Vascular territories and watersheds: a zonal frequency analysis of the gyral and sulcal extent of cerebral infarcts. Part I: the anatomic template.

Our purpose was to establish a template of upper cerebral anatomy suitable for analysis of infarct distribution and for comparison among infarct types. We made a standard diagram of the key gyri and sulci of the supraventricular and occipital regions, partitioned the gray matter and white matter into specific zones useful for analyzing infarcts by CT and MRI, and numbered each zone uniquely in to establish a template suitable for tabulating the precise regions affected by each infarct and for analyzing differences among infarcts. The template provides a method for extracting a standardized set of data from CT or MRI performed at any angle, reconfiguring those data into a standard image, and characterizing the specific portions of infarcted brain in terms of unique numbers suitable for tabulation, collation and comparison.

Magnetic resonance imaging of intracranial hypotension syndrome with pathophysiological correlation.

Objective: To correlate the pathophysiology of intracranial hypotension syndrome with abnormalities in the brain and spine found through magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: In a series of 11 patients with intracranial hypotension syndrome, brain magnetic resonance scans were evaluated for the thickness, distribution, morphology, and pattern of meningeal enhancement coincident with subdural fluid collections and the descent of the brain toward the skull base. Spinal magnetic resonance studies were reviewed for extra-arachnoid fluid collections, meningeal enhancement, and distended epidural veins.

MR of Toxoplasma encephalitis: signal characteristics on T2-weighted images and pathologic correlation.

Purpose: Our goal was to determine if there are any T2-weighted MR signal characteristics of Toxoplasma encephalitis that might be useful in diagnosis and/or in gauging the effectiveness of medical therapy.

Method: We retrospectively analyzed the MR, CT, thallium-201 SPECT brain scans, and medical records of 27 patients with medically proven (26) and biopsy proven (1) Toxoplasma encephalitis, supplemented by autopsy findings in 4 additional patients, 2 of whom had postmortem MR correlation. The neuropathologic literature was also reviewed.

Neurosyphilis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients: neuroimaging findings.

Purpose: To evaluate and describe the neuroimaging findings of patients with neurosyphilis.

Methods: The neuroimaging studies of 35 patients with documented neurosyphilis were reviewed. Diagnosis was established in 34 patients with cerebrospinal fluid for a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, complemented by autopsy in 1 and brain biopsy in 1.

Normal magnetic resonance imaging and abnormal discography in lumbar disc disruption.

Study Design: This report describes a clinical series of seven patients who had surgically proven internal disc disruption, normal magnetic resonance imaging, and abnormal discograms morphologically.

Summary Of Background Data: Numerous reports in the literature have described the utility of magnetic resonance imaging and discography in diagnosing degenerative disease within lumbar intervertebral discs.

Results: Discography may be useful in patients with persistent symptoms despite a normal or equivocal magnetic resonance imaging study.

Political action committees: how much influence will $7.7 million buy?

The influence of health-related political action committees (PACs) continued to grow during the 1990 election campaign. During the first 18 months of the election cycle, contributions from medical and health care PACs to congressional candidates reached a total of $7.7 million.