AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyA computer-generated stereotactic "Virtual Subdural Grid" to guide resective epilepsy surgery.
In selected patients undergoing epilepsy surgery, subdural electrode grids play an important role in localizing the epileptogenic zone and identifying eloquent cortex. Determining the relationship of the electrodes to underlying brain architecture traditionally has been difficult. This report describes and validates the use of an original computer-aided method that displays a representation of the electrode positions, based on postimplantation CT or MR findings, coregistered with a 3D-rendered image of the brain, on an image-guided surgery system. ⋯ The Virtual Grid electrode positions were highly accurate in localizing the actual position of the subdural electrodes with both CT- and MR-derived images. The MR-derived electrodes demonstrated a trend toward better accuracy, but the CT images were quicker and easier to process. This technology has the potential to minimize both human and technical errors, allowing for a more precise tailoring of the cortical resection in epilepsy surgery.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Jan 2004
Case ReportsManagement of patients with stunned myocardium associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Cardiac complications are well known after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Electrocardiographic changes occur in 50% to 100% of such cases. Arrhythmias, left ventricular dysfunction, and frank myocardial infarction are infrequently observed. ⋯ Frequent symptomatic vasospasm occurs, possibly related to poor cardiac output and the inability to optimize hyperdynamic hypervolemic therapy, particularly with compromised volume status. These patients can be treated with endovascular therapy of the aneurysms and balloon angioplasty as needed. With aggressive management, patients can recover from these reversible cardiac complications.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2003
Comparative StudyGlioma grading: sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of perfusion MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopic imaging compared with conventional MR imaging.
Sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of conventional MR imaging in predicting glioma grade are not high. Relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) measurements derived from perfusion MR imaging and metabolite ratios from proton MR spectroscopy are useful in predicting glioma grade. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of perfusion MR imaging and MR spectroscopy compared with conventional MR imaging in grading primary gliomas. ⋯ The rCBV measurements and metabolite ratios both individually and in combination can increase the sensitivity and PPV when compared with conventional MR imaging alone in determining glioma grade. The rCBV measurements had the most superior diagnostic performance (either with or without metabolite ratios) in predicting glioma grade. Threshold values can be used in a clinical setting to evaluate tumors preoperatively for histologic grade and provide a means for guiding treatment and predicting postoperative patient outcome.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2003
Gray matter N-acetyl aspartate deficits in secondary progressive but not relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Spectroscopic examination of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has revealed abnormally low N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) signal intensity, even in brain tissue that appears normal on high-resolution structural MR images but has yielded inconclusive evidence to distinguish the well-documented clinical differences between MS subtypes. This study used proton MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and high-resolution MR imaging to characterize metabolite profiles in normal-appearing brain tissue of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive (SP) MS. ⋯ The otherwise occult abnormality in supratentorial gray matter in SPMS but not RRMS may explain the more severe physical and cognitive impairments afflicting patients with SPMS that do not correlate well with visible lesion burden.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Nov 2003
Dirty-appearing white matter in multiple sclerosis: volumetric MR imaging and magnetization transfer ratio histogram analysis.
In contrast to "normal-appearing" white matter (NAWM) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), there are subtle, abnormal and diffuse signal intensity changes often seen on T2-weighted MR images, which we have referred to as "dirty-appearing" white matter (DAWM). These areas of DAWM have slightly higher signal intensity than that of NAWM, but lower than that of lesion plaques. Our study was designed to determine the volumetric and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) features of DAWM in patients with MS. ⋯ The results of this study indicate that MTR is able to differentiate DAWM from lesion plaques and NAWM and that DAWM might be a different pathologic process of the disease. The notion and quantification of these subtle imaging findings of DAWM areas may improve our understanding of certain stages of disease progression and disease burden in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.