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Biomedical subjects

R E Steiner

Publications and source records attributed to R E Steiner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord in multiple sclerosis by fluid-attenuated inversion recovery.

Magnetic resonance imaging examination of the upper spinal cord was done in sixteen adult patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) by T2 weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) scanning in which the signal from cerebrospinal fluid was suppressed. These scans were compared with matched images obtained with conventional T1 and T2 weighted pulse sequences (including contrast enhancement). 6 lesions (five patients) were seen with the conventional scans and 37 lesions (fourteen patients) were seen with the FLAIR scans. The FLAIR sequence considerably improves the ability of MRI to demonstrate spinal involvement in MS.

Adult

Ultrasound, CT, and MRI comparison in primary and secondary tumors of the liver.

Thirty-five patients with surgically removed or percutaneous biopsy-proven tumors were examined by ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This retrospective study describes the appearance of the primary tumors and metastases and compares the sensitivity and specificity of the 3 imaging methods. Ultrasound, CT, and MRI examinations as well as clinical, operative, and/or histologic data were available for all 35 patients. Paramagnetic contrast agent gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) was used in 23 patients and a short TI inversion recovery MRI sequence was used in 23 patients, in addition to various spin echo MRI sequences. Thirteen patients were examined using both Gd-DTPA and the short TI inversion recovery sequence. Our comparative study--based on the following criteria: detection, size, location of the tumor, and portal vein involvement and bile duct dilatation--demonstrated an advantage of MRI over ultrasound in 16 of 35 cases, equal results in 17 of 35 cases and a disadvantage of MRI compared to ultrasound in 2 of 35 cases. With the identical criteria, MRI proved to be more informative than CT in 10 of 35 cases, equal in 21 of 35 cases, and less informative in 4 of 35 cases.

Adolescent

Magnetic resonance imaging of the solitary hepatic mass: direct correlation with pathology and computed tomography.

Magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the liver were obtained using a combination of short time inversion recovery (STIR) and spin echo (SE) sequences. These were correlated with comparable tissue slices generated from resected specimens obtained at partial hepatectomy. All 10 cases appeared to have solitary masses on contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT). Histological examination revealed five primary tumours (two hepatocellular carcinomas, two haemangiomas and one cholangiocarcinoma) and five metastatic tumours. The STIR images demonstrated a high signal intensity in all areas of viable tumour involvement and reduced signal intensity in regions of confluent necrosis with superimposed haemorrhage or calcification. This sequence also demonstrated additional areas of high signal intensity adjacent to several lesions which were not visible on CT. Microscopy of these regions in the specimens demonstrated no tumour involvement or steatosis and their precise cause remains obscure. All the lesions demonstrated on the CT images were visible on MRI and no additional lesions were discovered on detailed microscopical examination of the specimens. Delineation of the extent of the cholangiocarcinoma was a problem with both techniques. MRI showed no major advantage over CT except for a higher contrast of the lesion compared with normal liver and also a better delineation of the tumour mass.

Adenoma, Bile Duct

Bone marrow in leukemia and aplastic anemia: MR imaging before, during, and after treatment.

Serial magnetic resonance (MR) studies of the cervical bone marrow were performed in five patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation for chronic granulocytic leukemia and in four patients with aplastic anemia who were treated with antilymphocytic globulin. Findings were compared with those from a group of healthy volunteers. Chemical shift imaging techniques were used to exploit the presence of protons in fat and water in the red marrow. Characteristic changes were seen in aplastic anemia before treatment, but derivation of images representing fat and water fractions was necessary to distinguish leukemic marrow. Acute changes during the treatment of leukemia may reflect the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, whereas changes in the chronic phase of both diseases may prove useful in predicting treatment outcome. MR studies are likely to be useful in the assessment and treatment of hematologic disorders.

Adolescent

Present and future clinical position of magnetic resonance imaging.

