Diagnostic Accuracy of High-Resolution 3D T2-SPACE in Detecting Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis.

Background And Purpose: Assessment of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis on MR imaging can be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution 3D T2 sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolution (SPACE) in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and to compare its performance with contrast-enhanced 3D T1-MPRAGE.

Materials And Methods: We performed a blinded retrospective analysis of T2-SPACE and contrast-enhanced MPRAGE sequences from patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and a control group.

Natural history of meningiomas: a serial volumetric analysis of 240 tumors.

Objective: The management of asymptomatic intracranial meningiomas is controversial. Through the assessment of growth predictors, the authors aimed to create the basis for practicable clinical pathways for the management of these tumors.

Methods: The authors volumetrically analyzed meningiomas radiologically diagnosed at their institution between 2003 and 2015.

First-line surgery in prolactinomas: lessons from a long-term follow-up study in a tertiary referral center.

Context: Although consensus guidelines recommend dopamine agonists (DAs) as the first-line approach in prolactinomas, some patients may opt instead for upfront surgery, with the goal of minimizing the need for continuation of DAs over the long term. While this approach can be recommended in selected patients with a microprolactinoma, the indication for upfront surgery in macroprolactinomas remains controversial, with limited long-term data in large cohorts. We aimed at elucidating whether first-line surgery is equally safe and effective for patients with micro- or macroprolactinomas not extending beyond the median carotid line (i.

Endovascular therapy in patients with large vessel occlusion due to cardioembolism large-artery atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: To investigate whether stroke aetiology affects outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke who undergo endovascular therapy.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed patients from the Bernese Stroke Centre Registry (January 2010-September 2018), with acute large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation due to cardioembolism or large-artery atherosclerosis, treated with endovascular therapy (±intravenous thrombolysis).

Results: The study included 850 patients (median age 77.

Development of imaging-based risk scores for prediction of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke in patients taking antithrombotic therapy after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack: a pooled analysis of individual patient data from cohort studies.

Background: Balancing the risks of recurrent ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage is important for patients treated with antithrombotic therapy after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. However, existing predictive models offer insufficient performance, particularly for assessing the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. We aimed to develop new risk scores incorporating clinical variables and cerebral microbleeds, an MRI biomarker of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke risk.

Imaging Neurovascular Uncoupling in Acute Migraine with Aura with Susceptibility Weighted Imaging.

Purpose: Migraine with aura (MwA) in the emergency setting is common and sometimes difficult to distinguish from mimicking conditions. Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), a magnet resonance (MR) technique is sensitive to deoxygenated hemoglobin in cerebral veins and depicts these according to their level of oxygenation. Our study aimed at evaluating the frequency of regions of prominent focal veins (PFV) on SWI in the acute phase.

Findings in susceptibility weighted imaging in pediatric patients with migraine with aura.

Background: Migraine with aura (MwA) in pediatric patients is clinically frequent. Clinically complex symptoms need to be differentiated to exclude mimicking conditions.

Purpose: We hypothesize that MwA in children induces abnormalities readily visible in perfusion time to peak (TTP) maps as well as non-enhanced susceptibility weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWI).

Prediction of cerebral venous thrombosis with a new clinical score and D-dimer levels.

Objective: To investigate prediction of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) by clinical variables and D-dimer levels.

Methods: This prospective multicenter study included consecutive patients with clinically possible CVT. On admission, patients underwent clinical examination, blood sampling for D-dimers measuring (ELISA test), and magnetic resonance/CT venography.

Quantification of cerebral veins in patients with acute migraine with aura: A fully automated quantification algorithm using susceptibility-weighted imaging.

Introduction: Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is a very sensitive technique that often depicts prominent focal veins (PFV) in patients with acute migraine with aura (MwA). Interpretation of visual venous asymmetry (VVA) between brain hemispheres on SWI may help support the clinical diagnosis of MwA. Our goal was to develop an automated algorithm for segmentation and quantification of cerebral veins using SWI.

Opioid use trends in patients undergoing elective thoracic and lumbar spine surgery.

Background: Opioid use in North America has increased rapidly in recent years. Preoperative opioid use is associated with several negative outcomes. Our objectives were to assess patterns of opioid use over time in Canadian patients who undergo spine surgery and to determine the effect of spine surgery on 1-year postoperative opioid use.

The index vein pointing to the origin of the migraine aura symptom: A case series.

Objective: This case series describes and discusses the potential clinical utility of a prominent vein (index vein) found on susceptibility-weighted MRI during migraine aura that drains the cortical area responsible for patients' symptoms.

Methods: Six patients with acute migraine aura had a prominent draining sulcal vein on emergency MRI done initially for suspected stroke. The location of the prominent vein was correlated to patients' symptoms, and the diameter was compared to the corresponding contralateral vein.

