Biomedical subjects

G Cerone

Publications and source records attributed to G Cerone.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Acquired inflammatory white matter disease.

OBJECTS: During the last decades there have been various attempts to define the characteristics of white matter inflammatory diseases. Most of the authors concerned agree in considering Schilder's myelinoclastic diffuse sclerosis (SD), Devic's neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and Balo's concentric sclerosis to be variants of typical multiple sclerosis (MS). Moreover, in childhood even typical MS presents more aggressive behaviour, with frequent evidence of giant, tumefactive, necrotic or haemorrhagic plaques. METHODS: The authors review the literature and cite atypical cases that appear to be intermediate between MS and SD, NMO and SD. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, some critical revisions are proposed concerning cases with clinical presentation, history, laboratory and MR findings intermediate between those of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and of MS.

Brain↗

PubMed2000

Comparative evaluation of TEE, conventional MRI and contrast-enhanced 3D breath-hold MRA in the post-operative follow-up of dissecting aneurysms.

PURPOSE: To verify the diagnostic potentialities of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), breath-hold 3D contrast enhanced MR angiography (C3D MRA) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients surgically treated for type A aortic dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (21 males and 8 females), surgically treated for type A aortic dissection, were evaluated with MRI using a 1.5 T (GE Horizon Echospeed 8.2) with standard gated SE sequences and breath-hold 3D fast SPGR after intravenous Gd injection (0.2 mmol/kg). 3D MIP reconstruction was obtained. TEE evaluation was performed with a HP 2000 system and a biplane 5 MHz probe. The sizes of aortic root, distal anastomosis, descending aorta and periprosthetic thickening were measured. Regional false lumen and aortic branch involvement were also evaluated. RESULTS: Concordance among TEE, conventional MRI and C3D MRA was observed in the evaluation of aortic root (MRI vs. C3D MRA r = 0.93; MRI vs. TEE r = 0.84; C3D MRA vs. TEE r = 0.84) and descending aorta (r = 0.94, 0.91 and 0.92, respectively). The interobserver variability was also very low. Inadequate agreement was observed for distal anastomosis. C3D MRA was inadequate in the evaluation of periprosthetic thickening; r = 0.73 was obtained between MRI and TEE. For qualitative data: TEE was inadequate in the evaluation of the abdominal aorta and branches. C3D MRA depicted supra-aortic vessel involvement in more cases than the other techniques. CONCLUSION: C3D MRA is a fast and accurate technique in the evaluation of the endoluminal alterations and involvement of the aortic branches. Conventional MRI allows a direct evaluation of the aortic wall and periaortic tissue. TEE is less accurate in the evaluation of aortic branches and abdominal aorta.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

[Magnetic resonance angiography with contrast media bolus in the evaluation of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta].

PURPOSE: To investigate the potentials of 3D breath-hold contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) in the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment planning of abdominal aortic aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysm underwent MRA. We used a 1.5 T unit (GE Horizon, Echospeed 8.2), a phased array surface coil and 3D Fast SPGR T1-weighted sequences acquired on the coronal plane during patient breath-hold and after contrast agent i.v. administration. A bolus-test was done before angiography to optimize imaging delay time. After 3D MRA a Fast-SPGR T1-weighted sequence was acquired on the axial plane. The 3D MRA source images were processed with the MIP algorithm. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out. Helical CT was performed in 6 cases and DSA in 7 cases. Surgery was the reference standard in 15 patients. RESULTS: MRA depicted aneurysm thrombosis in 22 cases, carrefour involvement in 18 cases and iliac arteries involvement in 3 cases. Accessory renal arteries were shown in 4 cases; iliac artery stenosis was associated in 5 cases. There was agreement between MR and Helical CT and DSA findings: surgery confirmed MRA results in 15/15 cases. CONCLUSIONS: 3D contrast-enhanced MRA can be considered the method of choice in the follow-up and treatment planning of abdominal aortic aneurysms, because it provides both angiographic and tomographic images: this allows to obtain more information, noninvasively and without the use of ionizing radiations.

Aged↗

PubMed1999

[3-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography in apnea with the rapid infusion of a paramagnetic contrast medium in studying the thoracic aorta].

INTRODUCTION: We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of gadolinium-enhanced 3D MRA in the assessment of thoracic aortic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with diagnosed or suspected conditions of thoracic aorta were examined with contrast-enhanced MRA. All the examinations were performed with a 1.5 T superconductive magnet acquiring breath-hold 3D fast Gradient-Echo (GE) sequences (TR = 5.9 ms; TE = 1.2 ms; FA = 45 degrees; FOV = 48 cm; thickness = 2-2.5 mm; locs = 30-32; TA = 22-24 s; MA = 512) on the coronal plane. The contrast agent was injected bolus after a bolus-test to evaluate circulation time. RESULTS: Three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced MRA permitted to correctly diagnose aneurysm in 18 patients, dissection in 13 patients and coarctation in 3 patients. In the former the size and extent of the aneurysmal lumen and its relationship to aortic side branches was demonstrated. As for dissections we evaluated the following parameters: 1) type; 2) presence of intimal flap; 3) thrombosis of the false lumen; 4) dilatation of the aorta; 5) assessment of great vessel origins. MRA data were correlated with those of biplane transesophageal esophageal echocardiography, conventional MRI and spiral CT. In the three patients with aortic coarctation the site of coarctation was correctly identified, the degree of aortic narrowing evaluated and the collateral vessels demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion contrast-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography should be the screening technique of choice in the evaluation of thoracic aorta thanks to its low invasiveness, short acquisition time, large field of view and morphologic resolution. ECG gating is not needed. Limitations are found in the study of wall and periaortic region which are better evaluated with conventional MR imaging.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Recurrent cerebral venous infarcts and superior vena cava obstruction: case report.

We report a patient with repeated venous infarcts in the occipital lobe and occlusion of the superior vena cava. The pathogenetic relationships between the superior vena cava occlusion and the brain infarcts are discussed. High pressure in the superior venous territory and incomplete patency of the transverse sinus are probably responsible for the venous infarcts.

Cerebral Infarction↗

PubMed1997

Visual evoked potentials and serum magnesium levels in juvenile migraine patients.

Changes in visual evoked potentials and decreased intracellular magnesium levels have been separately described in patients affected by migraine both during the attacks and in the interictal periods. An inverse correlation between increased P100 amplitude and lowered serum magnesium levels was found in children suffering from migraine with and without aura in a headache-free period. A 20-day treatment with oral magnesium pidolate seemed to normalize the magnesium balance in 90% of patients. After treatment, the reduced P100 amplitude confirmed the inverse correlation with the serum magnesium level. These data seem to suggest the hypothesis that higher visual evoked potential amplitude and low brain magnesium level can both be an expression of neuronal hyperexcitability of the visual pathways related to a lowered threshold for migraine attacks.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1981