- 4D–Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI for Preoperative Localization in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism
The authors tested the hypothesis that recently introduced 4D dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution has equivalent accuracy to 4D-CT for preoperative gland localization in primary hyperparathyroidism. Fifty-four patients met the inclusion criteria: 37 had single-gland disease, and 17, multigland disease—9 with double-gland hyperplasia; 3 with 3-gland hyperplasia, and 5 with 4-gland hyperplasia. For single-gland disease, the gland was correctly located in 92% of patients, with correct identification of the side in 100% and the quadrant in 92%. For multigland disease, the glands were correctly located in 74% of patients, with correct identification of the side in 74% and the quadrant in 77%. The high spatial and temporal resolution 4D dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging provides excellent diagnostic performance for preoperative localization in primary hyperparathyroidism.
- SWAN-Venule: An Optimized MRI Technique to Detect the Central Vein Sign in MS Plaques
Multiple sclerosis lesions develop around small veins that are radiologically described as the so-called central vein sign. With 7T MR imaging and magnetic susceptibility-based sequences, the central vein sign has been observed in 80%–100% of MS lesions in patients' brains. However, a lower proportion ∼50% has been reported at 3T using SWAN. The authors' aim was to assess a modified version of SWAN optimized at 3T for sensitive detection of the central vein sign. Thirty subjects with MS were scanned on a 3T clinical MR imaging system. 3D T2-weighted FLAIR and optimized 3D SWAN, called SWAN-venule, were acquired after injection of a gadolinium-based contrast agent. Overall, the central vein sign was detected in 86% of the white matter lesions (periventricular, 89%; deep white matter, 95%; and juxtacortical, 78%). The SWAN-venule technique is an optimized MR imaging sequence for highly sensitive detection of the central vein sign in MS brain lesions.