Glymphatic system in Pantothenase kinase associated neurodegeneration (PKAN).

Purpose: To investigate if accumulation of iron in the globus pallidus as seen in patients suffering from Pantothenase Kinase Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN), is related to damage of the cerebral glymphatic system.

Material And Methods: In a group of 24 patients and an age-matched control group, functionality of the glymphatic system was assessed by the index of Analysis aLong the Perivascular Space (ALPS) from Diffusion Tensor Imaging data and correlated to the values of the T2∗ Times of the globus pallidus and the cerebral white matter measured by a Fast Field Echo sequence.

Results: In spite of the important reduction of the T2∗ Time of the globus pallidus, ALPS values of patients and controls were very similar and did not correlate to T2∗Time values in either group.

[Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis in patients with epilepsy living in the south-western Dominican Republic].

Introduction: Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a possible cause of epilepsy with limited epidemiological data in the Dominican Republic, is endemic in four provinces in the country's south-western region. This study aimed to determine the association between NCC and epilepsy among people living in these endemic regions, and to obtain preliminary data on the prevalence of NCC in these provinces.

Patients And Methods: A case-control design was used, consisting of 111 patients with epilepsy with unknown causes, and 60 controls without epilepsy or NCC.

Can Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) maps replace Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) maps to predict the volumetric response of meningiomas to Gamma Knife Radiosurgery?

Purpose: Noninvasive methods are desired to predict the treatment response to Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) to improve individual tumor management. In a previous study, we demonstrated that Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)-derived parameter maps significantly correlate to SRS response. This study aimed to analyze and compare the predictive value of intratumoral ADC and DTI parameters in patients with meningiomas undergoing radiosurgery.

MRI radiomics in the prediction of the volumetric response in meningiomas after gamma knife radiosurgery.

Purpose: This report presents the first investigation of the radiomics value in predicting the meningioma volumetric response to gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS).

Methods: The retrospective study included 93 meningioma patients imaged by three Tesla MRI. Tumor morphology was quantified by calculating 337 shape, first- and second-order radiomic features from MRI obtained before GKRS.

Cerebral and cerebellar white matter tract alterations in patients with Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN).

Background: To examine structural connectivity of white matter tracts in patients with Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN) dystonia and identify those ones which correlate negatively to severity of symptoms.

Methods: In a group of 41 patients suffering from PKAN dystonia and an age- and gender-matched control group, white matter tractography was carried out, based on diffusion tensor imaging magnetic resonance data. Postprocessing included assessment of Quantitative Anisotropy (QA) using q-space diffeomorphic reconstruction in order to reduce influence of iron accumulation in globus pallidus of patients.