Following the appearance of the first clinical reports on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) five years ago, stock is now taken of the clinical value of this new imaging technique and its future potential is assessed. Contrast and spatial resolution as well as specificity of CT and MRI are compared and the multiplicity of sequences, multiplanar facility, and flexibility of MRI over CT are analyzed. The dominant role of MRI over CT in the study of some disorders of the central nervous system is assessed and so are the limitations. In this context the usefulness of paramagnetic contrast media is also evaluated. The difficulties of body imaging are discussed. The solutions of overcoming cardiac and respiratory motions artifacts are evaluated and areas where MRI has already achieved a high level of clinical application are identified. Mention is made of additional information obtainable by MRI as, for example, sodium imaging, blood flow measurements, and the combination of imaging with spectroscopy. Possible future prospects are analyzed, for example, high-resolution imaging, alternative sequences to those commonly used in particular the short TI IR sequence (STIR), chemical shift imaging, and the possibility of utilizing susceptibility for imaging purposes. The problem of radiofrequency receiver coil design is approached and so is the choice of magnetic fields. The future relationship of MRI with established noninvasive techniques is stressed.

Abdomen

MRI in acoustic neuroma: a review of 35 patients.

This retrospective study is aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of MRI in relation to contrast enhanced CT and air-CT-cisternography. MRI examinations were performed in 35 patients with suspected neurosensorial damage and suggestive of acoustic neuroma: 27 presented on MRI with unilateral tumors, 3 patients had a bilateral tumor and 5 patients were negative on all imaging modalities. The total number of acoustic neuromas detected was therefore 33. To date microscopic analysis has been performed on 12 tumors and histological data based on type Antoni A and Antoni B classification is available. Contrast enhanced CT detected 19 tumors, yielding an overall sensitivity rate of 58%. Air-CT cisternography identified an additional 5 tumors with a sensitivity rate of 100%. MRI identified 33 acoustic neuromas in 30 patients and was negative in 5 patients (sensitivity and accuracy 100%). Considering sensitivity in relation to location, MRI was much better than contrast enhanced CT for internal auditory canal (IAC) tumors (100% versus 36%) and better for cerebello-pontine angle tumors (CPA) tumors (100% versus 68%). The evolution of MRI technique, the various pulse sequences used and their actual selection is discussed. Seven patients received a paramagnetic contrast agent (Gadolinium-DTPA) with the additional benefit of a better demonstration of the tumor. The results suggest that MRI is the best non invasive technique for demonstrating acoustic neuromas.

Adolescent

Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.

Satisfactory NMR images of the heart can now be obtained using ECG gated inversion recovery and spin-echo sequences. The images obtained provide good anatomical information in the transverse, coronae, and sagittal planes, particularly of the myocardium and some intracardiac structures, such as cardiac valves and papillary muscle. The pericardium can be visualized, and so can the large vessels arising from the heart. Myocardial disease, in particular ischemia and infarction, is discussed in some detail, and mention is made of the cardiac aneurysms and various types of cardiomyopathy. Congenital heart disease and pericardial pathology are also briefly discussed.

Animals

Magnetic resonance imaging of the retroperitoneum.

The results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations in 50 patients with histological or clinical diagnoses of retroperitoneal disorders and 20 normal volunteers are presented. An increase in relaxation time (T1) was recognised in most pathological conditions except for four liposarcomas and one adrenal cortical neoplasm and one metastatic lesion of the same gland. Inversion recovery (IR) provided the best tissue contrast, enabling the detection of small lesions. Flow-dependent sequences and sagittal imaging planes were particularly helpful in the evaluation of aortic aneurysms. Ferric ammonium citrate used as an oral paramagnetic contrast agent and a short T1 inversion recovery sequence gave encouraging initial results in recognising bowel loops. Gadolinium-DTPA injected intravenously provided tumour enhancement, indicating vascular perfusion and demarcating tumour margins. An attempt to eliminate motion artefacts was carried out in 15 volunteers and six patients either by a new software system (respiratory ordered phase encoding) or by using short T1 inversion-recovery to suppress the high signal from fat. The same pulse sequence results were useful in demonstrating subcutaneous fistulous tracts by eliminating the adjacent fat. The actual role of MRI in the investigation of the retroperitoneum in view of current technical developments is discussed.

Abscess

Gadolinium-DTPA in the assessment of liver tumours by magnetic resonance imaging.

