Results In the 19 patients 21 tumors were diagnosed, of which 18 demonstrated intralesional susceptibility effects both in pre-
and postcontrast SW images, and 19 demonstrated contrast enhancement in both SW images and T1-weighted spin-echo MR images. Conspicuity of susceptibility effects and image quality were improved in postcontrast C188-9 purchase images compared with precontrast images and the scan time was also reduced due to decreased TE values from 9 min (precontrast) to 7 min (postcontrast).
Conclusion The intravenous administration of MultiHance, an agent with high relaxivity, allowed a reduction of scan time from 9 min to 7 min while preserving excellent susceptibility effects and image quality in SW images obtained at 3 T. Contrast enhancement and intralesional susceptibility
effects can be assessed in one sequence.”
“Introduction The origin of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) remains uncertain. However, the use of nonconventional magnetic resonance techniques has increased our understanding of this problem. We aimed to study the relationship between fatigue in MS and the presence of focal dysfunction in the basal ganglia and frontal white matter.
Methods Included in the study were 41 patients with relapsing-remitting MS with mild disability and 20 healthy controls. Fatigue was assessed by the check details Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). Patients were classified as “”fatigued”" when they expressed a subjective feeling of fatigue, and the FSS score was >= 5.0 and/or the MFIS score was > 38. Patients with no subjective fatigue were classified as “”nonfatigued”" when the FSS score was < 4.0. Proton magnetic resonance spectra were obtained from two different regions: the frontal white matter and the lentiform nucleus. The relationships between fatigue and NAA/Cr,
NAA/Cho and Cho/Cr ratios were analysed.
Results A significant decrease in NAA/Cr in the lentiform nucleus region in patients with fatigue was observed. No differences between the groups were found in the frontal white matter.
Conclusion Although confirmatory Calpain studies are needed, our results would support the idea that a specific dysfunction or involvement of the basal ganglia might partly contribute to the development of MS-related fatigue.”
“Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can visualize the white matter tracts in vivo. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of DTI in patients with diseases of the spinal cord. Fourteen subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the spine at 1.5 T. Preliminary diagnosis of the patients suggested traumatic, tumorous, ischemic or inflammatory lesions of the spinal cord. In addition to T2-weighted images, DTI was performed with the gradients in 30 orthogonal directions. Maps of the apparent diffusion coefficient and of fractional anisotropy were reconstructed.