Spontaneous shrinkage of sporadic vestibular schwannomas: a clinical and radiological analysis.

Objective: The natural history of sporadic vestibular schwannoma (VS) is unpredictable, as tumors may or may not grow and can even spontaneously regress. A spontaneous VS shrinkage MRI-based pattern has been proposed with either a scalloped tumor aspect in the cerebellopontine angle or the appearance of a CSF-filled space surrounding the intracanalicular (IC) tumor within an enlarged canal. The authors of this retrospective study aimed to describe the evolution of sporadic VSs with radiological signs of VS regression and to identify prognostic factors for tumor shrinkage.

"National survey for preliminary evaluation of neuroradiological protocols in patients with infective endocarditis".

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify imaging protocols in patients with infective endocarditis through a nationwide survey.

Methods: An electronic evolutionary survey was sent to interventional Neuroradiologists among neuroradiological centers, under the aegis of the Société Française de Neuroradiologie. Among 33 contacted centers, 25 completed the survey (21 universitary hospitals and 4 peripheric hospitals).

Brain Glucose Metabolism in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy: An FDG-PET Study.

Background And Purpose: The in vivo diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is currently based on the Boston criteria, which largely rely on hemorrhagic features on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Adding to these criteria F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography, a widely available imaging modality, might improve their accuracy. Here we tested the hypothesis that FDG uptake is reduced in posterior cortical areas, particularly the primary occipital cortex, which pathologically bear the brunt of vascular Aβ deposition.

[ F]FDG PET may differentiate cerebral amyloid angiopathy from Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a frequent cause of both intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Diagnosis relies on the Boston criteria, which use magnetic resonance imaging markers including ≥2 exclusively lobar cerebral microbleeds (lCMBs). Although amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) may provide molecular diagnosis, its specificity relative to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is limited due to the prevalence of positive amyloid PET in cognitively normal elderly.

How to radiologically identify a spontaneous regression of sporadic vestibular schwannoma?

Background: The natural history of sporadic vestibular schwannoma is unpredictable, with tumors growing, non-growing and even showing spontaneous regression in some rare cases.

Objective: This retrospective study aims to describe the radiologic signs characterizing and identifying the shrinking vestibular schwannoma.

Methods: Involution was considered to have occurred if tumor size had decreased by 2 mm or more on its largest diameter.

Comparison of 3D multi-echo gradient-echo and 2D T2* MR sequences for the detection of arterial thrombus in patients with acute stroke.

Objectives: We compared a multi-echo gradient-echo magnetic resonance sequence (susceptibility-weighted angiography [SWAN]) with the T2* sequence for the detection of an arterial thrombus in acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods: Seventy-four consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke were included. Proximal arterial occlusions were diagnosed using time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensities are not visible using 3D CUBE FLAIR sequence.

Objective: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensities (FVH), initially described on 2D FLAIR images, are a useful imaging marker in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. We aimed to compare the sensitivity of the 3D CUBE FLAIR sequence with 2D FLAIR for the detection of FVH.

Methods: Forty-seven consecutive patients admitted for a suspected stroke were explored by 2D and 3D CUBE FLAIR MR sequences at 1.

Virtual monochromatic spectral imaging with fast kilovoltage switching: reduction of metal artifacts at CT.

With arthroplasty being increasingly used to relieve joint pain, imaging of patients with metal implants can represent a significant part of the clinical work load in the radiologist's daily practice. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in the postoperative evaluation of patients who are suspected of having metal prosthesis-related problems such as aseptic loosening, bone resorption or osteolysis, infection, dislocation, metal hardware failure, or periprosthetic bone fracture. Despite advances in detector technology and computer software, artifacts from metal implants can seriously degrade the quality of CT images, sometimes to the point of making them diagnostically unusable.

Susceptibility-weighted angiography for the detection of high-flow intracranial vascular lesions: preliminary study.

Objectives: Susceptibility-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences may demonstrate various signal intensities of draining veins in cases of high-flow vascular malformation (HFVM), including arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF). Our objective was to evaluate susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN) for the detection of HFVM.

Methods: Fifty-eight consecutive patients with a suspected intracranial vascular malformation were explored with SWAN and post-contrast MRI sequences at 3 T.

Multidetector CT angiography in acute gastrointestinal bleeding: why, when, and how.

Acute gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding remains an important cause of emergency hospital admissions, with substantial related morbidity and mortality. Bleeding may relate to the upper or lower GI tract, with the dividing anatomic landmark between these two regions being the ligament of Treitz. The widespread availability of endoscopic equipment has had an important effect on the rapid identification and treatment of the bleeding source.

Accuracy of multidetector computed tomography in differentiating primary epiploic appendagitis from left acute colonic diverticulitis associated with secondary epiploic appendagitis.

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the prevalence of left acute colonic diverticulitis (LACD) associated with secondary epiploic appendagitis (SEA) detected by computed tomography (CT); to describe CT features that distinguish LACD associated with SEA from primary epiploic appendagitis (PEA); and to assess the accuracy of CT in diagnosing LACD associated with SEA versus PEA. Institutional review board approval was obtained. We retrospectively identified 46 consecutive patients with LACD between July 2004 and July 2005 and 26 patients with PEA between 2000 and 2005 investigated using multidetector CT.

Craniocervical arterial dissection: spectrum of imaging findings and differential diagnosis.

Craniocervical artery dissection is a potentially disabling yet probably underrecognized condition that often occurs in young and middle-aged adults. Accurate and prompt diagnosis of this condition is crucial because timely and appropriate therapy can significantly reduce the risk of stroke and long-term sequelae. Because of the great diversity in the clinical features of craniocervical artery dissection, imaging plays a primary role in its diagnosis.

Diagnostic imaging of solitary tumors of the spine: what to do and say.

Metastatic disease, myeloma, and lymphoma are the most common malignant spinal tumors. Hemangioma is the most common benign tumor of the spine. Other primary osseous lesions of the spine are more unusual but may exhibit characteristic imaging features that can help the radiologist develop a differential diagnosis.

Location of the transition zone in CT of small-bowel obstruction: added value of multiplanar reformations.

Purpose: To assess the additional value of multiplanar reformations (MPR) in comparison with axial images alone for location of the transition zone in CT of mechanical small-bowel obstruction (SBO).

Materials And Methods: Sixty-nine consecutive patients with mechanical SBO underwent 16-slice multi detector row CT (MDCT). The gold standard for the precise location of the transition zone was established by two experienced abdominal radiologists, unblinded to clinical and surgical reports, reviewing all CT examinations.

Cerebral venous thrombosis and multidetector CT angiography: tips and tricks.

Because of the great diversity of clinical features, its unforeseeable evolution, and a small proportion of cases that will worsen in the acute phase, cerebral venous thrombosis must be diagnosed as early as possible so that specific treatment can be started, typically transcatheter thrombolysis or systemic anticoagulation. Unenhanced computed tomography (CT) is usually the first imaging study performed on an emergency basis. Unenhanced CT allows detection of ischemic changes related to venous insufficiency and sometimes demonstrates a hyperattenuating thrombosed dural sinus or vein.

Helical CT of pancreatic endocrine tumors.

Pancreatic endocrine tumors are rare neoplasms. It is important to distinguish them from the more common ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas because they are slowly progressive and specific treatments are available. The CT findings of pancreatic endocrine tumors usually vary according to the functioning or nonfunctioning status.