Intensity of arterial structure acquired by Silent MRA estimates cerebral blood flow.

Background: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the morphology of the cerebral arteries are important for characterizing cerebrovascular disease. Silent magnetic resonance angiography (Silent MRA) is a MRA technique focusing on arterial structural delineation. This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between Silent MRA and CBF quantification, which has not yet been reported.

Inter- and Intra-Rater Reliability of Individual Cerebral Blood Flow Measured by Quantitative Vessel-Flow Phase-Contrast MRI.

Vessel flow quantification by two-dimensional (2D) phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) using a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) model to measure cerebral blood flow has unclear analytical reliability. The present study aimed to determine the inter- and intra-rater reliability of quantitative vessel-flow PC-MRI and potential factors influencing its consistency. We prospectively recruited 30 Asian participants (aged 20-90 years; 16 women; 22 healthy and 8 stroke patients) for performing 1.

Eye Shielding During Head CT Scans: Dose Reduction and Image Quality Evaluation.

Rationale And Objectives: In this study, we assessed the radiation dose to the lens and the impacts of various eye shields using either a fixed or modulated tube current.

Materials And Methods: Patients undergoing head computed tomography (CT) examinations were recruited, and each was randomly assigned to one of five imaging groups, either without a CT eye shield or with one of two types of shielding and topogram-based tube current modulation (TCM). The radiation dose at the eye lens was estimated using Gafchromic films.

Anatomical relationships between medullary veins and three types of deep-seated malignant brain tumors as detected by susceptibility-weighted imaging.

Background: Deep-seated brain tumors can be difficult to differentiate. Three tumor types (primary central nervous system lymphoma [PCNSL], high-grade glioma, and metastatic brain tumors), identified by susceptibility-weighted imaging, have different relationships with small medullary veins, and these relationships can be used to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

Methods: Records of patients with pathology confirmed malignant brain tumors who received susceptibility-weighted imaging between 2009 and 2015 were reviewed.

Combined native magnetic resonance angiography, flow-quantifying, and perfusion-imaging for impending second-stroke assessment.

This special report introduces native flow quantitative imaging for evaluating stroke risk. Moreover, the advantage of combining three imaging techniques [magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), phase-contrast (PC) flow imaging, and arterial spin-labeling imaging] is shown to be beneficial for responding to ischemia and preserving viable neurons. These quantitative imaging techniques provide authoritative information for diagnosing impending stroke and selecting appropriate treatment.

Topogram-based tube current modulation of head computed tomography for optimizing image quality while protecting the eye lens with shielding.

Background: Multiple rounds of head computed tomography (CT) scans increase the risk of radiation-induced lens opacification.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of CT eye shielding and topogram-based tube current modulation (TCM) on the radiation dose received by the lens and the image quality of nasal and periorbital imaging.

Material And Methods: An anthropomorphic phantom was CT-scanned using either automatic tube current modulation or a fixed tube current.

Predicting Mortality in Patients With "Malignant" Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction Using Susceptibility-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Preliminary Findings.

To evaluate malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction (defined as space-occupying edema in more than 50% to 75% of the MCA territory) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequence and assess the usefulness of SWI findings, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as predictors of clinical outcome.Data from 16 patients with large MCA infarction previously admitted to our institution between December 2009 and October 2012 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Within 7 days after stroke onset, 1 neurologist and 1 neuroradiologist estimated the area of infarction on DWI/ADC and extent of prominent vessel sign (PVS) on SWI images using the Stroke Program Early MR Score (SPEMRS).

Prominent vessel sign on susceptibility-weighted imaging in acute stroke: prediction of infarct growth and clinical outcome.

Background And Purpose: Predicting the risk of further infarct growth in stroke patients is critical to therapeutic decision making. We aimed to predict early infarct growth and clinical outcome from prominent vessel sign (PVS) identified on the first susceptibility-weighted image (SWI) after acute stroke.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction had diffusion-weighted imaging, SWI, MR angiography, and clinical evaluation using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at 7-60 hours and 5-14 days after stroke onset.

Sonographic criteria predictive of benign thyroid nodules useful in avoiding unnecessary ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration.

Background/purpose: There has been no individual ultrasound feature of having high accuracy for diagnosis of thyroid malignancy. In this study, we aimed to establish feature-oriented criteria to characterize benign thyroid nodules that do not require ultrasound (US)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA).

