Optimization of T1-weighted Imaging Parameters in MR Carotid Plaque Imaging: Influence for the Quantitative Evaluation among Different MRI Scanner Types.

Carotid artery plaques with high-signal intensity on T1 weighted image (T1 WI) are known to cause cerebral ischemic disease. Signal intensity ratio (SIR), which is calculated from T1 WI in the quantitative evaluation of plaque characterization have been used. However, the various sequences in T1 WI and difference in the sequences were utilized among institutions. Therefore, difference in sequence may influence SIR. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the optimization of T1 WI sequence in MR carotid plaque imaging. We directly compared four kinds of T1 WI imaging techniques, including inversion recovery (IR)-3 dimensional (3D) gradient echo (GRE), 3D fast spin echo (FSE), 2 dimensional (2D) FSE, 2D spin echo (SE), among different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. As a result, the 2D SE method had the smallest difference in SIR. Even if 2D SE T1 WI uses a different MRI device, equal SIR is provided. Therefore, 2D SE is appropriate to evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque.

Adult-onset intradural spinal teratoma in the lumbar spine: A case report.

Intradural spinal teratoma is a very rare tumour that can be associated with dysraphic defects. We report a case of adult-onset intradural spinal teratoma in the lumbar spine. The patient was a 54-year-old female who had chief complaints of a gait disturbance. X-rays showed an enlargement of the interpedicular distance at L3/L4 and spina bifida distal to L4. MRI showed a spindle-shaped tumour between L2 and L5. We performed laminotomy using an ultrasonic surgical knife. Pathological diagnosis of the resected tumour was matured teratoma. The diagnosis of matured teratoma was made because the tumour had no epithelium and a layered structure including prostate tissue, matured fat, cartilage and sweat gland.