Table of Contents
Perspectives
Review Article
General Contents
- High Signal Intensity in the Dentate Nucleus and Globus Pallidus on Unenhanced T1-Weighted MR Images: Comparison between Gadobutrol and Linear Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents
This is a retrospective analysis of 59 patients who received only gadobutrol and 60 patients who received only linear gadolinium-based contrast agents. Linear gadolinium-based contrast agents included gadoversetamide, gadobenatedimeglumine, and gadodiamide. T1 signal intensity in the globus pallidus, dentate nucleus, and pons was measured on the precontrast portions of patients' first and seventh brain MRIs. The dentate nucleus/pons signal ratio increased in the linear gadolinium-based contrast agent group while no significant increase was seen in the gadobutrol group. The authors conclude that successive doses of gadobutrol do not result in T1 shortening compared with changes seen in linear gadolinium-based contrast agents.
- Iodine Extravasation Quantification on Dual-Energy CT of the Brain Performed after Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke Can Predict Hemorrhagic Complications
Eighty-five consecutive patients who underwent brain dual-energy CT immediately after mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke between August 2013 and January 2017 were included. Two radiologists independently evaluated dual-energy CT images for the presence of parenchymal hyperdensity, iodine extravasation, and hemorrhage. Thirteen of 85 patients developed hemorrhage. On postoperative dual-energy CT, parenchymal hyperdensities and iodine extravasation were present in 100% of the patients who developed intracerebral hemorrhage and in 56.3% of the patients who did not. Median maximum iodine concentration was 2.63 mg/mL in the patients who developed intracerebral hemorrhage and 1.4 mg/mL in the patients who did not. The authors conclude that the presence of parenchymal hyperdensity with a maximum iodine concentration of greater than 1.35 mg/mL may identify patients developing intracerebral hemorrhage with 100% sensitivity and 67.6% specificity.
- Accuracy of the Compressed Sensing Accelerated 3D-FLAIR Sequence for the Detection of MS Plaques at 3T
Twenty-three patients with relapsing-remitting MS underwent both conventional 3D-FLAIR and compressed sensing 3D-FLAIR on a 3T scanner (reduction in scan time 1 minute 25 seconds, 27%; compressed sensing factor of 1.3). Two blinded readers independently evaluated both conventional and compressed sensing FLAIR for image quality and the number of MS lesions visible in the periventricular, intra-juxtacortical, infratentorial, and optic nerve regions. Image quality and the number of MS lesions detected by the readers were similar between the 2 FLAIR acquisitions. Almost perfect agreement was found between the two FLAIR acquisitions for total MS lesion count. The authors conclude that at 3T, and with a compressed sensing factor of 1.3, 3D-FLAIR is 27% faster and preserves diagnostic performance for the detection of MS plaques.
