Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Aug 2008
Comparative StudyMRI vs. ultrasound for suspected appendicitis during pregnancy.
To compare the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of ultrasound (US) and MRI in evaluation of pregnant patients with a clinical suspicion of appendicitis. ⋯ Based on a relatively small number of true-positives, our data suggests that MRI is very useful for the diagnosis and exclusion of appendicitis in pregnant women.
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Aug 2008
Automatic correction of intensity inhomogeneities improves unsupervised assessment of abdominal fat by MRI.
To demonstrate that unsupervised assessment of abdominal adipose tissue distribution by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be improved by integrating automatic correction of signal inhomogeneities. ⋯ The results of this study suggest that the compensation of signal inhomogeneities greatly improves the effectiveness of the unsupervised assessment of abdominal fat. Correction of intensity distortions is important in SAT evaluation and less significant in VAT measurement.
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Aug 2008
Comparative StudyComparison of different contrast agents and doses for quantitative MR myocardial perfusion imaging.
To investigate three different contrast agents at different injection volumes for repetitive quantitative multislice myocardial perfusion imaging using the prebolus technique. ⋯ Prebolus examinations for quantitative myocardial perfusion imaging are possible with all three contrast agents for sufficient small injection volumes. Gd-BOPTA was found to be advantageous for a combined quantitative rest and stress examination.
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To develop an MR-guided technique for direct magnetic resonance arthrography (DMRA) of the hip using a conventional 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scanner. ⋯ This work demonstrates the feasibility of performing DMRA using MR guidance, avoiding the need for X-ray fluoroscopy facilities but exploiting the available imaging performance of a high-field closed-bore MR system. The use of an in room control and display system together with interactive fluoroscopic imaging sequences simplifies the positioning of the needle and allows rapid confirmation of an intra-articular injection.
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J Magn Reson Imaging · Jul 2008
T2- and diffusion-maps reveal diurnal changes of intervertebral disc composition: an in vivo MRI study at 1.5 Tesla.
To investigate the lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs) by MRI in the morning and evening after a diurnal load cycle. Changes in MR characteristics (T2-weighted imaging, T2- and apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] -mapping) during the course of the day were visualized and analyzed visually and quantitatively. The length of the lumbar spine was measured in between the lower anterior edge of Th12 and the upper anterior edge of S1. T2 changes and diffusion characteristics of the vertebral disc tissue were investigated with a higher spatial resolution than in former studies. ⋯ T2 and diffusion (ADC) changes of IVDs in humans were investigated with a spatial differentiation between NP and AF. T2 and ADC turned out to be sensitive parameters in investigating changes in the MR characteristics of the IVD matrix during a day. Highly resolved MR imaging and parameter mapping is expected to be an interesting tool in characterizing structural changes in the vertebral disc architecture in an early stage of degeneration.