A cervical flexion-extension MRI study in Down syndrome.

Objective: To assess what kind of information MR examination in flexed and extended positions provides in Down syndrome subjects with suspected cranio-cervical instability.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2008, 35 subjects with DS were recruited in the study. Ethics committee approval was granted and a signed informed consent was obtained from the parents.

Role of multidetector CT in the recognition of hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) in patients with acute cerebral ischaemia: correlation with DWI-MRI sequences and clinical data.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to verify the sensitivity and specificity of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) obtained by multidetector computed tomography (CT) in predicting acute stroke, using diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a reference. The location of the HMCAS, the extension of the ischaemic lesion and its prognostic value were also assessed.

Materials And Methods: The CT examinations of 654 patients with symptoms related to acute cerebral stroke were retrospectively reviewed.

Cardiac magnetic resonance evaluation of the impact of interventricular and intraventricular dyssynchrony on cardiac ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with isolated left bundle branch block.

Ventricular dyssynchrony significantly impairs cardiac performance. However, the independent role of interventricular dyssynchrony (interVD) and intraventricular dyssynchrony (intraVD) in the development of abnormalities of systolic and diastolic performance is unclear. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 39 patients with left bundle branch block and 13 healthy patients.

Asymmetric posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in patient with hyperplastic anterior choroidal artery.

We describe a case of asymmetric PRES due to the presence of hyperplastic anterior choroidal artery (AChA) in a man affected by sever hypertension. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) has become synonymous with a unique pattern of brain vasogenic edema and predominates in the parietal and occipital regions, accompanied by clinical neurological alterations. Sever hypertension is a risk factor that exceeds the limits of brain autoregulation, leading to breakthrough brain edema.

Identification of the pyramidal tract by neuronavigation based on intraoperative magnetic resonance tractography: correlation with subcortical stimulation.

Objective: To demonstrate the accuracy of magnetic resonance tractograpghy (MRT) in localizing the cortical spinal tract (CST) close to brain tumours by using intraoperative electric subcortical stimulation.

Methods: Nine patients with intra-axial brain tumours underwent neurosurgery. Planning was based on analysis of the course of streamlines compatible with the CST.

Selective white matter involvement in a patient with late onset Krabbe disease: MR, MR spectroscopy, and diffusion tensor study.

The most frequent type of Krabbe disease has an infantile onset. Unusual slowly progressive adult forms have also been described. We described a different involvement of white matter tracts where magnetic resonance signal alterations were evident in a case of a patient affected by late-onset form of disease.

Fiber density index, fractional anisotropy, adc and clinical motor findings in the white matter of patients with glioblastoma.

Whether fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and fiber density index (FDi) values differ in the white matter close to glioblastomas of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients was investigated. Twenty patients with glioblastomas underwent magnetic resonance imaging study. The FDi, FA and ADC values were calculated in areas of white matter in close proximity to the tumor (perWM) and encompassing fibers of cortico-spinal tract and in the contralateral normal-appearing white matter (nWM).

Long term evaluation of brain perfusion with magnetic resonance in high flow extracranial-intracranial saphenous graft bypass.

Assessment was made of the cerebral vascular haemodynamic parameters in patients with a high-flow extra-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass performed for therapeutic occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Sixteen patients with ICA occlusion and EC-IC bypass (time interval from surgery 1-6 years) underwent MRI. Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (PW-MRI) sequences were performed without the use of an arterial input function.

Migraine with aura, bipolar depression, ACM aneurysm. A case report.

B.D. is a 48-year-old professional woman.

Role of contrast-enhanced MR venography in the preoperative evaluation of parasagittal meningiomas.

Parasagittal meningiomas (PSM) may pose a difficult surgical challenge since venous patency and collateral anastomoses have to be clearly defined for correct surgical planning. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance venography (MRV) in the preoperative evaluation of venous infiltration and collateral venous anastomoses in patients with PSM. CE-MRV was compared with phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, conventional angiography (when available), and surgery as a reference.

Magnetic resonance imaging in Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: report of three cases and review of literature.

Introduction: Eclampsia is one of the main causes of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) a recent clinico-neuroradiological entity represented by characteristic MR findings of a symmetric bilateral subcortical/cortical hyperintensity in T2-weighted images, more often in parieto-occipital lobes, accompanied by clinical neurological alterations. Neuroradiological and clinical alterations are commonly completely reversible although ischemic evolution has been described. The pathophysiology is still a matter of debate.

Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging: clinical applications in neuroradiology.

Among functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) plays an important role in the assessment of a wide variety of brain diseases. DWI provides image contrast that depends on the molecular motion of water and it can be easily added to a standard cranial MR examination, with limited increase in time (imaging time ranges from a few seconds to 2 minutes). DWI is particularly sensitive in the detection of acute ischaemic stroke and in monitoring its evolution (also in the light of new therapeutic strategies for early treatment).

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the early diagnosis of periventricular leukomalacia.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been shown to be highly sensitive in detecting acute cerebral infarction, but its use in detecting hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates is still controversial. Moreover, few reports concern pre-term infants with possible periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). We examined the ability of this technique to detect cerebral changes in the acute phase of PVL.

Cerebrospinal fluid changes after intravenous injection of gadolinium chelate: assessment by FLAIR MR imaging.

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence is currently used in clinical practice. Some reports emphasize the possibility that, in pathologic conditions, intravenous injection of gadolinium chelates may lead to an increased signal inside the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of CSF signal changes in pathologic conditions causing blood-brain barrier disruption or neovascularization when imaging is performed after intravenous injection of gadolinium.

Hemodynamic modifications in patients with symptomatic unilateral stenosis of the internal carotid artery: evaluation with MR imaging perfusion sequences.

Background And Purpose: Risk of developing ischemia is higher in patients with reduced cerebrovascular reactivity than in those with preserved cerebrovascular reactivity. Therefore, we assessed cerebral hemodynamic modifications in patients with unilateral stenosis of the internal carotid artery by using perfusion-weighted MR imaging to determine if these modifications underlie or anticipate ischemic signs and symptoms.

Methods: Fifteen patients with unilateral 70-90% carotid artery stenosis were studied with digital subtraction angiography and perfusion-weighted MR imaging.