At all stages of brain tumor care, neuroimaging demonstrates its usefulness. Gadolinium-based contrast medium Technological advancements have fostered the improved clinical diagnostic potential of neuroimaging, providing vital support to historical accounts, physical examinations, and pathological evaluations. Functional MRI (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging are incorporated into presurgical evaluations to enable a more thorough differential diagnosis and more precise surgical planning. Innovative applications of perfusion imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), spectroscopy, and novel positron emission tomography (PET) tracers provide support in the common clinical dilemma of separating tumor progression from treatment-related inflammatory alterations.
In the treatment of brain tumors, high-quality clinical practice will be enabled by employing the most current imaging technologies.
By leveraging the most current imaging methods, the quality of clinical care for patients with brain tumors can be significantly improved.
Imaging techniques and resultant findings of common skull base tumors, encompassing meningiomas, are reviewed in this article with a focus on their implications for treatment and surveillance strategy development.
An increase in the accessibility of cranial imaging has resulted in a heightened incidence of incidentally detected skull base tumors, calling for careful evaluation to determine the most suitable approach, either observation or active treatment. How a tumor displaces and affects surrounding tissues is dependent upon the site of its origin and its growth. Thorough analysis of vascular compression evident in CT angiography, coupled with the pattern and degree of bone infiltration discernible on CT imaging, significantly aids in treatment planning. In the future, quantitative analyses of imaging, including radiomics, might provide a clearer picture of the link between phenotype and genotype.
By combining CT and MRI imaging, the diagnostic clarity of skull base tumors is improved, revealing their point of origin and determining the appropriate treatment boundaries.
Employing both CT and MRI technologies in a combined approach yields improved accuracy in diagnosing skull base tumors, identifies their source, and determines the necessary treatment extent.
Fundamental to this article's focus is the significance of optimal epilepsy imaging, including the International League Against Epilepsy-endorsed Harmonized Neuroimaging of Epilepsy Structural Sequences (HARNESS) protocol, and the utilization of multimodality imaging for assessing patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Nasal mucosa biopsy A methodical approach to evaluating these images, particularly in the context of clinical information, is outlined.
The critical evaluation of newly diagnosed, chronic, and drug-resistant epilepsy relies heavily on high-resolution MRI protocols, reflecting the rapid growth and evolution of epilepsy imaging. This article examines the range of MRI findings associated with epilepsy and their significance in clinical practice. Lenalidomide cost Multimodality imaging, a valuable tool, effectively enhances presurgical epilepsy evaluation, especially in instances where MRI findings are unrevealing. The integration of clinical phenomenology, video-EEG, positron emission tomography (PET), ictal subtraction SPECT, magnetoencephalography (MEG), functional MRI, and advanced neuroimaging techniques, including MRI texture analysis and voxel-based morphometry, enhances the identification of subtle cortical lesions, such as focal cortical dysplasias, thus improving epilepsy localization and surgical candidate selection.
To effectively localize neuroanatomy, the neurologist must meticulously examine the clinical history and seizure phenomenology, both key components. Integrating advanced neuroimaging with the clinical setting allows for a more comprehensive analysis of MRI scans, particularly in cases of multiple lesions, which helps identify the epileptogenic lesion, even the subtle ones. Individuals with MRI-identified brain lesions have a significantly improved 25-fold chance of achieving seizure freedom through surgical intervention, contrasted with those lacking such lesions.
A unique perspective held by the neurologist is the investigation of clinical history and seizure patterns, vital components of neuroanatomical localization. Advanced neuroimaging, when used in conjunction with the clinical context, facilitates the identification of subtle MRI lesions, particularly the epileptogenic lesion when multiple lesions are present. Individuals with MRI-confirmed lesions experience a 25-fold increase in the likelihood of seizure freedom post-epilepsy surgery compared to those without demonstrable lesions.
This paper is designed to provide a familiarity with the many forms of nontraumatic central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage and the diverse range of neuroimaging technologies used to both diagnose and manage these conditions.
