Simultaneous Highly Efficient Contrast-Free Lumen and Vessel Wall MR Imaging for Anatomical Assessment of Aortic Disease.

BACKGROUND: Bright-blood lumen and black-blood vessel wall imaging are required for the comprehensive assessment of aortic disease. These images are usually acquired separately, resulting in long examinations and potential misregistration between images. PURPOSE: To characterize the performance of an accelerated and respiratory motion-compensated three-dimensional (3D) cardiac MRI technique for simultaneous contrast-free aortic lumen and vessel wall imaging with an interleaved T2 and inversion recovery prepared sequence (iT2Prep-BOOST). STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: A total of 30 consecutive patients with aortopathy referred for a clinically indicated cardiac MRI examination (9 females, mean age ± standard deviation: 32 ± 12 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE: 1.5-T; bright-blood MR angiography (diaphragmatic navigator-gated T2-prepared 3D balanced steady-state free precession [bSSFP], T2Prep-bSSFP), breath-held black-blood two-dimensional (2D) half acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE), and 3D bSSFP iT2Prep-BOOST. ASSESSMENT: iT2Prep-BOOST bright-blood images were compared to T2prep-bSSFP images in terms of aortic vessel dimensions, lumen-to-myocardium contrast ratio (CR), and image quality (diagnostic confidence, vessel sharpness and presence of artifacts, assessed by three cardiologists on a 4-point scale, 1: nondiagnostic to 4: excellent). The iT2Prep-BOOST black-blood images were compared to 2D HASTE images for quantification of wall thickness. A visual comparison between computed tomography (CT) and iT2Prep-BOOST was performed in a patient with chronic aortic dissection. STATISTICAL TESTS: Paired t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman analysis. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Bright-blood iT2Prep-BOOST resulted in significantly improved image quality (mean ± standard deviation 3.8 ± 0.5 vs. 3.3 ± 0.8) and CR (2.9 ± 0.8 vs. 1.8 ± 0.5) compared with T2Prep-bSSFP, with a shorter scan time (7.8 ± 1.7 minutes vs. 12.9 ± 3.4 minutes) while providing a complementary 3D black-blood image. Aortic lumen diameter and vessel wall thickness measurements in bright-blood and black-blood images were in good agreement with T2Prep-bSSFP and HASTE images (<0.02 cm and <0.005 cm bias, respectively) and good intrareader (ICC > 0.96) and interreader (ICC > 0.94) agreement was observed for all measurements. DATA CONCLUSION: iT2Prep-BOOST might enable time-efficient simultaneous bright- and black-blood aortic imaging, with improved image quality compared to T2Prep-bSSFP and HASTE imaging, and comparable measurements for aortic wall and lumen dimensions. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 2. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.

Assessment protocol and reference values of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain in the horizontal plane recorded with video-Head Impulse Test (vHIT) in a pediatric population. / Protocolo de evaluación y valores de referencia de la ganancia del reflejo vestíbulo-ocular (RVO) en el plano horizontal registrado mediante el video-Head Impulse Test (v-HIT) en población pediátrica.

PURPOSE: To develop an assessment protocol and establish reference values of vestibulo-ocular reflex gain of the horizontal semicircular canal obtained with vHIT in a pediatric population without vestibular changes. METHODS: Quantitative, non-experimental, analytical study with a non-probabilistic convenience sample. A total of 39 subjects aged 5 to 17 years were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS: The mean gain obtained of the horizontal right semicircular canal was 0.93 and of the left one, 1.08, with statistically significant differences between the ears. There were no statistically significant differences between the 5-to-10-year and 11-to-17-year subgroups. CONCLUSION: The vestibulo-ocular reflex gain in children neared the values found in the international scientific literature and the adult population. The protocol developed can guide beginning professionals in the otoneurological evaluation of children.

OBJETIVO: Elaborar un protocolo de evaluación y establecer valores de referencia de las ganancias del reflejo vestíbulo-ocular del canal semicircular horizontal obtenidas con el v-HIT en población pediátrica sin alteraciones vestibulares. MÉTODO: Estudio cuantitativo, analítico, no experimental con muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se seleccionaron 39 sujetos entre 5 a 17 años, los cuales cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. RESULTADOS: El promedio de la ganancia obtenida para el conducto semicircular horizontal derecho fue de 0,93 y para el conducto semicircular izquierdo fue de 1,08. Existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre oídos. No existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los subgrupos de 5 a 10 años y 11 a 17 años. CONCLUSIÓN: La ganancia del reflejo vestíbulo-ocular en población pediátrica se acerca a los valores encontrados en la literatura científica internacional y de la población adulta. El protocolo confeccionado puede orientar a profesionales que están comenzando en la evaluación otoneurológica de esta población.

Protocolo de evaluación y valores de referencia de la ganancia del reflejo vestíbulo-ocular (RVO) en el plano horizontal registrado mediante el video-Head Impulse Test (v-HIT) en población pediátrica / Assessment protocol and reference values of vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain in the horizontal plane recorded with video-Head Impulse Test (vHIT) in a pediatric population

RESUMEN Objetivo Elaborar un protocolo de evaluación y establecer valores de referencia de las ganancias del reflejo vestíbulo-ocular del canal semicircular horizontal obtenidas con el v-HIT en población pediátrica sin alteraciones vestibulares. Método Estudio cuantitativo, analítico, no experimental con muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se seleccionaron 39 sujetos entre 5 a 17 años, los cuales cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y exclusión. Resultados El promedio de la ganancia obtenida para el conducto semicircular horizontal derecho fue de 0,93 y para el conducto semicircular izquierdo fue de 1,08. Existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre oídos. No existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los subgrupos de 5 a 10 años y 11 a 17 años. Conclusión La ganancia del reflejo vestíbulo-ocular en población pediátrica se acerca a los valores encontrados en la literatura científica internacional y de la población adulta. El protocolo confeccionado puede orientar a profesionales que están comenzando en la evaluación otoneurológica de esta población.

ABSTRACT Purpose To develop an assessment protocol and establish reference values of vestibulo-ocular reflex gain of the horizontal semicircular canal obtained with vHIT in a pediatric population without vestibular changes. Methods Quantitative, non-experimental, analytical study with a non-probabilistic convenience sample. A total of 39 subjects aged 5 to 17 years were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results The mean gain obtained of the horizontal right semicircular canal was 0.93 and of the left one, 1.08, with statistically significant differences between the ears. There were no statistically significant differences between the 5-to-10-year and 11-to-17-year subgroups. Conclusion The vestibulo-ocular reflex gain in children neared the values found in the international scientific literature and the adult population. The protocol developed can guide beginning professionals in the otoneurological evaluation of children.