- A Novel Collateral Imaging Method Derived from Time-Resolved Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MR Angiography in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Pilot Study
The purpose of this study was to introduce a multiphase MRA collateral map derived from time-resolved dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA and to verify the value of the multiphase MRA collateral map in acute ischemic stroke by comparing it with the multiphase collateral imaging method (MRP collateral map) derived from dynamic susceptibility contrast-enhanced MR perfusion. The authors generated collateral maps using dynamic signals from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA and DSC-MRP in 67 patients using a Matlab-based in-house program and graded the collateral scores of the multiphase MRA collateral map and the MRP collateral map independently. Interobserver reliabilities and intermethod agreement between both collateral maps for collateral grading were tested. The interobserver reliabilities forcollateral grading using multiphase MRA or MRP collateral maps were excellent. They conclude that the dynamic signals of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRA can generate multiphasecollateral images and show the possibility of the multiphase MRA collateral map as a useful collateral imaging method in acute ischemic stroke.
- Surveillance of Unruptured Intracranial Saccular Aneurysms Using Noncontrast 3D-Black-Blood MRI: Comparison of 3D-TOF and Contrast-Enhanced MRA with 3D-DSA
Sixty-four patients with 68 saccular unruptured intracranial aneurysms were recruited. Patients underwent 3T MR imaging with 3D-TOF-MRA, 3D black-blood MR imaging, and contrast-enhanced MRA, and they underwent 3D rotational angiography within 2 weeks. The neck, width, and height of the unruptured intracranial aneurysms were measured by 2 radiologists independently on 3D rotational angiography and 3 MR imaging sequences. 3D black-blood MR imaging demonstrates the best agreement with DSA, with the smallest limits of agreement and measurement error. 3D-TOF-MRA had the largest limits of agreement and measurement error. The authors conclude that 3D black-blood MR imaging achieves better accuracy for aneurysm size measurements compared with 3D-TOF, using 3D rotational angiography as a criterion standard.
- Susceptibility-Weighted MR Imaging Hypointense Rim in Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: The End Point of Neuroinflammation and a Potential Outcome Predictor
This retrospective study included 18 patients with a definite diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Ten patients were HIV-positive, 3 patients had natalizumab-associated PML, 1 patient had multiple myeloma, 3 patients had a history of lymphoma, and 1 was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Patients were divided into short- (up to 12 months) and long-term (>12 months) survivors. A total of 93 initial and follow-up MR imaging examinations were reviewed. On SWI, the presence and development of a hypointense rim at the periphery of the PML lesions were noted. A postmortem histologic examination was performed in 2 patients: A rim formed in one, and in one, there was no rim. A total of 73 progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy lesions were observed. In 13 (72.2%) patients, a well-defined thin, linear, hypointense rim at the periphery of the lesion toward the cortical side was present, while in 5 (27.8%) patients, it was completely absent. All 11 long-term survivors and 2 short-term survivors presented with a prominent SWI-hypointense rim. The thin, uniformly linear, gyriform SWI-hypointense rim in the paralesional U-fibers in patients with definite PML might represent an end point stage of the neuroinflammatory process in long-term survivors.