European radiology
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We report diffusion-weighted (DW) MR findings for acute spinal cord ischemia in a 56-year-old patient. MR imaging obtained approximately 3 h after symptom onset demonstrated an area of hyperintensity on DW images, but no conspicuous signal abnormality on T2-weighted images in the conus medullaris. DW imaging of the spinal cord can contribute to the early detection of spinal cord vascular compromise.
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Clinical Trial
Parkes Weber or Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome? Non-invasive diagnosis with MR projection angiography.
Klippel-Trenaunay and Parkes Weber (Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber) syndromes consist of vascular malformations of the capillary, venous and lymphatic systems combined with soft tissue and bone hypertrophy of the affected extremity. Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a pure low-flow condition, while Parkes Weber syndrome is characterized by significant arteriovenous fistulas. The distinction of both entities is relevant, since the prognosis and therapeutic strategies differ significantly. ⋯ Therefore, the diagnosis in these cases could be specified as Parkes Weber syndrome. In all these cases, arteriovenous shunting was confirmed by intraarterial digital subtraction angiography. One patient showed normal results in MRPA and could be diagnosed as having Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome.
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The aim of this study is three folds: to compare the eight-channel phased-array and standard circularly polarized (CP) head coils in visualisation of the intracranial vessels, to compare the three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography (MRA) techniques, and to define the effects of parallel imaging in 3D TOF MRA. Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent 3D TOF MRA of the intracranial vessels using eight-channel phased-array and CP standard head coils. The following MRA techniques were obtained on each volunteer: (1) conventional 3D TOF MRA with magnetization transfer; (2) 3D TOF MRA with water excitation for background suppression; and (3) low-dose (0.5 ml) gadolinium-enhanced 3D TOF MRA with water excitation. ⋯ Low-dose contrast enhanced TOF MRA using an eight-channel phased-array head coil is superior in the evaluation of distal branches over the standard CP head coil. Parallel imaging with an acceleration factor of two allows an important time gain without a significant decrease in vessel evaluation. Water excitation allows better background suppression, especially around the orbits and at the periphery, when compared to conventional acquisitions.
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A single center's procedural and follow-up results of radiological chest port placement in pediatric oncology patients are presented. Between July 2002 and December 2003, 37 children (20 boys, 17 girls; age range, 4 months to 16 years; mean 6.7 years) underwent chest port placement. All patients received only one port through the internal jugular vein access, and all of the implantations were performed in the interventional radiology suite. ⋯ The peri-procedural complication rate was 0%. Chest ports in children can be inserted in interventional radiology suites under imaging guidance with high rates of technical success. The rates of infection and complications are comparable to that of surgically placed ports.