Methods: We reviewed 374 patients with thyroid nodules who had undergone US-guided FNA at our institution (2005-2008).

Sacrococcygeal teratoma in an adolescent.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is a neoplasm derived from more than one primitive germ cell layer. SCTs have rarely been reported in adults. We present a case of a 17-year-old youth who complained of a painful mass over his left buttock.

Leptomeningeal metastasis of malignant lymphoma with negative results in magnetic resonance imaging: a case report.

Purpose: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which occasionally involves the central nervous system, occurs more often in high-grade cases and implicates a poor prognosis. Leptomeningeal metastases may present as multiple cranial nerve involvements. Diagnosis is achieved by recognizing the clinical manifestations, followed by neuroradiologic studies and laboratory examination of the cerebrospinal fluid.

Fusobacterium septicemia complicated by cerebral subdural and epidural empyemas: a rare case of Lemierre syndrome.

Background: Lemierre syndrome is characterized by postanginal septicemia and internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis with secondary septic emboli, typically to the lungs. The central nervous system (CNS) is rarely involved.

Objective: To present a case of Lemierre syndrome featuring cerebral subdural and epidural empyemas.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the heart: a case report.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) in the heart is rare. We present a case of a 38-year-old woman with histologically confirmed MFHs in the left atrium, liver and bone. The patient presented with shortness of breath and right shoulder pain.

Percutaneous transgastric computed tomography-guided biopsy of the pancreas using large needles.

Aim: To assess the safety, yield and clinical utility of percutaneous transgastric computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of pancreatic tumor using large needles, in selected patients.

Methods: We reviewed 34 CT-guided biopsies in patients with pancreas mass, of whom 24 (71%) had a direct path to the mass without passing through a major organ. The needle passed through the liver in one case (3%).

MRI of hemangioblastoma in the conus medullaris.

Hemangioblastoma of the conus medullaris with MRI has not been reported before. A 75-year-old man had a history of falling due to weakness of his left lower limb. MRI revealed a well-defined oval mass in the conus medullaris.

Mycoplasma pneumonia: clinical and radiographic features in 39 children.

Background: The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the clinical and chest radiographic features of pediatric patients with serologically proven Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (mycoplasma pneumonia).

Methods: The clinical records and chest radiographs of 39 consecutive patients (19 male, 20 female; age 3-13 years) with serologically positive IgG and IgM mycoplasma pneumonia were reviewed.

Results: More than 90% of patients presented with fever and cough and 48% of patients had leukocyte count >10,000/mm(3).

Magnetic resonance imaging of gluteal intramuscular myxoma.

Gluteal intramuscular myxomas with MR images have not been reported before. A 45-year-old man presented with a palpable mass in his right buttock for several months. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intramuscular cystic lesion with homogeneous signal intensity at the right gluteus muscle, and the mass had thin peripheral enhancement after gadolinium administration.

Penile gangrene in a patient on renal dialysis: CT findings.

We presented a case of a 63-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis. Precontrast CT images showed atrophy of kidneys bilaterally and calcification of the abdominal aorta, small branches of bilateral renal arteries and small arteries of the pelvis, including the internal pudendal artery and penile artery. Postcontrast CT scans revealed a nonenhancing glans penis with a clear margin relative to normal tissue.

Inconspicuous visual field defect in anterior choroidal artery territory infarction.

We describe a patient with a right anterior choroidal artery territory infarction and an inconspicuous left visual defect. The anterior choroidal artery is a unique artery of the cerebral circulation. The occlusion of this artery can result in dysfunction of motor, sensory, and visual systems with only rare involvement of higher cortical function.

Computed tomography angiography in detection and characterization of ruptured anterior cerebral artery aneurysms at uncommon location for emergent surgical clipping.

Introduction: Cerebral subarachnoid hemorrhage may result from rupture of saccular aneurysms at uncommon location [excluding the anterior communicating artery (ACOM)] of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of helical computed tomography angiography (CTA) in detection and characterization of intracranial aneurysms at such uncommon locations before emergent surgical clipping.

Materials And Methods: Between 1998 and 2003, records for 50 consecutive patients who underwent emergent surgical clipping for intracranial aneurysms were reviewed.