The effect of gadolinium-DTPA (Gd-DTPA, Schering AG) as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent was studied in 15 patients with liver tumours. A dose of 0.1 mmol/kg was used. An analysis of the time-course of enhancement, a comparison of four different pulse sequences, and a dose-comparison study were carried out with monitoring of haematological and biochemical parameters before and after injection of Gd-DTPA. Maximum enhancement, that is, increase in signal intensity, was noted on IR1400/400/13 between 10 and 20 min after injection while on SE580/40 and SE580/80 maximum enhancement was noted 30 min after injection. In some cases enhancement was noted up to 120 minutes after injection. SR1000/13f sequences showed very little enhancement. On comparison with contrast-enhanced X-ray computed tomography (CT), enhancement was greater on MRI in seven cases, equal in six and less in two, as assessed subjectively. Additional lesions were shown in one case using Gd-DTPA compared to precontrast enhanced MRI scans. However, no additional lesions were seen on contrast-enhanced MRI scans compared to contrast-enhanced CT scans. Gd-DTPA is capable of enhancing liver tumours on MRI and may have a place in the assessment of the operability of such lesions.

Contrast Media

The role of magnetic resonance imaging techniques in the evaluation of orbital and ocular disease.

Technical developments have resulted in a great improvement in the quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the orbit. With surface coil data acquisition spatial resolution of less than a millimetre can now be achieved, and contrast discrimination is such that the cortex and nucleus of the lens can be distinguished. The application of MRI to the diagnosis of orbital and ocular pathology was studied in a group of 51 patients with a wide range of pathology. Advantages of MRI over computed tomography (CT) included the avoidance of ionising radiation, the direct multiplanar facility and the use of flow-dependent sequences to identify pathological vessels without the need for contrast medium; although CT was superior in showing bone detail. Only a limited discrimination between different tumour types is possible by assessment of their MRI characteristics. Research is currently being directed towards achieving thinner slices, shorter data acquisition times and removal of the high signal from retrobulbar fat.

Adenoma

A magnetic resonance study of early schizophrenia.

Patients with untreated first schizophrenic episodes and others who had made varying degrees of recovery from such episodes were blindly compared with normal volunteers in terms of the periventricular appearances on spin echo magnetic resonance scans. Significant differences were not found.

Adult

Periventricular leukomalacia: evaluation with MR imaging.

We reviewed 24 magnetic resonance (MR) images of 12 infants diagnosed as having periventricular leukomalacia based on ultrasound results. Abnormalities were identified on the MR images of every patient and were divided into three categories: distribution of low-signal-intensity areas within the cerebral white matter, degree of ventriculomegaly and brain atrophy, and extent of myelination. Follow-up examinations on six patients were also compared for significant changes. Abnormalities noted on MR images that most consistently related to poor outcome for the patient were low-signal-intensity lesions involving all four cerebral lobes, moderate to severe delays in myelination, lack of progression of myelination, and moderate to severe cortical atrophy. MR imaging was able to depict the extent and progression of myelination, and it may be used to continue follow-up of these patients beyond the time of fontanel closure.

Brain Ischemia

Total stabilization of the cervical spine in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Certain patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy demonstrate instability in the upper cervical vertebral column associated with marked narrowing of the vertebral canal in the neighboring lower cervical segments. This combination of causative mechanisms creates difficulty in using routine surgical procedures, especially in elderly and severely debilitated patients. We present three cases that typify this situation and illustrate marked resolution of debilitating myelopathy through total posterior fusion of the cervical spine usually incorporating the occiput.

Aged

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of tumours of the central nervous system: a clinical review.

The clinical application of the intravascular paramagnetic contrast agent gadolinium-DTPA for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging of tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) has been assessed over the past 3 years. Various patterns of contrast enhancement were observed, and situations in MRI where the administration of contrast medium may be useful have been defined. These include lesions which are isointense with normal brain matter, the separation of tumour from surrounding oedema, evaluation of the degree of blood-brain barrier breakdown, delineation of tumours obscured by overlying calcification on computed tomography (CT) and in the investigation of lesions in anatomical areas where CT has known limitations (brain stem, cervical spine). Changes in relaxation times in normal and abnormal tissues following contrast medium, toxicity and dosage of gadolinium-DTPA, and MRI pulse sequence techniques are reviewed.

Astrocytoma