Reconstruction of the Corticospinal Tract in Patients with Motor-Eloquent High-Grade Gliomas Using Multilevel Fiber Tractography Combined with Functional Motor Cortex Mapping.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tractography of the corticospinal tract is paramount to presurgical planning and guidance of intraoperative resection in patients with motor-eloquent gliomas. It is well-known that DTI-based tractography as the most frequently used technique has relevant shortcomings, particularly for resolving complex fiber architecture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate multilevel fiber tractography combined with functional motor cortex mapping in comparison with conventional deterministic tractography algorithms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients (mean age, 61.5 [SD, 12.2] years) with motor-eloquent high-grade gliomas underwent MR imaging with DWI (TR/TE = 5000/78 ms, voxel size = 2 × 2 × 2 mm3, 1 volume at b = 0 s/mm2, 32 volumes at b = 1000 s/mm2). DTI, constrained spherical deconvolution, and multilevel fiber tractography-based reconstruction of the corticospinal tract within the tumor-affected hemispheres were performed. The functional motor cortex was enclosed by navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation motor mapping before tumor resection and used for seeding. A range of angular deviation and fractional anisotropy thresholds (for DTI) was tested. RESULTS: For all investigated thresholds, multilevel fiber tractography achieved the highest mean coverage of the motor maps (eg, angular threshold = 60°; multilevel/constrained spherical deconvolution/DTI, 25% anisotropy threshold = 71.8%, 22.6%, and 11.7%) and the most extensive corticospinal tract reconstructions (eg, angular threshold = 60°; multilevel/constrained spherical deconvolution/DTI, 25% anisotropy threshold = 26,485 mm3, 6308 mm3, and 4270 mm3). CONCLUSIONS: Multilevel fiber tractography may improve the coverage of the motor cortex by corticospinal tract fibers compared with conventional deterministic algorithms. Thus, it could provide a more detailed and complete visualization of corticospinal tract architecture, particularly by visualizing fiber trajectories with acute angles that might be of high relevance in patients with gliomas and distorted anatomy.

Gadolinium-Enhanced 3D T1-Weighted Black-Blood MR Imaging for the Detection of Acute Optic Neuritis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A 3D T1-weighted black-blood sequence was recently shown to improve the detection of contrast-enhancing lesions in the brain in patients with MS compared with a 3D T1-weighted MPRAGE sequence. We compared a contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted black-blood sequence with a dedicated orbital contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon sequence in patients with acute optic neuritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging data (3T) of 51 patients showing symptoms of acute optic neuritis were analyzed retrospectively, including whole-brain contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted black-blood and dedicated orbital coronal 2D or 3D contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon sequences. Two neuroradiologists assessed the images for overall image quality, artifacts, diagnostic confidence, and visual contrast enhancement. Furthermore, the standardized contrast-to-noise ratio was calculated. The final diagnosis of acute optic neuritis was established on the basis of clinical presentation, visually evoked potentials, and optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Thirty of 51 patients were diagnosed with acute optic neuritis. Of those, 21 showed contrast-enhancing lesions in the optic nerves, similarly detectable on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted black-blood images. Thus, the accuracy for each sequence was identical, with a resulting sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 90% or 100% (depending on the reader). Overall image quality, diagnostic confidence, visual contrast enhancement, and artifacts were rated similarly in contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted black-blood and dedicated orbital contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon sequences. There was no significant difference (P = .27) in the mean standardized contrast-to-noise ratio between contrast-enhanced T1-weighted black-blood (1.76 ± 1.07) and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon (2.29 ± 2.49) sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted black-blood imaging is comparable in accuracy and qualitative/quantitative features with dedicated orbital contrast-enhanced T1-weighted Dixon imaging for the detection of acute optic neuritis. Therefore, when used, it has the potential to considerably shorten total patient imaging time.

X-ray-based quantitative osteoporosis imaging at the spine.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease with a high prevalence that affects the population worldwide, particularly the elderly. It is often due to fractures associated with bone fragility that the diagnosis of osteoporosis becomes clinically evident. However, early diagnosis would be necessary to initiate therapy and to prevent occurrence of further fractures, thus reducing morbidity and mortality. X-ray-based imaging plays a key role for fracture risk assessment and monitoring of osteoporosis. Whereas over decades dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has been the main method used and still reflects the reference standard, another modality reemerges with quantitative computed tomography (QCT) because of its three-dimensional advantages and the opportunistic exploitation of routine CT scans. Against this background, this article intends to review and evaluate recent advances in the field of X-ray-based quantitative imaging of osteoporosis at the spine. First, standard DXA with the recent addition of trabecular bone score (TBS) is presented. Secondly, standard QCT, dual-energy BMD quantification, and opportunistic BMD screening in non-dedicated CT exams are discussed. Lastly, finite element analysis and microstructural parameter analysis are reviewed.

Effects of virtual tube current reduction and sparse sampling on MDCT-based femoral BMD measurements.

This study investigates the impact of tube current reduction and sparse sampling on femoral bone mineral density (BMD) measurements derived from multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). The application of sparse sampling led to robust and clinically acceptable BMD measurements. In contrast, BMD measurements derived from MDCT with virtually reduced tube currents showed a considerable increase when compared to original data. INTRODUCTION: The study aims to evaluate the effects of radiation dose reduction by using virtual reduction of tube current or sparse sampling combined with standard filtered back projection (FBP) and statistical iterative reconstruction (SIR) on femoral bone mineral density (BMD) measurements derived from multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). METHODS: In routine MDCT scans of 41 subjects (65.9% men; age 69.3 ± 10.1 years), reduced radiation doses were simulated by lowering tube currents and applying sparse sampling (50, 25, and 10% of the original tube current and projections, respectively). Images were reconstructed using FBP and SIR. BMD values were assessed in the femoral neck and compared between the different dose levels, numbers of projections, and image reconstruction approaches. RESULTS: Compared to full-dose MDCT, virtual lowering of the tube current by applying our simulation algorithm resulted in increases in BMD values for both FBP (up to a relative change of 32.5%) and SIR (up to a relative change of 32.3%). In contrast, the application of sparse sampling with a reduction down to 10% of projections showed robust BMD values, with clinically acceptable relative changes of up to 0.5% (FBP) and 0.7% (SIR). CONCLUSIONS: Our simulations, which still require clinical validation, indicate that reductions down to ultra-low tube currents have a significant impact on MDCT-based femoral BMD measurements. In contrast, the application of sparse-sampled MDCT seems a promising future clinical option that may enable a significant reduction of the radiation dose without considerable changes of BMD values.

[Migraine in children and adolescents-brain and muscle? : Another example of why children are not small adults]. / Migräne im Kindes- und Jugendalter ­ Gehirn und Muskel? : Warum Kinder einmal mehr keine kleinen Erwachsenen sind.

Migraine as primary headache is a life-long disease which is relevant for the quality of life and is based on complex genetics. It often starts in childhood with symptoms typical for the specific age. These show different nuances compared to the migraine symptoms in adults, for example, regarding (bilateral/unilateral) localization of the acute migraine headache. Only over the course of years-during adolescence and young adulthood-do the more specific symptoms as defined by the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD 3 beta) develop. In this article we focus on the clinical specifics of children and adolescents with migraine. We elaborately refer to the trigeminocervical complex (TCC) because it forms a conceptual bridge for the understanding of migraine, for psychoeducation, and for therapeutic options. We pragmatically discuss options and limits of treatments.