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Biomedical subjects

Alvand Hassankhani

Publications and source records attributed to Alvand Hassankhani.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease is characterized by the accumulation of pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in articular and periarticular tissues. Various terms have been utilized to describe this arthropathy, which has led to some confusion. CPPD crystal deposition disease is among many conditions that may result in crystal deposition within cartilage. Chondrocalcinosis is a pathologic and radiographic term denoting calcification of cartilage within joints including both hyaline articular cartilage and fibrocartilage. Pseudogout is a clinical term applied to an acute inflammatory process in a joint(s) mimicking a gout attack. Pseudogout is just one of the multiple clinical presentations for CPPD crystal deposition disease. Pyrophosphate arthropathy is a term that has been used to describe the peculiar pattern of joint destruction associated with CPPD crystal deposition disease. This article reviews the protean manifestations of CPPD crystal deposition disease with emphasis on diagnostic imaging.

Arthrography↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of sports injuries of the spine.

Spinal injuries are relatively frequent events in professional athletes. Greater popularity of recreational athletic activities has increased the occurrence of sports-related spinal injuries in the general population. The demand of high-intensity sports places a constant load on the vertebral column. Several studies have demonstrated higher prevalence of spinal abnormalities in athletes than nonathletes. Direct correlation of the number and extent of injuries with the length in years of sports activity has been established. Diagnostic imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), plays a crucial role in evaluating and detecting sports-related spinal injuries. Subtle bone marrow, soft-tissue, and spinal cord abnormalities, which may not be apparent on other imaging modalities, can be readily detected on MRI. Early detection often leads to prompt accurate diagnosis and expeditious management, in many cases avoiding unnecessary procedures. This article reviews the technical aspects of MRI for evaluation of the spine and the role of MRI in the assessment of sports-related spinal injuries.

Acute Disease↗

Characterization and evolution of diffusion MR imaging abnormalities in stroke patients undergoing intra-arterial thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Lesions revealed by pretreatment diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) may not progress to infarction, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) or DWI thresholds for tissue viability may exist. We evaluated the evolution of abnormal DWI findings in patients with acute stroke who underwent thrombolysis. METHODS: Sixteen patients with acute occlusion of the anterior circulation underwent DWI followed by intra-arterial thrombolysis; follow-up CT or MR imaging was performed after reperfusion therapy. Lesion volumes were measured on all images. In three patients with abnormal DWI findings that appeared normal at follow-up, ADC values, ADC ratios, and DWI ratios were obtained on a section-by-section basis in the DWI-hyperintense regions that were either abnormal or normal at follow-up. RESULTS: In three patients, part of the DWI-hyperintense tissue appeared normal and part appeared abnormal at follow-up imaging. In one of these patients, the lesion decreased by -35.6%. In the other two, lesion growth appeared in regions that appeared normal at initial DWI: in one, the overall change in size was -2.4%, and in the other, the lesion increased by 89.8%. Respective mean changes at follow-up in normal-appearing and abnormal-appearing regions were: ADC, 731.7 x 10(-6) mm(2)/s and 650.4 x 10(-6) mm (2)/s; ADC ratio, 0.92 and 0.78; and DWI ratio, 1.16 and 1.32 (P <.001 for all measures). CONCLUSION: In patients with acute stroke who undergo intra-arterial thrombolysis, most abnormal, pretreatment DWI findings indicate eventual infarction. In 19% of the patients described herein, DWI-hyperintense regions appeared normal at follow-up. ADC values, ADC ratios, and DWI ratios may be useful in identifying the portion of abnormal tissue that is potentially salvageable after reperfusion therapy.

Acute Disease↗