Magnetic resonance imaging clinics of North America
-
Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am · May 2009
ReviewDiffusion-weighted imaging, diffusion-tensor imaging, and fiber tractography of the spinal cord.
In the brain, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an established and reliable method for the characterization of neurologic lesions. Although the diagnostic value of DWI in the early detection of ischemia has not diminished with time, many new clinical applications of DWI have also emerged. ⋯ Diffusion-tensor imaging and fiber tractography are proving to be useful in clinical neuroradiology practice, with application to several categories of disease, and to be a powerful research tool. This article describes some of the applications of DWI and diffusion-tensor imaging in the evaluation of the diseases of the spinal cord.
-
Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am · May 2009
ReviewDiffusion MR tractography as a tool for surgical planning.
Diffusion MR tractography has rapidly become an important clinical tool that can delineate functionally important white matter tracts for surgical planning. One of the goals of brain surgery is to avoid damage to eloquent cortex and subcortical white matter. ⋯ This article reviews the technical and clinical issues surrounding presurgical diffusion tractography, including traditional diffusion tensor imaging methods and more advanced high angular resolution diffusion imaging approaches, such as q-ball imaging. An overview of the presurgical diffusion tensor imaging and q-ball tractography protocols used at our institution is also provided.
-
This article discusses the basic principles of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MR imaging) of the breast, including technical parameters, image acquisition, and image interpretation. Clinical DCE-MR imaging of the breast has undergone considerable growth from a once investigational technique to an important clinical tool in widespread use. Progress in MR technology and refinement of MR imaging parameters now allow for concurrent acquisition of high-spatial-resolution and adequate-temporal-resolution images, which are necessary for accurate assessment of breast lesion morphology and qualitative kinetic analysis. More advanced DCE-MR imaging techniques involving higher-temporal-resolution images and rigorous quantitative analysis of the time signal enhancement curves are currently an area of research.
-
Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am · May 2009
ReviewDiffusion-weighted MR imaging in musculoskeletal radiology: applications in trauma, tumors, and inflammation.
Diffusion-weighted imaging is a noninvasive magnetic resonance technique that is capable of measuring icroscopic movement of water molecules (ie, random or Brownian motion) within biologic tissues. Diffusion weighting is achieved with a pulsed-field gradient that leaves "static" spins unaffected but causes dephasing of spin ensembles that experience different motion histories according to their diffusion paths, with respect to the direction of the gradient. This article focuses on the interesting opportunities of the use of diffusion weighted imaging in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal diseases, including trauma, tumor, and inflammation.
-
Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am · May 2009
ReviewDiffusion-weighted MR imaging for whole body metastatic disease and lymphadenopathy.
Diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging provides a new contrast mechanism for evaluation of tumors of the chest, abdominal, and pelvis. By imaging microscopic motion of water molecules, DW imaging yields new qualitative and quantitative information about tumors that can be used to improve tumor detection, characterize some tumors, and monitor and predict response to treatment. ⋯ Experience with these DW techniques for body applications is still accumulating. However, DW imaging has already become an integral part of body MR imaging protocols at many centers.