Neuroimaging clinics of North America
-
Several neuropathologic and imaging studies have consistently confirmed that multiple sclerosis affects both white (WM) and gray matter (GM) and that GM damage plays a key role in disability progression. However, differently from WM damage, the less inflammatory cell infiltration, the absence of significant blood-brain barrier damage, the low myelin density in upper cortical layers, as well as technical constraints, make the GM damage almost undetectable by means of conventional MR imaging.
-
Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · May 2017
ReviewPediatric Multiple Sclerosis: Distinguishing Clinical and MR Imaging Features.
This article presents an overview of evolving diagnostic criteria of pediatric multiple sclerosis and related disorders, emphasizing distinguishing clinical and neuroimaging features that should be considered for differential diagnosis in childhood and adolescence. New data on the integrity of brain tissue in children with MS provided by advanced MR imaging techniques are addressed as well.
-
The breadth of tumors that can arise in the supratentorial brain in children is extensive. With the exception of those that result in seizures and the highly malignant histologies, supratentorial tumors may come to medical attention later compared with infratentorial tumors, as they are less commonly associated with ventricular obstruction. This article presents an overview of the neuroimaging characteristics of these entities, with particular attention to relevant features that may aid in narrowing the differential diagnosis, including correlation with demographics and clinical presentation.
-
Pediatric brain tumors are the leading cause of death from solid tumors in childhood. The most common posterior fossa tumors in children are medulloblastoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma, ependymoma, and brainstem glioma. ⋯ Moreover, information obtained from advanced MR imaging techniques increase diagnostic confidence and help distinguish between different histologic tumor types. Here we discuss the most common posterior fossa tumors in children, including typical imaging findings on CT, cMR imaging, and advanced MR imaging studies.
-
Neuroimaging Clin. N. Am. · Feb 2017
ReviewNeuroimaging of Peptide-based Vaccine Therapy in Pediatric Brain Tumors: Initial Experience.
The potential benefits of peptide-based immunotherapy for pediatric brain tumors are under investigation. Treatment-related heterogeneity has resulted in radiographic challenges, including pseudoprogression. ⋯ Advanced neuroimaging techniques, including diffusion magnetic resonance (MR), perfusion MR, and MR spectroscopy, may add value in the assessment of treatment-related heterogeneity. Observations suggest that recent delineation of specific response criteria for immunotherapy of adult brain tumors is likely relevant to the pediatric population and further validation in multicenter pediatric brain tumor peptide-based vaccine studies is warranted.