Investigative radiology
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Investigative radiology · Apr 2013
Effect of x-ray tube parameters and iodine concentration on image quality and radiation dose in cerebral pediatric and adult CT angiography: a phantom study.
The aim of the present phantom study was to investigate the effect of x-ray tube parameters and iodine concentration on image quality and radiation dose in cerebral computed tomographic (CT) angiographic examinations of pediatric and adult individuals. ⋯ In cerebral CT angiographic studies, appropriate adjustment of the preset tube current-time product settings is required to achieve the same image noise level among participants of different age. Cerebral CT angiography at 80 kV significantly improves CNR and significantly reduces radiation dose. Moreover, at 80 kV, a considerable reduction of the administered amount of the CM may be reached, thus reducing potential risks for contrast-induced nephropathy.
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Investigative radiology · Feb 2013
Feasibility of diffusion tensor tractography of brachial plexus injuries at 1.5 T.
The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) at 1.5 T for the detection of nerve root avulsions in patients with brachial plexus injuries (BPI). ⋯ Our results suggest that cervical nerve root avulsions can be successfully visualized at 1.5 T in patients with BPI despite the anatomical complexity and susceptibility and motion artifacts. We propose that DTT is a reliable and reproducible method for the investigation of BPI because it provides a successful anatomical and functional display of neural structures that are not otherwise attainable with conventional studies.
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Investigative radiology · Jan 2013
Free-breathing contrast-enhanced multiphase MRI of the liver using a combination of compressed sensing, parallel imaging, and golden-angle radial sampling.
The objectives of this study were to develop a new method for free-breathing contrast-enhanced multiphase liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a combination of compressed sensing, parallel imaging, and radial k-space sampling and to demonstrate the feasibility of this method by performing image quality comparison with breath-hold cartesian T1-weighted (conventional) postcontrast acquisitions in healthy participants. ⋯ Contrast-enhanced multiphase liver MRI of diagnostic quality can be performed during free breathing using a combination of compressed sensing, parallel imaging, and golden-angle radial sampling.
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Investigative radiology · Jan 2013
Diagnostic performance of dark-blood T2-weighted CMR for evaluation of acute myocardial injury.
We compared the image quality and diagnostic performance of 2 fat-suppression methods for black-blood T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE), which are as follows: (a) short T1 inversion recovery (STIR; FSE-STIR) and (b) spectral adiabatic inversion recovery (SPAIR; FSE-SPAIR), for detection of acute myocardial injury. ⋯ Although FSE-SPAIR demonstrated significantly improved image quality and decreased artifacts, isolated interpretations of each T2-weighted technique demonstrated high specificity but overall low sensitivity for the detection of myocardial injury, with no difference in accuracy between the techniques. However, real-world interpretation in combination with cine and LGE CMR methods significantly improves the overall sensitivity and diagnostic performance.
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Investigative radiology · Dec 2012
MRI assessment of hepatic iron clearance rates after USPIO administration in healthy adults.
The purpose of this study was to monitor iron clearance from the liver by means of T2 and T2* mapping after administration of an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) agent. ⋯ Iron deposition in the liver after a 5 mg Fe/kg dose of ferumoxytol may alter signal contrast on MR images for several months after administration. This is an important consideration in the use of USPIO agents for diagnostic purposes.