Cone beam computed tomography of plastinated hearts for instruction of radiological anatomy.

Radiological anatomy education is an important aspect of the medical curriculum. The purpose of this study was to establish and demonstrate the use of plastinated anatomical specimens, specifically human hearts, for use in radiological anatomy education. Four human hearts were processed with routine plastination procedures at room temperature.

Olfactory impairment and traumatic brain injury in blast-injured combat troops: a cohort study.

Objective: To determine whether a structured and quantitative assessment of differential olfactory performance-recognized between a blast-injured traumatic brain injury (TBI) group and a demographically comparable blast-injured control group-can serve as a reliable antecedent marker for preclinical detection of intracranial neurotrauma.

Methods: We prospectively and consecutively enrolled 231 polytrauma inpatients, acutely injured from explosions during combat operations in either Afghanistan or Iraq and requiring immediate stateside evacuation and sequential admission to our tertiary care medical center over a 2½-year period. This study correlates olfactometric scores with both contemporaneous neuroimaging findings as well as the clinical diagnosis of TBI, tabulates population-specific incidence data, and investigates return of olfactory function.

From the radiologic pathology archives: mass lesions of the dura: beyond meningioma-radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Meningioma is the most common mass involving the dura, making it number one in the differential diagnosis for any dural-based mass; however, a variety of other neoplastic and nonneoplastic lesions also involve the dura. Knowledge of the dural anatomy can provide clues to the various processes that may involve this location. The neoplastic processes include both benign and malignant lesions such as hemangiopericytoma, lymphoma, solitary fibrous tumor, melanocytic lesions, Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumors, Rosai-Dorfman disease, and metastatic lesions.

From the radiologic pathology archives: intraventricular neoplasms: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

A variety of neoplasms may arise in the ventricular system. Intraventricular neoplasms may be discovered as an incidental finding at cross-sectional imaging or may manifest with varied symptoms depending on their location, including symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. These lesions may arise from various ventricular structures, including the ependymal lining (eg, ependymoma), subependymal layer (eg, subependymoma), or choroid plexus (eg, choroid plexus neoplasms), or they may have a cell of origin that has yet to be determined (eg, chordoid glioma).

Magnetic resonance imaging of the fetal central nervous system, head, neck, and chest.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an important tool in the assessment of fetal anomalies. Although ultrasound remains the modality of choice for screening, MRI offers several advantages that permit optimal characterization of anomalies in certain situations. Accurate recognition and characterization of fetal anomalies guides decisions about pregnancy management and coordination of postnatal care.

Radiologic-pathologic correlation of pediatric and adolescent spinal neoplasms: Part 2, Intradural extramedullary spinal neoplasms.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the neuroimaging findings of intradural extramedullary spinal tumors in the pediatric and adolescent population. The differential diagnosis for lesions in this location is limited and can be further narrowed with knowledge of specific imaging characteristics.

Conclusion: This article reviews the radiologic and pathologic findings of pediatric and adolescent intradural extramedullary neoplasms.

Radiologic-pathologic correlation of pediatric and adolescent spinal neoplasms: Part 1, Intramedullary spinal neoplasms.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to review the neuroimaging findings of pediatric and adolescent intramedullary spinal tumors in children. The differential diagnosis for lesions in this location is limited and can be further narrowed with knowledge of specific imaging characteristics.

Conclusion: This article reviews the radiologic findings and differential diagnosis for intramedullary neoplasms.

Sclerosing polycystic adenosis.

A 25-year-old female presented with a well-defined, painless mass of 1 year's duration in the right parotid gland. MR imaging revealed a relatively well-circumscribed lesion involving the deep and superficial lobes of the right parotid gland. Histologic examination of the resection resulted in a diagnosis of sclerosing polycystic adenosis, a rare benign salivary gland entity of presumed non-neoplastic origin.

Late spinal metastases from an isolated pineal region germinoma mimicking a schwannoma.

A 20-year-old male with a prior history of germinoma presented 8 years after the initial diagnosis with progressive lower back pain. The preoperative diagnosis was schwannoma based on the appearances of a tumor in the lumbosacral region on MRI; however, histologically, a germinoma "drop" metastasis was seen. This report emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up in patients with germinoma.

