Investigative radiology
-
Investigative radiology · Sep 2009
Comparative StudyAssessment of chest high-field magnetic resonance imaging in children and young adults with noncystic fibrosis chronic lung disease: comparison to high-resolution computed tomography and correlation with pulmonary function.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as a radiation-free alternative to high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for the assessment and follow-up of chest disorders. Thus far, no study has compared the efficacy of high-field MRI and HRCT in children and adults with noncystic fibrosis (CF) chronic lung disease. ⋯ Chest high-field 3.0-T MRI appears to be as effective as HRCT in assessing the extent and severity of lung abnormalities in non-CF chronic lung diseases, and might be a reliable radiation-free option to HRCT.
-
Investigative radiology · Sep 2009
Comparative StudyA comparison of 3T and 7T in the detection of small parenchymal veins within MS lesions.
Histologic examination of multiple sclerosis (MS) brain lesions reveals heterogeneity including the presence or absence of a central blood vessel. Recent work has shown that T2* weighted magnetic resonance imaging at 7T allows the identification of small parenchymal veins within MS lesions. The aims of this study were (1) to compare whether a comparable sequence at 3T was also capable of demonstrating parenchymal veins within MS brain lesions, and (2) to investigate the potential of 7T T2* weighted imaging to differentiate between MS white matter lesions and age-related vascular lesions seen in controls. ⋯ This study suggests that ultra high field imaging is advantageous in demonstrating detailed structural anatomy of MS lesions. 7T T2* imaging can be used in the future to investigate the pathogenesis of MS lesions. The potential for ultra high field imaging to discriminate between MS white matter lesions and microangiopathic lesions warrants further investigation as this would represent a clinically useful application.
-
Investigative radiology · Sep 2009
Controlled Clinical TrialT1(Gd) gives comparable information as Delta T1 relaxation rate in dGEMRIC evaluation of cartilage repair tissue.
To evaluate the relationship between T1 after intravenous contrast administration (T1Gd) and Delta relaxation rate (DeltaR1) = (1/T1(Gd) - 1/T1o) in the delayed Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC) evaluation of cartilage repair tissue. ⋯ The high correlation between T1 (Gd) and DeltaR1 and the comparable conclusions reached utilizing metric implies that T1 mapping before intravenous administration of MR contrast agent is not necessary for the evaluation of repair tissue. This will help to reduce costs, inconvenience for the patients, simplifies the examination procedure, and makes dGEMRIC more attractive for follow-up of patients after cartilage repair surgeries.
-
Investigative radiology · Sep 2009
A combined high temporal and high spatial resolution 3 Tesla MR imaging protocol for the assessment of breast lesions: initial results.
To develop a 3.0 Tesla breast imaging protocol that combines high temporal and spatial resolution three-dimensional MR sequences for quantitative time course and morphologic analysis of breast lesions. ⋯ Our prospective study demonstrates that the presented 3 Tesla MR imaging protocol, comprising both high temporal and high spatial resolution, enables accurate detection and assessment of breast lesions.
-
Investigative radiology · Sep 2009
Comparative StudyAnalysis of prostate DCE-MRI: comparison of fast exchange limit and fast exchange regimen pharmacokinetic models in the discrimination of malignant from normal tissue.
The ability to detect and identify malignant lesions within the prostate with conventional T2-weighted imaging is still limited. Although lesion conspicuity is improved with dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging there still remains some ambiguity as all tissues within the prostate may enhance. The aim of the current study was to take advantage of the improved signal-to-noise ratio at 3 T and assess the ability of 2 alternative pharmacokinetic models to clearly identify malignant areas within the prostate. We also aspire to assess the impact of tissue heterogeneity on variation in estimated pharmacokinetic parameters. ⋯ Accounting for a finite water exchange rate between cells and their environment improves the discrimination of malignant from benign tissues within the prostate and may aid staging accuracy and ability to monitor response to treatment.