[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.

[Diagnostics and treatment of organic intraorbital foreign bodies].

Background: Orbital injuries with organic foreign bodies are a clinical challenge as they can cause a variety of complications and sometimes lead to irreversible visual impairment.

Material And Methods: We report five consecutive cases of patients with organic orbital foreign bodies who presented between 2012 and 2022. Documented parameters include age, gender, time of injury, mechanism of injury, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), presence of pain, restriction of motility, performed imaging, location and type of foreign body, treatment and complications.

Comparison of PGSE and STEAM DTI acquisitions with varying diffusion times for probing anisotropic structures in human kidneys.

Purpose: To evaluate the sensitivity of stimulated-echo acquisition mode (STEAM) and pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) acquisitions with different diffusion times for measuring renal tissue anisotropy.

Methods: Twelve healthy volunteers underwent an MRI examination at a 3T scanner including STEAM and PGSE DTI with variable diffusion times Δ (20.3, 37 and 125 ms).

Proton exchange in aqueous urea solutions measured by water-exchange (WEX) NMR spectroscopy and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging in vitro.

Purpose: To characterize the proton exchange in aqueous urea solutions using a modified version of the WEX II filter at high magnetic field, and to assess the feasibility of performing quantitative urea CEST MRI on a 3T clinical MR system.

Methods: In order to study the dependence of the exchange-rate constant of urea as a function of pH and T, the WEX-spectra were acquired at 600 MHz from urea solutions in a pH range from 6.4 to 8.

Assessment of time-resolved renal diffusion parameters over the entire cardiac cycle.

Object: To assess changes diffusion properties of renal cortex over the entire cardiac cycle using electrocardiogram-gated respiratory-triggered dynamic diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI).

Materials And Methods: 20 healthy volunteers were investigated on a 1.5 T MR scanner.

J-difference-edited MRS measures of γ-aminobutyric acid before and after acute caffeine administration.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate potential effects of acute caffeine intake on J-difference-edited MRS measures of the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Methods: J-difference-edited Mescher-Garwood PRESS (MEGA-PRESS) and conventional PRESS data were acquired at 3T from voxels in the anterior cingulate and occipital area of the brain in 15 healthy subjects, before and after oral intake of a 200-mg caffeine dose. MEGA-PRESS data were analyzed with the MATLAB-based Gannet tool to estimate GABA+ macromolecule (GABA+) levels, while PRESS data were analyzed with LCModel to estimate levels of glutamate, glutamate+glutamine, N-acetylaspartate, and myo-inositol.

Functional MRI in transplanted kidneys.

Renal transplantation is the therapy of choice for patients with end-stage renal diseases. Improvement of immunosuppressive therapy has significantly increased the half-life of renal allografts over the past decade. Nevertheless, complications can still arise.

Heparin-bonded stent graft treatment for major visceral arterial injury after upper abdominal surgery.

Purpose: To analyse technical success, complications, and short- and intermediate-term outcomes after heparin-bonded stent graft implantation for the treatment of major abdominal vessel injury after upper abdominal surgery.

Methods: This retrospective, IRB-approved analysis included 29 consecutive patients (female: n = 6, male: n = 23, mean age 65.9 ± 11.

Quantitative pulsed CEST-MRI at a clinical 3T MRI system.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to quantify CEST related parameters such as chemical exchange rate and fractional concentration of exchanging protons at a clinical 3T scanner. For this purpose, two CEST quantification approaches-the AREX metric (for 'apparent exchange dependent relaxation'), and the AREX-based Ω-plot method were used. In addition, two different pulsed RF irradiation schemes, using Gaussian-shaped and spin-lock pulses, were compared.

Non-gaussian diffusion evaluation of the human kidney by Padé exponent model.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of renal diffusion quantification using the Padé exponent model (PEM) in healthy subjects.

Materials And Methods: Diffusion measurements were completed in 10 healthy subjects (mean age, 32.4 ± 8.

[Peri-ocular Necrotising Fasciitis - Case Report and Overview].

Peri-ocular necrotising fasciitis is a very rare ophthalmological clinical picture and is potentially fatal. This disease is caused by bacterial infection of the fasciae, which rapidly spreads. The present article reports a typical case of the disease and gives an overview of the typical clinical signs and symptoms of peri-ocular necrotising fasciitis.

Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography in Intensive Care Unit Patients With Acute Clinical Deterioration: Impact of Hyperattenuating Adrenal Glands.

Purpose: The study sought to assess the frequency and prognostic value of hyperattenuating adrenal glands on contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans of surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute clinical deterioration.

Methods: Eighty-eight consecutive ICU patients (63.2 ± 14.

Stent Lumen Visibility in Single-energy CT Angiography: Does Tube Potential Matter?

Rationale And Objectives: There has been a trend toward lowering tube potential in computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations to reduce radiation dose or contrast medium dose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of tube potential on peripheral artery in-stent lumen visibility in CTA examinations.

Materials And Methods: Nine different peripheral artery stents were placed in a vessel phantom (inner diameter: 5 mm, surrounded by water) and scanned consecutively using a 128-row CT scanner with 70, 80, 100, 120, and 140 kV and two different concentrations of contrast medium to simulate contrast-enhanced blood.

