Neuroimaging clinics of North America
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 1999
Transcranial Doppler imaging in pediatric abnormalities in older children.
Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is a noninvasive diagnostic ultrasound study which uses a 2 megahertz pulsed Doppler transducer to measure the velocity and pulsatility of blood flow within the major intracranial arteries. It has proved to be extremely useful as a screening test or to help confirm the diagnosis of several clinical conditions in infants and children. Some of the proved indications for TCD is for evaluating cerebrovascular occlusive disease especially in screening children with sickle cell disease, hydrocephalus, asphyxia and cerebral edema, confirming brain death, arteriovenous malformations, and vasoplasm. TCD technique, indications, and common pathological findings are emphasized.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Nov 1998
ReviewProton MR spectroscopy in inflammatory and infectious brain disorders.
This article reviews the proton MR spectroscopy literature regarding brain infarction and inflammatory diseases. We examine the salient findings reported for bacterial abscesses, intracranial tuberculomas, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, herpes simplex encephalitis and HIV. These processes demonstrate specific metabolic profiles which may be useful in differential diagnosis. The results reported in the literature support the view that MR spectroscopy can be employed in longitudinal studies to monitor the response to therapy and therefore may lead to individual optimized treatment effectiveness.
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Primary central nervous system tumors are the most common solid tumors in children. Their overall frequency is second only to that of leukemia. Many brain tumors in children are relatively benign and can be successfully treated with surgery or radiation therapy, but progress in treating the malignant forms of these neoplasms lags behind that for leukemias and other solid tumors. This article discusses how MR spectroscopy is used to manage the individualized treatment of children with brain tumors.
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Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Aug 1998
ReviewUnique CT imaging advantages. Hemorrhage and calcification.
Computed tomography remains the imaging modality of choice in the detection of two processes: acute intracranial hemorrhage and calcification; however, in the subacute and chronic stages of hemorrhage, MR imaging is more sensitive in aging and staging hemorrhage. FLAIR imaging increases the sensitivity of MR imaging in the detection of subarachnoid hemorrhage. ⋯ CT is superior to MR imaging in the detection of calcification. A number of factors including slice thickness, as well as window width and level may affect the detectability of calcification on CT.
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The diagnostic evaluation of a brain arteriovenous malformation requires a thorough understanding of the imaging features seen on CT, MR, and conventional angiography. Therapeutic planning requires a comprehensive understanding of the angioarchitecture of AVMs, necessitation selective and superselective angiography in order to give an accurate assessment of the lesion. ⋯ AVM treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes interventional neuroradiology, radiosurgery, and neurosurgery. The considerations and philosophies of each discipline will discussed in order to provide the perspective required for the comprehensive treatment of AVMs.