Diffusion tensor imaging in acquired blind humans.

Retinal implants as a future possible therapy of blindness rely on an intact neural transmission from the retina to the primary visual cortex. By now it remains unknown, in how far the absence of afferent input in blindness affects also the organization of the optic radiation. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), the non-invasive evaluation of large fiber tracts including the optic radiation has become possible.

MR-imaging of thrombus in extra- and intracranial arteries employing balanced fast-field echo MRI.

Causes of stroke in young adults include a variety of disorders that are less frequently seen in older patients. We report the case of a young patient, who suffered recurrent mild embolic infarctions from a free-floating thrombus formation of the internal carotid artery bulb. During preoperative preparation, the thrombus dislodged and led to middle cerebral artery occlusion and major stroke.

Diffusion-tensor imaging in septo-optic dysplasia.

One of the morphological correlates of septo-optic dysplasia is hypoplasia of the optic nerves. As of now, it remains unknown, in how far this disorder also affects the organization of the optic radiation. Using diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI), the non-invasive evaluation of large fiber tracts including the optic radiation has become possible.

Detection of intracranial aneurysms with multislice CT: comparison with conventional angiography.

We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of multislice CT in detection of intracranial aneurysms in patients presenting with subarachnoid or intracranial haemorrhage. Multislice CT and multiplanar digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images were obtained in 50 consecutive patients presenting with subarachnoid (SAH) and/or intracranial haemorrhage and reviewed by three neuroradiologists for the number, size and site of any aneurysms. The CT data were assessed using multiplanar reformats (MPR), maximum-intensity projections (MIP), surface-shaded display (SSD) and volume-rendering (VRT).

Imaging of postthalamic visual fiber tracts by anisotropic diffusion weighted MRI and diffusion tensor imaging: principles and applications.

Diffusion weighted MRI offers the possibility to study the course of the cerebral white matter tracts. In the present manuscript, the basics, the technique and the limitations of diffusion tensor imaging and anisotropic diffusion weighted MRI are presented and their applications in various neurological and neurosurgical diseases are discussed with special emphasis on the visual system. A special focus is laid on the combination of fiber tract imaging, anatomical imaging and functional MRI for presurgical planning and intraoperative neuronavigation of lesions near the visual system.

Lumbar nerve root avulsion following trauma: balanced fast field-echo MRI.

Lumbosacral nerve root avulsion uncommonly complicates major trauma. Most patients also have pelvic or lumbar fractures. We present a patient who had a high-velocity vehicle accident with traumatic hip dislocation without fractures of the spine or pelvis.

Factors related to the magnitude of T2* MR signal changes during functional imaging.

Our aim was to determine whether age, sex, the degree of weakness, anticonvulsants, the histology of the underlying lesion(s), the presence of oedema or the distance of the lesion from the motor region have an impact on the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal strength and therefore on the validity of functional MRI (fMRI). We studied 98 patients with masses near the central region imaged for surgical planning at 1.5 tesla, employing a BOLD sequence during a motor task.