Simulation and evaluation of increased imaging service capacity at the MRI department using reduced coil-setting times.

The wait times for patients from their appointments to receiving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are usually long. To reduce this wait time, the present study proposed that service time wastage could be reduced by adjusting MRI examination scheduling by prioritizing patients who require examinations involving the same type of coil. This approach can reduce patient wait times and thereby maximize MRI departments' service times.

Evaluate the Differences in CT Features and Serum IgG4 Levels between Lymphoma and Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease of the Orbit.

Background: Benign immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related orbital disease (IgG4-ROD)-characterized as tumors mimicking malignant orbital lymphoma (OL)-responds well to steroids, instead of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery of OL. The objective of this study was to report the differences in computed tomography (CT) features and- serum IgG4 levels of IgG4-ROD and OL.

Methods: This study retrieved records for patients with OL and IgG4-ROD from a pathology database during an eight-year-and-five-month period.

Clinical considerations and surgical approaches for low-grade gliomas in deep hemispheric locations: thalamic lesions.

Background: Tumors with epicenter in the thalamus occur in about 4 % of pediatric brain tumors. The histological diagnosis is mainly gliomas. Among them, low-grade glioma (LGG) constituted of a significant entity of the tumors (Cuccia et al.

Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Atypical and Anaplastic Meningiomas.

Background: Atypical and anaplastic meningiomas have much higher recurrence rates after surgical resection compared with benign meningiomas, but the role of adjuvant radiosurgery remains unclear. This study was undertaken to evaluate the outcomes of gamma knife radiosurgery for patients with atypical and anaplastic meningiomas.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database, 46 patients with histologically proven atypical or anaplastic meningiomas by current World Health Organization (WHO) criteria underwent postoperative Gamma Knife radiosurgery between 1993 and 2013.

Factors affecting survival of medulloblastoma in children: the changing concept of management.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a type of malignant tumor arising only in the cerebellum that was first defined by Cushing and Bailey in 1920s. In this review paper, we trace the evolution of risk stratification and the correlated changing concept of management in the past years. Outcome analysis of the hospital series of the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, and Taipei Medical University Hospital was performed to correlate prognostic indicators with reported studies.

Prognosis of glioblastoma with faint MGMT methylation-specific PCR product.

Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) for the promoter methylation status of O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltranferase (MGMT) gene theoretically provides a positive or negative result. However, the faint MSP product is difficult to interpret. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of faint MSP product in glioblastoma (GBM).

Exclusion of histiocytes/endothelial cells and using endothelial cells as internal reference are crucial for interpretation of MGMT immunohistochemistry in glioblastoma.

We evaluated the predictive value of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) protein expression and MGMT promoter methylation status in glioblastomas (GBM) treated with temozolomide (TMZ) in a Taiwan medical center. Protein expression by immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) and MGMT promoter methylation detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) were performed in a series of 107 newly diagnosed GBMs. We used endothelial cells as an internal reference for IHC staining because the staining intensities of the MGMT-expressing cells in different specimens varied considerably; a positive result was defined as the staining intensity of the majority of tumor cells similar to that of the adjacent endothelial cells.

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas: natural history and rationale for treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are abnormal arteriovenous communications within the dura. The symptoms depend on their location and the pattern of the venous drainage. Patients with cavernous sinus DAVFs often present with ocular manifestations such as exophthalmos, chemosis and diplopia.

Prenatal diagnosis of schizencephaly with septo-optic dysplasia by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

A 28-year-old woman, gravida 1, para 0, was referred to our fetal diagnosis unit at 28(+2) gestational weeks because no fetal movements were detected. On 2-D ultrasonography, the cephalic axial view showed multiple hypoechoic spaces in the fetal brain, both cerebral cortex and occipital lobe showed bilateral defects, and the septum pellucidum was absent. Multiple irregularly shaped cystic lesions connected with subarachnoid spaces were observed by three-dimensional ultrasonography in surface rendering mode.

Paradoxical carbon dioxide embolism during pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery for a huge renal angiomyolipoma.

We present a case of paradoxical gas embolism during CO2 insufflation in laparoscopic nephrectomy for a huge renal angiomyolipoma. Paradoxical CO2 embolism in the left heart chambers without demonstrable intracardiac right-to-left shunt was detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The surgical procedure was stopped immediately, but the patient recovered with mild neurologic deficit.

Prenatal diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.

A 36-year-old multigravida, G2P1, underwent routine ultrasound scan at 22+1 weeks of gestation, which revealed a single normally growing fetus with left intrathoracic mass and left displacement of the cardiac apex. The left intrathoracic wedge-shaped hyperechogenic mass, measuring 32 x 25 mm in size, was situated at the lower portion of the left lung. A combination of color and power Doppler ultrasound allowed visualization of a vessel arising from the descending aorta, which supplied the mass.

Radiation carotid blowout syndrome in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: angiographic features and endovascular management.

Objective: To report clinical manifestations, angiographic features, and outcomes of endovascular management in 14 patients with 15 radiation carotid blowout syndromes of nasopharyngeal carcinomas.

Study Design And Subjects: Retrospective chart review of 14 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinomas (mean age 49 years) with 15 radiation carotid blowout syndromes who had undergone endovascular embolization to manage oronasal bleeding in the past 10 years.

Results: Average radiation dose to affected carotid artery was 73 gray units (latent period: 33 months).

Primary pediatric brain tumors: statistics of Taipei VGH, Taiwan (1975-2004).

Background: The purpose of the current study was to investigate a hospital series of 986 cases of primary pediatric brain tumors in Taiwan.

Methods: The authors reviewed the database of primary pediatric brain tumors in patients < 18 years of age collected in Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taipei VGH) from 1975 to May 2004. Age and gender distribution, location, and classification of brain tumors were analyzed.

Gamma knife surgery for cavernous hemangiomas: an analysis of 125 patients.

Object: The authors sought to determine the value of gamma knife surgery (GKS) in the treatment of cavernous hemangiomas (CHs).

Methods: Between 1993 and 2002, a total of 125 patients with symptomatic CHs were treated with GKS. Ninety-seven patients presented with bleeding and 45 of these had at least two bleeding episodes.

Contrast enhancement patterns of acute spinal epidural hematomas: a report of two cases.

The MR finding of an acute spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) can mimic epidural neoplastic or inflammatory lesions, because acute SEH appears hypointense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. We report on two cases of acute SEH with unusual contrast enhancement patterns on MR images. Contrast enhancement can be an MR finding of acute SEH, especially in bleeding diathesis, which indicates an active lesion that needs early diagnosis and management.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for the treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas involving the transverse-sigmoid sinus.

Object: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of radiosurgery for the treatment of dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) located in the region of the transverse-sigmoid sinus.

Methods: A series of 20 patients with DAVFs located in the transverse-sigmoid sinus, who were treated with gamma knife surgery between June 1995 and June 2000, was evaluated. According to the Cognard classification, the DAVF was Type I in four patients.