Neuroimaging clinics of North America
-
Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · May 2012
ReviewVascular disorders: insights from arterial spin labeling.
The introduction of high-field magnetic imaging (≥3 T) has made noninvasive arterial spin labeling (ASL) a realistic clinical option for perfusion assessment in vascular disorders. Combined with the advances provided by territorial imaging of individual intracerebral arteries and the measurement of vascular reactivity, ASL is a powerful tool for evaluating vascular diseases of the brain. This article evaluates its use in chronic cerebrovascular disease, stroke, moyamoya disease, and arteriovenous malformation, but ASL may also find applications in related diseases such as vascular dementia.
-
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). MS has been subject to high-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging research to a great extent during the past years, and much data has been collected that might be helpful in the investigation of other inflammatory CNS disorders. This article reviews the value of high-field MR imaging in examining inflammatory MS abnormalities. Furthermore, possibilities and challenges for the future of high-field MR imaging in MS are discussed.
-
Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · May 2012
ReviewUltrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging: the clinical potential for anatomy, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment planning in neck and spine disease.
An increase of the magnetic field strength to ultrahigh-field yields advantageous as well as disadvantageous changes in physical effects. The beneficial increase in signal/noise ratio can be leveraged into higher spatiotemporal resolution, and an exacerbation of artifacts can impede ultrahigh-field imaging. With the successful introduction of intracranial and musculoskeletal imaging at 7 T, recent advances in coil design have created opportunities for further applications of ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in other parts of the body. Initial studies in 7 T neck and spine MR imaging have revealed promising insights and new challenges, demanding further research and methodological optimization.
-
Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · May 2012
ReviewDiffusion tensor and perfusion imaging of brain tumors in high-field MR imaging.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) are essential tools for diagnosing, differentiating, and monitoring brain tumors. High-field MRI provides higher signal-to-noise ratio, shorter scan time, and better image quality. ⋯ PWI provides reliable biomarkers for glioma grading, therapeutic responses, and differential diagnosis of various brain tumors. With higher field strength, better-quality DTI and PWI can raise the diagnostic accuracy in brain tumors.
-
Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · May 2012
ReviewCurrent state-of-the-art 1.5 T and 3 T extracranial carotid contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography.
Recent advances in magnetic resonance (MR) hardware and software have improved the resolution and spatial coverage of head and neck first-pass contrast-enhanced (CE) MR angiography. Despite these improvements, high-quality submillimeter-resolution 1.5 T and 3 T carotid CE MR angiography is not consistently available in the general radiology practice. This article reviews the important imaging parameters and potential pitfalls that affect carotid CE MR angiography image quality, and the dose and timing of the gadolinium-based contrast agent, and summarizes vendor-specific protocols for high-quality submillimeter-resolution carotid CE MR angiography at 1.5 and 3 T.