[Consensus recommendations on regional interdisciplinary standardization of MRI diagnostics for multiple sclerosis in the metropolitan area of Essen].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is of exceptional importance in the diagnostics and monitoring of multiple sclerosis (MS); however, a close interdisciplinary cooperation between neurologists in private practice, (neuro)radiological practices, hospitals or specialized MS centers is only rarely established. In particular, there is a lack of standardized MRI protocols for image acquisition as well as established quality parameters, which guarantee the comparability of MRI records; however, this is a fundamental prerequisite for an effective application of MRI in the treatment of MS patients, e.g.

Population-based assessment of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis using electron-beam computed tomography.

Aims: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is determined as a measure of the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and can be used for expanded cardiovascular risk stratification. It was our aim to establish reference CAC scores in a population-based unselected European cohort.

Methods And Results: The Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (HNR) recruited a total of 4814 participants aged 45-74 years.

Prognostic value of extensive coronary calcium quantities in symptomatic males--a 5-year follow-up study.

Aims: Coronary calcium scores (CSs) have been shown to predict future events in patients presenting for first-time evaluation of CAD. Long-term outcome data on symptomatic subjects with advanced CAD are limited. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic value of very high coronary CSs in symptomatic males undergoing angiography and analyzed the impact of event definitions on identification of risk predictor's.

[Noninvasive computed tomographic coronary angiography as a complement to coronary calcium quantification in symptomatic patients].

Background: Invasive, selective coronary angiography remains the "gold standard" of direct visualization of epicardial coronary arteries. Technical advances in recent years and improvements in image quality in both electron beam computed tomography (EBT) and multislice spiral/helical computed tomography (MSCT) brought along an increasing interest in the potential clinical role of noninvasive computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTCA).

Potential And Limitations: Measurement of coronary calcification permits quantitative estimation of overall coronary plaque burden and thereby allows assessment of cardiovascular risk and likelihood of the presence of a significant stenosis.