- Comparison of [18F] FDG-PET/MRI and Clinical Findings for Assessment of Suspected Lumbar Facet Joint Pain: A Prospective Study to Characterize Candidate Nonanatomic Imaging Biomarkers and Potential Impact on Management
Ten patients with clinically suspected facetogenic low back pain were prospectively recruited with a designation of specific facet joints implicated clinically. Subsequently, patients underwent an FDG-PET/MR imaging examination with gadolinium. Each facet joint was graded for perifacet signal change on MR imaging and FDG activity. The frequency and correlation of MR imaging, FDG-PET, and clinical findings were determined. There was low concordance of perifacet signal change and FDG activity with clinically implicated facet joints. This could indicate either the potential to change patient management or a lack of biomarker accuracy.
- Perfusion MRI-Based Fractional Tumor Burden Differentiates between Tumor and Treatment Effect in Recurrent Glioblastomas and Informs Clinical Decision-Making
Forty-seven patients with high-grade gliomas (primarily glioblastoma) with recurrent contrast-enhancing lesions on DSC-MR imaging were retrospectively evaluated after surgical sampling. Histopathologic examination defined treatment effect versus tumor. Normalized relative CBV thresholds of 1.0 and 1.75 were used to define low, intermediate, and high fractional tumor burden classes in each histopathologically defined group. Performance was assessed with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Mean low fractional tumor burden, high fractional tumor burden, and relative CBV of the contrast-enhancing volume were significantly different between treatment effect and tumor with tumor having significantly higher fractional tumor burden and relative CBV and lower fractional tumor burden. High fractional tumor burden and low fractional tumor burden define fractions of the contrast-enhancing lesion volume with high and low blood volume, respectively, and can differentiate treatment effect from tumor in recurrent glioblastomas. Fractional tumor burden maps can also help to inform clinical decision-making.
- Diagnostic Impact of Intracranial Vessel Wall MRI in 205 Patients with Ischemic Stroke or TIA
This was a single-center, retrospective study of 205 consecutive patients who were referred for vessel wall MR imaging to clarify the etiology of an ischemic stroke or TIA. An expert panel classified stroke etiology before and after incorporating vessel wall MR imaging results using a modified Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment system. Vessel wall MR imaging altered the etiologic classification in 55% (112/205) of patients. The proportion of patients classified as having intracranial arteriopathy not otherwise specified decreased from 31% to 4% (64/205 versus 9/205) and the proportion classified as having intracranial atherosclerotic disease increased from 23% to 57%. When vessel wall MR imaging is performed to clarify the etiology of a stroke or TIA, it frequently alters the etiologic classification, which is the basis for therapeutic decision-making.
Welcome to the new AJNR, Updated Hall of Fame, and more. Read the full announcements.
AJNR is seeking candidates for the position of Associate Section Editor, AJNR Case Collection. Read the full announcement.