Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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The lumbosacral plexus is a complex anatomic area that serves as the conduit of innervation and sensory information to and from the lower extremities. It is formed by the ventral rami of the lumbar and sacral spine which then combine into larger nerves serving the pelvis and lower extremities. It can be a source of severe disability and morbidity for patients when afflicted with pathology. ⋯ It can identify the cause for disability, indicate prognosis for improvement, and be a tool for delivery of interventions. Knowledge of proper MR protocols and imaging features is key for appropriate and timely diagnosis. Here we discuss the relevant anatomy of the lumbosacral plexus, appropriate imaging techniques for its evaluation, and discuss the variety of pathologies that may afflict it.
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Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values assist differentiating malignancy grades in pediatric cerebellar tumors. Previous studies reported the significance of ADC measurements within the solid, contrast-enhancing tumor component (SCT). These measurements take into account only a part of the tumor. In this study, we compared ADC measurements of the SCT versus entire tumor (ET). ⋯ A rigorous ADC measurement of the SCT has a higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting tumor grade compared to ADC measurement of the ET.
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Radiation myelopathy (RM) is a rare complication of spinal cord irradiation. Diagnosis is based on the history of radiotherapy, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord. ⋯ We observed areas of restricted diffusion within the spinal cord which probably corresponded to the ischemic changes. This would concur with the currently accepted pathogenetic theory concerning RM.
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Ephedrone encephalopathy is referred to as a group of symptoms of manganese deposition within the central nervous system (CNS), resulting from the abuse of ephedrone (methcathinone), obtained in reaction using the excess amount of manganese-containing oxidants. The diagnosis is based on the contrast-enhanced head MRI findings characteristic for this syndrome, clinical manifestation and history of ephedrone use. The syndrome has been reported in recent years in young people from Eastern Europe and Russia with a history of ephedrone overuse. However, no report has ever been published on ephedrone encephalopathy in Polish patients.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of Automated Brain Volume Measures obtained with NeuroQuant® and FreeSurfer.
To examine intermethod reliabilities and differences between FreeSurfer and the FDA-cleared congener, NeuroQuant, both fully automated methods for structural brain MRI measurements. ⋯ NeuroQuant and FreeSurfer showed good to excellent intermethod reliability in volumetric measurements for all brain regions examined with the only exceptions being the pallidum and cerebellar white matter. This finding was robust for normal individuals, patients with Alzheimer's disease, and patients with mild traumatic brain injury.