Table of Contents
Editorials
Perspectives
Editorials
Review Articles
Genetics Vignette
Brain
- Metabolite Differences in the Lenticular Nucleus in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Shown by Proton MR Spectroscopy
A group of 22 patients with type 2 diabetes underwent MR spectroscopy of the deep gray matter nuclei and their metabolite ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr were assessed and correlated with laboratory findings. Metabolite ratios were different in the left and right lenticular nuclei and in the thalami, suggesting that diabetes affects these differently with the former being more vulnerable than the latter. The metabolic abnormalities preceded anatomic lesions.
- Perivascular Spaces Are Associated with Atherosclerosis: An Insight from the Northern Manhattan Study
Perivascular spaces may be associated with cardiovascular and dementia risks and these authors sought to determine if they are also associated with atherosclerosis. Thus, perivascular spaces were assessed in more than 700 patients and correlated with race, age, and cardiovascular risks. They were found to be more common in older hypertensive patients and the presence of carotid artery plaques strongly and consistently predicted their presence.
Commentary
- Hemodynamic Effects of Developmental Venous Anomalies with and without Cavernous Malformations
Perfusion imaging was done in patients with developmental venous anomalies with and without accompanying cavernous malformations. The normal-appearing brain surrounding DVAs showed higher blood volume, longer mean transit time, and variable changes in blood flow. DVAs with cavernomas showed greater MTT prolongation and less blood flow indicating greater restrictive effects upon the adjacent brain. The authors offer some ingenious and interesting explanations for these findings.
Interventional
- Coil Type Does Not Affect Angiographic Follow-Up Outcomes of Cerebral Aneurysm Coiling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
This meta-analysis of the literature sought to identify differences between outcomes of patients treated with first- and second-generation aneurysm coils. Unfavorable outcome was defined as recanalization, less than 90% occlusion, and/or incomplete occlusion at follow-up. In 82 published articles, unfavorable outcomes were reported in 20% of patients treated with bare platinum coils, 23% with Matrix coils, 15% with HydroCoil, and 15% with Cerecyte coils. These differences were not statistically significant.
- Use of CT Angiography and Digital Subtraction Angiography in Patients with Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm: Evaluation of a Large Multihospital Data Base
This article explores the usage of CTA and DSA in nearly 5000 patients with ruptured aneurysms. During a 5-year period, use of CTA more than doubled to 44% of all patients while the use of DSA remained stable (94–96%). The same trend was observed for patients undergoing coiling or clipping and following treatment the use of imaging increased from 41% to 48%, especially in clipped patients. The use of DSA as a second test is potentially redundant.
Head & Neck
- CT Imaging Correlates of Genomic Expression for Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma
CT findings in 27 nontreated patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were correlated with genomic analysis. Tumor enhancement correlated with presence of vascular endothelial growth factor while epidermal growth factor correlated with mass effect and perineural invasion. Thus, some CT findings may reflect genomic biomarkers.
