Abnormal subcortical deep-gray matter susceptibility-weighted imaging filtered phase measurements in patients with multiple sclerosis: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate abnormal phase on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)-filtered phase images indicative of iron content, in subcortical deep-gray matter (SDGM) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy controls (HC), and to explore its relationship with MRI outcomes. METHODS: 169 relapsing-remitting (RR) and 64 secondary-progressive (SP) MS patients, and 126 age- and sex-matched HC were imaged on a 3T scanner. Mean phase of the abnormal phase tissue (MP-APT), normal phase tissue volume (NPTV) and normalized volume were determined for total SDGM, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, pulvinar nucleus of thalamus (PVN), hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, red nucleus and substantia nigra. 63 HC were used for establishment of normal reference phase values, while additional 63 HC were used for blinded comparisons with MS patients. RESULTS: Increased MP-APT, decreased normalized volume and decreased NPTV were detected in total SDGM, caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus and PVN in MS patients compared to HC (p<.0004). MS patients also showed decreased volume in hippocampus (<.0001) and decreased NPTV in the hippocampus, amygdala and accumbens (<.0004). SPMS patients had increased MP-APT, decreased volume and decreased NPTV in total SDGM, caudate and amygdala compared to RRMS (p<.005), while individual measure differences were also detected in putamen, thalamus, hippocampus and accumbens (p<.006). RRMS patients showed a significant relationship between increased MP-APT and increased lesion burden and more advanced brain atrophy (p<.004). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal phase, indicative of higher iron content was significantly increased in MS patients compared to HC, and was related to more severe lesion burden and brain atrophy.

Iron deposition in multiple sclerosis lesions measured by susceptibility-weighted imaging filtered phase: a case control study.

PURPOSE: To investigate phase lesions identified on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)-filtered phase images in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and healthy controls (HC). To relate phase lesion characteristics to other clinical and MRI outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 95 relapsing-remitting (RR), 40 secondary-progressive (SP) MS patients, as well as 19 CIS patients and 49 age- and sex-matched HC, were scanned on a 3T scanner. Phase-, T1-, and T2-lesion characteristics were determined. Overlap of T1- and T2-weighted imaging (WI) lesions with phase lesions (T1P and T2P), as well as brain atrophy outcomes, was assessed. RESULTS: MS patients showed significantly greater numbers and larger volume of phase lesions, compared with HC (P < 0.001). 23.6% of T2 lesions overlapped with phase lesions, whereas the same figure for T1 lesions was 37.3%. Conversely, 33.4% and 69.7% of phase lesions were not visible on T2- or T1-WI, respectively. Phase, T1P and T2P lesions were not related to clinical outcomes, but phase lesions were related to ventricular enlargement. CONCLUSION: Phase lesions were present in both MS and CIS patients, and showed partial overlap with lesions observed using conventional MRI. The role of phase lesions in clinical progression remains unclear and should be further explored.

Use of MR venography for characterization of the extracranial venous system in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy control subjects.

PURPOSE: To investigate the differences in the extracranial venous system in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy control (HC) subjects by using magnetic resonance (MR) venography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This HIPAA-compliant, prospective study was approved by the local institutional review board, and all participants gave informed consent. Fifty-seven patients, 41 (72%) with relapsing-remitting MS and 16 (28%) with secondary-progressive MS, and 21 HC subjects were imaged with a 3-T MR unit by using two-dimensional (2D) time-of-flight (TOF) and three-dimensional (3D) time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics (TRICKS) sequences. In addition, six MS patients and six HC subjects underwent two sequential MR venographic examinations during 1 week to test image-reimage reproducibility. The morphologic features of internal jugular vein flow were classified as absent, pinpoint, flattened, crescentic, or ellipsoidal flow. Only absent and pinpoint flow were considered abnormal. The flow of the vertebral veins was classified as absent or present. The prominence of collateral neck veins and venous asymmetries between the left and right sides were assessed. Differences among groups were tested with a two-tailed Mann-Whitney two-sample rank-sum test. RESULTS: No significant differences in morphologic features of flow in the internal jugular veins and vertebral veins were found between MS patients and HC subjects in any of the examined MR venographic parameters. No differences in asymmetry or prominence were found between MS patients and HC subjects. There was modest agreement (κ = 0.67) between 2D TOF and 3D TRICKS sequences. Image-reimage reproducibility showed modest agreement (κ = 0.66) for 2D TOF and low agreement for 3D TRICKS (κ = 0.33). CONCLUSION: No significant differences in the extracranial venous systems between MS patients and HC subjects were detected by using MR venography. Standardized guidelines are needed to define parameters for the presence of venous anomalies.

