AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2017
The "White Gray Sign" Identifies the Central Sulcus on 3T High-Resolution T1-Weighted Images.
The central sulcus is an important anatomic landmark, but most methods of identifying it rely on variable gyral and sulcal patterns. We describe and assess the accuracy of reduced gray-white contrast along the central sulcus, an observation we term the "white gray sign." ⋯ Reduced gray-white contrast around the central sulcus is a reliable sign for identification of the central sulcus on 3D inversion recovery fast-spoiled gradient-echo images.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2017
MRI Atlas-Based Measurement of Spinal Cord Injury Predicts Outcome in Acute Flaccid Myelitis.
Recent advances in spinal cord imaging analysis have led to the development of a robust anatomic template and atlas incorporated into an open-source platform referred to as the Spinal Cord Toolbox. Using the Spinal Cord Toolbox, we sought to correlate measures of GM, WM, and cross-sectional area pathology on T2 MR imaging with motor disability in patients with acute flaccid myelitis. ⋯ Atlas-based measures of proportion of GM T2 signal abnormality measured on a single axial MR imaging section and across the full lesion segment correlate with motor impairment and outcome in patients with acute flaccid myelitis. This is the first atlas-based study to correlate clinical outcomes with segmented measures of T2 signal abnormality in the spinal cord.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2017
Measurement of Cortical Thickness and Volume of Subcortical Structures in Multiple Sclerosis: Agreement between 2D Spin-Echo and 3D MPRAGE T1-Weighted Images.
Gray matter pathology is known to occur in multiple sclerosis and is related to disease outcomes. FreeSurfer and the FMRIB Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool (FIRST) have been developed for measuring cortical and subcortical gray matter in 3D-gradient-echo T1-weighted images. Unfortunately, most historical MS cohorts do not have 3D-gradient-echo, but 2D-spin-echo images instead. We aimed to evaluate whether cortical thickness and the volume of subcortical structures measured with FreeSurfer and FIRST could be reliably measured in 2D-spin-echo images and to investigate the strength and direction of clinicoradiologic correlations. ⋯ Cortical thickness estimates with FreeSurfer on 2D-spin-echo images are inaccurate. Subcortical volume estimates obtained with FreeSurfer and FIRST on 2D-spin-echo images seem to be reliable, with acceptable clinicoradiologic correlations for FreeSurfer.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Feb 2017
Impact of MR Neurography in Patients with Chronic Cauda Equina Syndrome Presenting as Chronic Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction.
Chronic cauda equina syndrome, defined as persistent damage of the cauda equina nerve roots within the spinal canal can be a challenging diagnosis with varied presentations. MR neurography imaging is more commonly being used to evaluate the lumbosacral spine of patients suspected of having subacute or chronic cauda equina syndrome. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of lumbosacral plexus MR neurography in the diagnostic thinking and therapeutic management of patients presenting with chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction and suspected chronic cauda equina syndrome. ⋯ MR neurography impacts the diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients with suspected chronic cauda equina syndrome.
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AJNR Am J Neuroradiol · Jan 2017
Multicenter StudyHippocampal and Deep Gray Matter Nuclei Atrophy Is Relevant for Explaining Cognitive Impairment in MS: A Multicenter Study.
The structural MR imaging correlates of cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis are still debated. This study assessed lesional and atrophy measures of white matter and gray matter involvement in patients with MS acquired in 7 European sites to identify the MR imaging variables most closely associated with cognitive dysfunction. ⋯ Hippocampal and deep GM nuclei atrophy are key factors associated with cognitive impairment in MS. These MR imaging measures could be applied in a multicenter context, with cognition as clinical outcome.