Optimal thoracic and lumbar spine imaging for trauma: are thoracic and lumbar spine reformats always indicated?

Background: Computed tomography (CT) of the thoracic and lumbar (T/L) spine with reformats has become the imaging modality of choice for the identification of T/L spine fractures. The objective of this study was to directly compare chest/abdomen/pelvis CT (CAP CT) with CT with T/L reformats (T/L CT) for the identification of T/L spine fractures.

Methods: Patients who had both a CAP CT scan (5-mm imaging spacing) and T/L CT reconstruction (2.

Quick-brain magnetic resonance imaging for nonhydrocephalus indications.

Object: In 2002, "quick-brain" (QB) MR imaging (ultrafast spin echo T2-weighted imaging) was introduced as an alternative technique to CT scanning for assessing children with hydrocephalus. The authors have observed high patient and physician satisfaction with this technique at their institution, which has led to an increasing frequency of its use for nonhydrocephalic indications. The goal in this study was to characterize, quantitate, and assess the use of QB MR imaging for these additional indications.

Preoperative functional MR imaging localization of language and motor areas: effect on therapeutic decision making in patients with potentially resectable brain tumors.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the effect of preoperative functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging localization of language and motor areas on therapeutic decision making in patients with potentially resectable brain tumors.

Materials And Methods: The Institutional Review Board approved this HIPAA-compliant study, and each patient gave written informed consent. Thirty-nine consecutive patients (19 male, 20 female; mean age, 42.

Focal lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum on FLAIR MR images: a common finding with aging and after brain radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: Focal high signal intensity in the splenium of the corpus callosum on fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) images is generally considered an abnormal MR finding. We identified high signal intensity in the splenium on FLAIR images in patients of advanced age with otherwise normal images and in patients who had received brain radiation therapy. We undertook an investigation to determine the frequency of this finding in these patient groups.