrasonography (US) is the confirmatory study of choice, computed tomography (CT) can also be used in the diagnosis of AAA. The goal of this study is to determine if AAA rupture can reliably be excluded in individuals with abdominal pain who have had a normal caliber aorta on CT or US after the age of 65years. ⋯ Based on these results, it appears that AAA and rupture may reliably be excluded in ED patients with abdominal pain who have previously had a normal caliber aorta on CT or US after the age of 65years. A prospective, multicenter study would help validate these findings.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of high-resolution T1W 3D GRE (LAVA) with 2-point Dixon fat/water separation (FLEX) to T1W fast spin echo (FSE) in prostate cancer (PCa).
To compare T1-weighted (T1W) fast spin echo (FSE) to T1W 3-dimensional gradient recalled echo (LAVA) with fat water separation (FLEX) in prostate cancer (PCa). ⋯ T1W LAVA FLEX improves image quality, lessens motion artifact, and is comparable or improves detection of metastases in PCa with reduction in acquisition time.
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To evaluate the potential of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging to predict histological prognostic parameters by investigating whether IVIM parameters correlate with Gleason score. ⋯ The pure molecular diffusion parameter, D, was the IVIM parameter that best discriminated prostate cancers with low Gleason scores from prostate cancers with intermediate or high Gleason scores.