European journal of radiology
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The aim of this review is to discuss the indications and use of MR imaging (MRI) in the paediatric musculoskeletal system. After briefly reviewing basic technical considerations the MRI appearance of the most relevant congenital, inflammatory, infectious, ischemic, and posttraumatic skeletal conditions, as well as benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumours that are typical for the paediatric age group will be presented.
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This paper discusses the main types of MRI pseudotumors in and around the shoulder region. Some unusual types of pseudotumor will also be mentioned. Suggestions on how to improve awareness and diagnosis are also given.
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Diffusion-weighted sequence (DWI) of the entire body is a new promising technique feasible to evaluate multifocal disease. DWI has revealed great potential in the evaluation of patients with cancer or benign disease, as it supplies both quantitative and qualitative information of the whole body. ⋯ A complete whole-body MR imaging protocol including the DWI can be performed in less than 40 min. The possibilities, limitations and the preliminary clinical results of the whole-body MR imaging using a DWI of the entire body are reviewed.
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Functional magnetic resonance imaging technique is a non-invasive tool that is capable to detect the subtle hemodynamic changes produced during regional brain activation. Functional MRI applications in epilepsy patients are language lateralization and mapping, memory function assessment and localization of ictal and interictal changes. ⋯ A new application is ictal or interictal functional MRI with EEG recording that provides more detailed information about simultaneous electrographic and hemodynamic changes during interictal discharges or EEG seizures. This technique seems to have encouraging results to localize the epileptogenic area and to study propagation patterns.
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Since its approval by the FDA in 2000, brain MR imaging at 3.0 T has been increasingly used in clinical practice. Theoretically, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a 3T MR scanner will be double that of a 1.5 T scanner. ⋯ Today, using a 3T magnet in Neuroradiology has far more advantages than disadvantages, and the diagnostic potential of higher strength magnets for structural and vascular scans, diffusion and perfusion imaging, spectroscopy and cortical activation studies is improving. However, it is useful to have an awareness of how increasing field strength affects each of these techniques so that full advantage may be taken of them.