T1w/FLAIR ratio standardization as a myelin marker in MS patients.

Introduction: Calculation of a T1w/T2w ratio was introduced as a proxy for myelin integrity in the brain of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Since nowadays 3D FLAIR is commonly used for lesion detection instead of T2w images, we introduce a T1w/FLAIR ratio as an alternative for the T1w/T2w ratio.

Objectives: Bias and intensity variation are widely present between different scanners, between subjects and within subjects over time in T1w, T2w and FLAIR images.

Demographic changes in brain CT and MR imaging between 1990 and 2010.

Study Objective: During the last decades, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have revolutionized neuro-imaging. Nowadays these techniques are routinely used, but the extent and variation of use has been investigated poorly. Our purposes were to retrospectively determine the evolution in demographic variables and indications of cranial CT and MRI scanning in 1993, 2000 and 2009, at our hospital.

Staging of lung cancer. Do we need a diagnostic CT of the brain after an integrated PET/CT for the detection of brain metastases?

Brain CT has been recommended in staging of patients with lung cancer because of its usefulness in the detection of metastases. Purpose of this study is to examine if a diagnostic brain CT (CT,) can be obviated when an integrated PET/CT (PET/CT) is available. 87 consecutive patients underwent a diagnostic brain CT and a whole-body PET/CT within a period of 3 weeks to stage a known primary tumour.

Angiographic confirmation of brain death after decompressive craniectomy for posttraumatic brain oedema.

In patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy for brain oedema, angiography for the assessment of brain death can show filling of the intracranial supratentorial arteries.This does not exclude brain death, provided circulatory arrest and absence of venous drainage are present.

Conventional MRI of epilepsy in children.

The imaging findings in childhood epilepsy are different from the findings in adults. The present article describes the major features of symptomatic epilepsy syndromes and stresses the sometimes typical abnormalities.

Epidermoid cyst of the fourth ventricle: diffusion-weighted and flair MR imaging findings.

Fourth ventricle epidermoid cysts are rare lesions, arising from epithelial remnants at the time of neural tube closure. They are well-defined CT hypoattenuated masses that resemble CSF on all conventional MR imaging sequences. We present a case of a pathological proven less common fourth ventricle epidermoid cyst with special emphasis on the use of FLAIR and EPI-DW imaging sequences in the diagnosis.

Hypertensive brain stem encephalopathy in a patient with chronic renal failure.

Hypertensive brain stem encephalopathy is a rare disorder that can be seen in severe hypertensive encephalopathy. Patients with chronic renal failure are more prone to develop this disorder because a mild elevation of the blood pressure can already induce brain changes. It is important to diagnose this entity as soon as possible because the symptoms and brain stem lesions are reversible following treatment and because it is important to exclude brain stem ischemia in the diagnostic work-up.

[Radiology versus medical imaging].

In an increasing number of hospitals in Belgium, the radiologists are changing the names from their department from "radiology" to "medical imaging". The reasons behind this change remain unclear and it is certainly not a good move in a time where turf battles will increase.

Intra-axial brain tumours.

The radiological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of intra-axial tumours no longer relies on CT scan and routine MR sequences alone. Standard multiplanar imaging has to be combined with fMRI to allow the exact anatomic location of the lesion and precise determination of the extension of the tumour. Perfusion and diffusion MR is becoming more and more important in the differential diagnosis of cerebral mass lesions and in the grading and typing of gliomas.

Sequences and techniques in spinal MR imaging.

The optimal protocol in spinal MR imaging is not evident. Sagittal T2 weighted FSE, sagittal T1 weighted SE and axial T2 weighted FSE sequences are widely accepted for imaging patients with sciatica and/or lumbar pain. Because of the limited amount of CSF compared to the lumbar spine, the choice of sequences is much more complex in the study of the cervical spine.

From X-rays to radiofrequency waves or the changing practice of diagnostic neuroradiology: imaging, health care and economical aspects.

Over the past 25 years, radiology has become an increasingly important diagnostic technique in medicine. The majority of radiological techniques still use x-rays, despite the availability of other techniques that do not use ionising radiation. The diagnostic work-up of patients with neurological disorders underwent significant changes in the past 20 years parallel with the advances in medical technology.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging findings in a patient with herpes simplex encephalitis.

Introduction: Herpes simplex meningoencephalitis is one of the most common viral central nervous system infection in adults. Early diagnosis is essential for treatment.

Case Report: We present a case of a 68-year-old female patient with herpes simplex infection.

An unusual case of hearing loss and cerebellar pathology.

This paper describes an unusual case of neurofibromatosis type I unidentified clinically and diagnosed with MRI. Both the enhancement features and the localization in the cerebellum and corpus callosum are atypical.

Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma: a potentially malignant tumor?

Desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma is a rare intracranial tumor of early childhood with a usually excellent prognosis despite malignant features both radiologically and histologically. We present the case of a desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma with histologically highly anaplastic features and both intracerebral and pial metastases. After partial resection the tumor was rapidly progressive and new metastases appeared.

CT and MR in infants with pericerebral collections and macrocephaly: benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces versus subdural collections.

Purpose: To compare CT and MR in the differentiation of benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces and subdural collections in infants with macrocephaly.

Methods: MR was performed in 19 infants with macrocephaly, showing bifrontal enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces on CT.

Results: In 11 patients, a single fluid layer could be distinguished on MR of the pericerebral collections, suggesting benign enlargement of the subarachnoid spaces.