The 2019 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study highlighted that intraparenchymal hemorrhage comprises 28% of the global stroke disease load. A significant 13% of all strokes in the US are classified as hemorrhagic strokes. Intraparenchymal hemorrhage occurrence correlates strongly with aging; consequently, improved blood pressure management strategies, championed by public health initiatives, haven't decreased the incidence rate in tandem with the demographic shift towards an older population. Autopsy reports from the most recent longitudinal study on aging demonstrated intraparenchymal hemorrhage and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in a substantial portion of patients, specifically 30% to 35%.
Intraparenchymal, intraventricular, and subarachnoid hemorrhages, collectively constituting central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage, necessitate either head CT or brain MRI for rapid identification. If a screening neuroimaging study indicates hemorrhage, the characteristics of the blood, along with the patient's history and physical examination, can dictate the course of subsequent neuroimaging, laboratory, and ancillary tests in the diagnostic work-up. Once the source of the problem is established, the key goals of the treatment plan are to mitigate the spread of hemorrhage and to prevent subsequent complications, including cytotoxic cerebral edema, brain compression, and obstructive hydrocephalus. Not only this, but a brief treatment of nontraumatic spinal cord hemorrhage will also be provided.
To swiftly identify central nervous system (CNS) hemorrhage, encompassing intraparenchymal, intraventricular, and subarachnoid hemorrhages, either a head computed tomography (CT) scan or a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is necessary. The presence of hemorrhage on the screening neuroimaging, with the assistance of the blood pattern, coupled with the patient's history and physical examination, dictates subsequent neuroimaging, laboratory, and ancillary testing for etiological assessment. Having determined the origin, the principal intentions of the therapeutic regimen are to mitigate the extension of hemorrhage and preclude subsequent complications, such as cytotoxic cerebral edema, brain compression, and obstructive hydrocephalus. Moreover, a brief discussion of nontraumatic spinal cord hemorrhage will also be presented.
This article examines the imaging techniques employed to assess patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke symptoms.
A new era in acute stroke care began in 2015, with the broad application of the technique of mechanical thrombectomy. Further randomized, controlled trials in 2017 and 2018 propelled the stroke research community into a new phase, expanding eligibility criteria for thrombectomy based on image analysis of patients. This development significantly boosted the application of perfusion imaging techniques. After years of implementing this additional imaging routinely, the discussion about when it is genuinely required and when it could contribute to unnecessary delays in the critical care of stroke patients continues. More than ever, a substantial and insightful understanding of neuroimaging techniques, their use in practice, and their interpretation is vital for any practicing neurologist.
CT-based imaging, due to its wide availability, speed, and safety, is typically the first imaging step undertaken in most centers for assessing patients exhibiting symptoms suggestive of acute stroke. A solitary noncontrast head CT is sufficient for clinical judgment in cases needing IV thrombolysis. CT angiography's remarkable sensitivity allows for the dependable detection of large-vessel occlusions, a crucial diagnostic capability. Within specific clinical scenarios, advanced imaging, including multiphase CT angiography, CT perfusion, MRI, and MR perfusion, provides further information that is beneficial for therapeutic decision-making. To ensure timely reperfusion therapy, it is imperative that neuroimaging is conducted and interpreted promptly in all instances.
CT-based imaging's widespread availability, rapid imaging capabilities, and safety profile make it the preferred initial diagnostic tool for evaluating patients experiencing acute stroke symptoms in the majority of medical centers. IV thrombolysis decision-making can be predicated solely on the results of a noncontrast head CT scan. Large-vessel occlusion detection is reliably accomplished through the highly sensitive technique of CT angiography. The utilization of advanced imaging, encompassing multiphase CT angiography, CT perfusion, MRI, and MR perfusion, provides additional information helpful in guiding therapeutic decisions in certain clinical presentations. In order to allow for prompt reperfusion therapy, the rapid performance and analysis of neuroimaging are indispensable in all cases.
For neurologic patients, MRI and CT scans are crucial imaging tools, each method ideal for addressing distinct clinical inquiries. Despite their generally favorable safety profiles in clinical practice, due to consistent efforts to minimize risks, these imaging methods both possess potential physical and procedural hazards that practitioners should recognize, as discussed within this article.
Significant progress has been made in mitigating MR and CT safety risks. The magnetic fields used in MRI procedures can cause dangerous projectile accidents, radiofrequency burns, and adverse interactions with implanted devices, ultimately resulting in severe patient injuries and even deaths.