From the archives of the AFIP: lesions of the pineal region: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Lesions of the pineal region include a diverse group of entities. The most common neoplastic lesions are the germ cell tumors. Germ cell tumors may be hormonally active, and evaluation of serum or cerebrospinal fluid levels of oncoproteins assists in making the diagnosis.

Imaging evaluation of demyelinating processes of the central nervous system.

Demyelinating processes involving the central nervous system have a variety of aetiologies and can be separated into primary and secondary demyelinating processes. The classic example of primary demyelination is multiple sclerosis. Secondary demyelination, where the aetiology is known, includes infectious, metabolic and toxic disease processes.

Pigmented lesions of the central nervous system: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Pigmented lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) are a diverse group of entities that run the gamut from benign to malignant. These lesions may be well circumscribed or diffuse, and their imaging appearances are influenced by the degree of melanin content as well as the presence or absence of hemorrhage. Pigmented lesions include primary melanocytic lesions of the CNS and metastatic melanoma, as well as other CNS neoplasms that may undergo melanization, including schwannoma, medulloblastoma, and some gliomas.

Bilateral thalamic lesions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to present the neuroimaging findings and differential diagnosis of bilateral thalamic lesions.

Conclusion: The limited differential diagnosis of bilateral thalamic lesions can be further narrowed with knowledge of the specific imaging characteristics of the lesions in combination with the patient history.

From the archives of the AFIP: central nervous system infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection: radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) result directly from HIV itself or from a variety of opportunistic agents. These infections include progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, toxoplasmosis, and cryptococcosis. A resurgence of tuberculosis and neurosyphilis has also been documented.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome of the brain: case illustrations of a challenging entity.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome represents a spectrum of clinicopathologic entities encountered in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who have received highly active anti-retroviral therapy. The diagnosis is often challenging, treatment options are limited, and the prognosis is variable. To increase awareness and define the clinicopathologic features, we present our experience with 6 probable cases involving the brain, including 1 autopsy.

Radiation dose reduction strategy for CT protocols: successful implementation in neuroradiology section.

Purpose: To retrospectively quantify the effect of systematic use of tube current modulation for neuroradiology computed tomographic (CT) protocols on patient dose and image quality.

Materials And Methods: This HIPAA-compliant study had institutional review board approval, with waiver of informed consent. The authors evaluated the effect of dose modulation on four types of neuroradiologic CT studies: brain CT performed without contrast material (unenhanced CT) in adult patients, unenhanced brain CT in pediatric patients, adult cervical spine CT, and adult cervical and intracranial CT angiography.

Magnetic resonance neurography in children with birth-related brachial plexus injury.

Background: Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) enables visualization of peripheral nerves. Clinical examination and electrodiagnostic studies have been used in the evaluation of birth-related brachial plexus injury. These are limited in their demonstration of anatomic detail and severity of injury.

Diagnosis of Chiari III malformation by second trimester fetal MRI with postnatal MRI and CT correlation.

We report a case of Chiari III malformation diagnosed by fetal MRI. Ultrasound (US) performed at a gestational age of 18 weeks demonstrated a posterior skull base cyst. Repeat US at 19 weeks demonstrated neural tissue in the cyst, consistent with an encephalocele.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor of the velum interpositum presenting as a spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage in an infant: case report with long-term survival.

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) of infancy are highly malignant neoplasms that are most common in the first 2 years of life. We present the case of a 3-month-old girl who presented with the acute onset of generalized seizures and was found to have a large spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage. The blood masked an underlying ATRT of the velum interpositum in the midline of the lateral ventricles and roof of the third ventricle, the first reported case in this location.

Resolution of an aggressive ideopathic diskitis.

We report a case of thoracic spine diskitis of unknown cause that had aggressive and destructive features on MR images. Results of two biopsies were unremarkable. The process began after sneezing, also produced extensive paraspinous enhancement, and resolved without antibiotic therapy both clinically and radiologically after four months.