CT pulmonary angiography: simultaneous low-pitch dual-source acquisition mode with 70 kVp and 40 ml of contrast medium and comparison with high-pitch spiral dual-source acquisition with automated tube potential selection.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of a 70-kVp CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) protocol using simultaneous dual-source (SimDS) acquisition mode with 40 ml of contrast medium (CM) and comparison with a high-pitch spiral dual-source (SpiralDS) acquisition protocol with automated tube potential selection (ATPS).

Methods: Following the introduction of a new 70-kVp/40-ml SimDS-CTPA protocol in December 2014 for all patients with a body mass index (BMI) below 35 kg m(-2), the first 35 patients were retrospectively included in this study and assigned to Group A (BMI: 27 ± 4 kg m(-2), age: 66 ± 15 years). The last 35 patients with a BMI below 35 kg m(-2) who had received SpiralDS-CTPA with ATPS were included for comparison (Group B) (70 ml CM; BMI: 27 ± 4 kg m(-2), age: 68 ± 16 years).

Metal artifact reduction (MAR) based on two-compartment physical modeling: evaluation in patients with hip implants.

Background: Artifacts from metallic implants can hinder image interpretation in computed tomography (CT). Image quality can be improved using metal artifact reduction (MAR) techniques.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a MAR algorithm on image quality of CT examinations in comparison to filtered back projection (FBP) in patients with hip prostheses.

CT angiography of the aorta using 80 kVp in combination with sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction and automated tube current modulation: Effects on image quality and radiation dose.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate image quality and radiation dose of a CT angiography (CTA) protocol using 80 kVp in combination with iterative reconstruction and automated tube current modulation.

Methods: Ninety-five aortic CTA examinations were included in this study. A novel 80 kVp aortic CTA-protocol with iterative reconstruction was introduced in our department in March 2012 for patients with a body mass index (BMI) below 32 kg/m(2).

Does body mass index outperform body weight as a surrogate parameter in the calculation of size-specific dose estimates in adult body CT?

Objective: To assess the value of body mass index (BMI) in comparison with body weight as a surrogate parameter for the calculation of size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs) in thoracoabdominal CT.

Methods: 401 CT examinations in 235 patients (196 chest, 205 abdomen; 95 females, 140 males; age 62.5 ± 15.

Cloud-Based CT Dose Monitoring using the DICOM-Structured Report: Fully Automated Analysis in Regard to National Diagnostic Reference Levels.

Purpose: To implement automated CT dose data monitoring using the DICOM-Structured Report (DICOM-SR) in order to monitor dose-related CT data in regard to national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs).

Materials And Methods: We used a novel in-house co-developed software tool based on the DICOM-SR to automatically monitor dose-related data from CT examinations. The DICOM-SR for each CT examination performed between 09/2011 and 03/2015 was automatically anonymized and sent from the CT scanners to a cloud server.

[Functional magnetic resonance imaging of the kidneys].

Interest in functional renal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has significantly increased in recent years. This review article provides an overview of the most important functional imaging techniques and their potential clinical applications for assessment of native and transplanted kidneys, with special emphasis on the clarification of renal tumors.

Diffusion tensor imaging in abdominal organs.

Initially, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was mainly applied in studies of the human brain to analyse white matter tracts. As DTI is outstanding for the analysis of tissue´s microstructure, the interest in DTI for the assessment of abdominal tissues has increased continuously in recent years. Tissue characteristics of abdominal organs differ substantially from those of the human brain.

Age-dependency of glycosaminoglycan content in lumbar discs: A 3t gagcEST study.

Purpose: To analyze age-dependency of glycosaminoglycan content using gagCEST (glycosaminoglycan chemical exchange saturation transfer) imaging in lumbar intervertebral discs of healthy volunteers.

Materials And Methods: In all, 70 volunteers without low back pain (mean age 44 ± 14 years, range: 21-69 years) were examined with T2 -weighted and gagCEST imaging with a 3T MR scanner, with approval of the local Ethics Committee after written informed consent was obtained. Pfirrmann grading and classification into discs without bulging and herniation, discs with bulging, and discs with herniation were performed.

TIPS geometry influences patency.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential causes of Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) dysfunction.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 26 patients who required TIPS revision (group I) and 24 patients who did not require any further intervention (group II) within the first two years following TIPS implantation. The distance of the distal end of the stent to the hepatocaval junction was measured.

Dose monitoring using the DICOM structured report: assessment of the relationship between cumulative radiation exposure and BMI in abdominal CT.

Aim: To perform a systematic, large-scale analysis using the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine structured report (DICOM-SR) to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and radiation exposure in abdominal CT.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of DICOM-SR of 3121 abdominal CT examinations between April 2013 and March 2014 was performed. All examinations were conducted using a 128 row CT system.

Evaluation of a high iodine delivery rate in combination with low tube current for dose reduction in pulmonary computed tomography angiography.

Purpose: The present study evaluates the combination of a high iodine delivery rate with a low tube current-time product for pulmonary computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Materials And Methods: One-hundred nineteen consecutive patients undergoing pulmonary CTA for suspected pulmonary embolism were included and imaged on a 128-row computed tomography scanner at 100 kVp using highly concentrated contrast material (85 mL Iomeprol; 400 mg iodine/mL). The protocol entailed a flow rate of 5 mL/s and 90 mAs for group A, 3.