MRI characteristics in acute ischemic stroke patients with preceding direct oral anticoagulant therapy as compared to vitamin K antagonists.

Background: Despite the utility of neuroimaging in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), imaging characteristics in patients with preceding direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) have hardly been described. We aimed to determine presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO), thrombus length, infarction diameter, and occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation in AIS patients with preceding DOAC as compared to VKA therapy.

Methods: Using a prospectively collected cohort of AIS patients, we performed univariate and multivariable regression analyses regarding imaging outcomes.

Symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: 3 years' prospective study.

Background: Intracranial stenoses can cause TIA/ischaemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to assess vascular risk factors, clinical and imaging findings and outcome in Caucasians with intracranial stenosis under best prevention management.

Methods: In this prospective observational study (from 05/2012, to last follow-up 06/2017) we compared vascular risk factors, imaging findings and long-term outcome in Swiss patients with symptomatic versus asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenoses on best prevention management.

Plaque vulnerability in patients with high- and moderate-grade carotid stenosis - comparison of plaque features on MRI with histopathological findings.

Unlabelled:   BACKGROUND: Plaque vulnerability plays an important role in determining the risk of subsequent cerebrovascular events in patients with carotid stenosis. Plaque morphology magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to assess plaque vulnerability. We therefore set out to examine the diagnostic accuracy of plaque morphology MRI compared with histopathological findings as gold standard in moderate- to high-grade carotid stenosis at our centre.

Outcome of patients with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation and low NIHSS score.

Background: Optimal management of patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and low NIHSS score is unknown, which was the aim to investigate in this study.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective single tertiary care centre 14-year cohort of patients with LVO in the anterior circulation and NIHSS score ≤ 5 on admission. Outcome was analysed according to primary intended therapy.

Brush Sign Is Associated With Increased Severity in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

Background and Purpose- The brush sign (BS) is an abnormally accentuated signal drop of the subependymal and deep medullary veins in paramagnetic-sensitive magnetic resonance sequences, previously described in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to describe the BS in patients with thrombosis of the cerebral veins and sinuses and explore its association with clinical severity, thrombosis extent, parenchymal brain lesion, and clinical prognosis. Methods- We assessed consecutive adult patients admitted to 2 university hospitals with diagnosis of acute thrombosis of the cerebral veins and sinuses and imaging assessment with magnetic resonance imaging, including paramagnetic-sensitive sequences.

Baseline Troponin T level in stroke and its association with stress cardiomyopathy.

Background: Differential diagnosis of elevated high sensitive Troponin T (hsTnT) in acute ischemic stroke includes myocardial infarction (MI) and neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM). The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with baseline hsTnT levels and MI or NSM in acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We studied 204 consecutive patients of the prospective acquired Bern Stroke Database with acute ischemic stroke diagnosed by brain MR.

Predictors of Unexpected Early Reocclusion After Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background and Purpose- Sustained successful reperfusion is an important prognostic factor for good clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to identify the prevalence, clinical impact, and predictors of early reocclusion after initially successful thrombectomies within a prospective cohort. Methods- A total of 711 stroke patients with successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction, 2b/3) followed with magnetic resonance or computed tomographic angiography at 24 to 48 hours were included.

Are self-ligating brackets' slots dimensions accurate?

Objective: The purpose of this study is to measure the dimensions of the slot's top and base of passive self-ligating brackets of three commercial and available systems and to compare the measured dimensions with the manufacturers' published dimensions.

Methods: Digital microscope was used to measure the slot's top and base of 40 Central incisor brackets by three different manufacturers, Carriere SLX (Ortho Organizer, USA), Damon Q (Oramco USA) and Smart Clip (3M Unitek USA). The measurements were taken after the doors of all brackets were removed and compared with the manufacturers' claimed dimensions.

Segmentation of Peripheral Nerves From Magnetic Resonance Neurography: A Fully-Automatic, Deep Learning-Based Approach.

Diagnosis of peripheral neuropathies relies on neurological examinations, electrodiagnostic studies, and since recently magnetic resonance neurography (MRN). The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a fully-automatic segmentation method of peripheral nerves of the thigh. T2-weighted sequences without fat suppression acquired on a 3 T MR scanner were retrospectively analyzed in 10 healthy volunteers and 42 patients suffering from clinically and electrophysiologically diagnosed sciatic neuropathy.

Association of anemia and hemoglobin decrease during acute stroke treatment with infarct growth and clinical outcome.

Background And Purpose: Anemia is associated with worse outcome in stroke, but the impact of anemia with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy has hardly been delineated. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of anemia on infarct evolution and outcome after acute stroke treatment.

Methods: 1158 patients from Bern and 321 from Los Angeles were included.