Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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Clinical Trial
Early changes in brain FDG metabolism during anticancer therapy in patients with pharyngeal cancer.
The current study aimed to evaluate whether therapy-related changes occurred in brain metabolism at an earlier stage during the course of anticancer therapy. ⋯ The current study revealed that unappreciable changes in brain metabolism can occur during the early course of anticancer therapy, and persist even after therapy has terminated. Although the exact mechanism remains unclear, these changes may be related to the systemic effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy as well as subclinical cancer-related depressive or adjustment mood disorder.
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Over the last two decades (123) I-FP-CIT-SPECT, has been used to discriminate neurodegenerative Parkinsonian syndrome from other diseases. BasGan is a freely available software that assists (123) I-FP-CIT-SPECT evaluation by estimating semiquantitative values for each basal nucleus and compares the results to a database of healthy subjects. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess the accuracy of qualitative analysis and of semiquantitative, BasGan-assisted evaluations of (123) I-FP-CIT-SPECT; (2) to compare the accuracy of both methods when applied to "doubtful" cases; (3) to appreciate the reproducibility of the BasGan-assisted evaluations. ⋯ BasGan-assisted evaluations of (123) I-FP-CIT-SPECT were very useful, particularly in "doubtful" cases. Multicenter studies are mandatory before routine use of BasGan.
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Comparative Study
Optic nerve and its arterial-venous vascularization: an ultrasonologic study in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls.
Recent studies suggest that alterations in the cerebrospinal venous system may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) and that chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency correlates with clinical features of MS patients. ⋯ We found no significant alteration in the arterial-venous vascularization of both affected and unaffected ONr compared with HC. We demonstrated the possibility to detect ONr atrophy in MS patients.
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The diagnosis of Chiari malformation type I (CMI) relies on MRI identification of a tonsillar descent (TD) through the foramen magnum, reflecting the overcrowding of an underdeveloped posterior cranial fossa (PCF). However, TD occurs in some patients with normal-sized PCF and, conversely, some patients with borderline or no TD have small PCF. We thus sought to identify a set of prototypic PCF measures for the diagnosis of CMI. ⋯ The addition of simple morphometric measurements in the diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected CMI may facilitate radiological diagnosis. Moreover, identification of the subset of CMI that arise from basichondrocranium underdevelopment is important for both, selection of the most appropriate therapeutic approach as well as proper CMI categorization in research studies.
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Distinguishing BNCT from chordoma with imaging is critical because of the profound differences in prognosis and management. Yet few reports define the variable imaging characteristics of BNCT. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of BNCT. ⋯ Many notochordal lesions do not fit neatly into the diagnostic criteria for either EP or chordoma. It may be useful to consider these atypical cases along a spectrum of notochord remnant lesions. Close inspection of imaging reveals BNCTs at a similar frequency to its pathologic prevalence. BNCTs such as EP vary in size and may be easily overlooked.