Decreased brain venous vasculature visibility on susceptibility-weighted imaging venography in patients with multiple sclerosis is related to chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: The potential pathogenesis between the presence and severity of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and its relation to clinical and imaging outcomes in brain parenchyma of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has not yet been elucidated. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between CCSVI, and altered brain parenchyma venous vasculature visibility (VVV) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in patients with MS and in sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC). METHODS: 59 MS patients, 41 relapsing-remitting and 18 secondary-progressive, and 33 HC were imaged on a 3T GE scanner using pre- and post-contrast SWI venography. The presence and severity of CCSVI was determined using extra-cranial and trans-cranial Doppler criteria. Apparent total venous volume (ATVV), venous intracranial fraction (VIF) and average distance-from-vein (DFV) were calculated for various vein mean diameter categories: < .3 mm, .3-.6 mm, .6-.9 mm and > .9 mm. RESULTS: CCSVI criteria were fulfilled in 79.7% of MS patients and 18.2% of HC (p < .0001). Patients with MS showed decreased overall ATVV, ATVV of veins with a diameter < .3 mm, and increased DFV compared to HC (all p < .0001). Subjects diagnosed with CCSVI had significantly increased DFV (p < .0001), decreased overall ATVV and ATVV of veins with a diameter < .3 mm (p < .003) compared to subjects without CCSVI. The severity of CCSVI was significantly related to decreased VVV in MS (p < .0001) on pre- and post-contrast SWI, but not in HC. CONCLUSIONS: MS patients with higher number of venous stenoses, indicative of CCSVI severity, showed significantly decreased venous vasculature in the brain parenchyma. The pathogenesis of these findings has to be further investigated, but they suggest that reduced metabolism and morphological changes of venous vasculature may be taking place in patients with MS.

Gray matter SWI-filtered phase and atrophy are linked to disability in MS.

The association between clinical outcomes and abnormal susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI)-filtered phase, indicative of increased iron content, as well as atrophy, was investigated in the subcortical deep-gray matter (SDGM) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. 149 relapsing-remitting (RR) and 61 secondary-progressive (SP) MS patients underwent SWI on a 3T scanner. Mean phase of the abnormal phase tissue (MP-APT) and normalized volumes were determined for the total and region-specific SDGM structures. In an age- and gender-adjusted regression model, total SDGM volume was the strongest predictor of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (beta = -.224, p<.001), followed by total SDGM MP-APT (beta = -.168, p <.019). This model accounted for 30.4% of the variance in EDSS. Only SDGM MP-APT added additional variance in predicting EDSS, compared to conventional MRI metrics. Caudate and red nucleus MP-APT and amygdala volume were associated with EDSS. Our findings suggest that disability in MS patients is associated better with SDGM pathology, as indicated by increased iron content and atrophy, than with lesion burden or white matter and cortical volumes.

Functional anatomy of the masking level difference, an fMRI study.

INTRODUCTION: Masking level differences (MLDs) are differences in the hearing threshold for the detection of a signal presented in a noise background, where either the phase of the signal or noise is reversed between ears. We use N0/Nπ to denote noise presented in-phase/out-of-phase between ears and S0/Sπ to denote a 500 Hz sine wave signal as in/out-of-phase. Signal detection level for the noise/signal combinations N0Sπ and NπS0 is typically 10-20 dB better than for N0S0. All combinations have the same spectrum, level, and duration of both the signal and the noise. METHODS: Ten participants (5 female), age: 22-43, with N0Sπ-N0S0 MLDs greater than 10 dB, were imaged using a sparse BOLD fMRI sequence, with a 9 second gap (1 second quiet preceding stimuli). Band-pass (400-600 Hz) noise and an enveloped signal (.25 second tone burst, 50% duty-cycle) were used to create the stimuli. Brain maps of statistically significant regions were formed from a second-level analysis using SPM5. RESULTS: The contrast NπS0- N0Sπ had significant regions of activation in the right pulvinar, corpus callosum, and insula bilaterally. The left inferior frontal gyrus had significant activation for contrasts N0Sπ-N0S0 and NπS0-N0S0. The contrast N0S0-N0Sπ revealed a region in the right insula, and the contrast N0S0-NπS0 had a region of significance in the left insula. CONCLUSION: Our results extend the view that the thalamus acts as a gating mechanism to enable dichotic listening, and suggest that MLD processing is accomplished through thalamic communication with the insula, which communicate across the corpus callosum to either enhance or diminish the binaural signal (depending on the MLD condition). The audibility improvement of the signal with both MLD conditions is likely reflected by activation in the left inferior frontal gyrus, a late stage in the what/where model of auditory processing.

Computed tomographic perfusion in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: new application of an existent technique.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) alterations are common after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Treatment of delayed cerebral ischemia in this setting depends on timely and accurate diagnosis. Techniques to measure cerebral blood flow are useful and important. Computed tomographic (CT) perfusion imaging is a technique for the measurement of CBF, cerebral blood volume, and time to peak. It is a fast and inexpensive brain imaging modality that offers promise in the management of patients with SAH. METHODS: CT perfusion imaging was performed in 10 patients with aneurysmal SAH when neurological changes raised suspicions of cerebral ischemia. Quantitative values for CBF, cerebral blood volume, and time to peak were obtained in each study. The case history, CT perfusion results, and an analysis of how patient management was influenced are presented for each patient. RESULTS: A total of 17 CT perfusion studies were performed. Five studies showed evidence of cerebral ischemia, leading to endovascular treatment of vasospasm. Eight studies excluded cerebral ischemia, and two studies identified cerebral hyperemia, resulting in adjustments in hyperdynamic therapy. CT perfusion was used to help predict a poor prognosis and withhold aggressive intervention in two patients with poor Hunt and Hess grades. Time-to-peak values identified regions of cerebral ischemia more readily than CBF or cerebral blood volume values. CONCLUSION: CT perfusion imaging can be used to identify patients with delayed cerebral ischemia after SAH and to guide medical and endovascular therapy. The findings can lead to alterations in patient management.