Dean K. Shibata

Functional MRI study of auditory and visual oddball tasks

To seek neural sources of endogenous event-related potentials, brain activations related to rare target stimuli detection in auditory and visual oddball tasks were imaged using a high temporal resolution functional MRI technique. There were multiple modality specific and modality non-specific activations. Auditory specific activations were seen in the bilateral transverse temporal gyri and posterior superior temporal planes while visual specific activations were seen in the bilateral occipital lobes and their junctions with the temporal lobes. Modality non-specific activations were seen in multiple areas including the bilateral parietal and temporal association areas, bilateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral premotor areas, bilateral supplementary motor areas and anterior cingulate gyrus. Results were consistent with previous intracranial evoked potential recording studies, and supported the multiple generator theory of the endogenous event-related potentials.

Moyamoya disease in the United States

The epidemiology and radiological features of Moyamoya disease (MMD) in the US were investigated. This study encompassed 98 cases; 26 were newly collected from eight US institutions and 72 were previously reported in the US literature. The patients ranged in age from 6 months to 67 years with age peaks in the first, third and fourth decades. MMD was seen in various ethnic groups and females were more commonly involved (71%) than males. A specific etiology could not be determined in most cases but arteriosclerosis and use of oral contraceptives were occasional associations. On angiography and/or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), carotid arterial stenosis or occlusion was seen bilaterally in 95 cases (97%) and unilaterally in three. On MR or MRA, internal carotid steno-occlusive lesions were well demonstrated in all cases but Moyamoya collateral vessels (MMVs) were visualized in only 65% of the patients. MMVs in the basal ganglia and thalami were best demonstrated on T1 weighted images. Parenchymal lesions were seen in all patients and were often bilateral. With advances in MR techniques and increasing awareness of diagnostic guidelines, MMD will be diagnosed more frequently than before in the US.

A multicenter study of two magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques in individuals with HIV dementia

To evaluate single‐voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (SV‐MRS) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) metabolite results in individuals with HIV dementia.

MR volumetric analysis of the human basal ganglia: Normative data

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESnThe authors undertook this study to identify a precise, semiautomated, reproducible magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique for measuring the basal ganglia, to establish normative volumetric data, and to verify the presence of previously reported asymmetries.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnTwenty-eight healthy adults underwent cranial MR examination. The volumes of the various components of the basal ganglia were measured by means of a combination of thresholding and manual tracing techniques performed with specialized software. The validity of these measurements was assessed by fashioning, imaging, and measuring a practical basal ganglia phantom. Measurement accuracy was also established by means of inter- and intrarater reliability indexes. Normalized volumes were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance and paired t tests.nnnRESULTSnThe absolute values of the various components of the basal ganglia varied widely even though the volumes were normalized to differences in intracranial volume. The right caudate nucleus volume was significantly (P < .000001) larger than the left in both men and women and in both right-handed and non-right-handed subjects. This asymmetry led to an increase in the overall volume of the basal ganglia on the right.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe authors have defined a precise, reproducible technique for measuring various components of the basal ganglia and have established normative data. The basal ganglia, similar to other brain structures, exhibit hemispheric lateralization.

Initial experience with helical CT and 3D reconstruction in therapeutic planning of cerebral AVMs : Comparison with 3D time-of-flight MRA and digital subtraction angiography

PURPOSEnWe report our initial experience with helical CT and CT angiography (CTA) in evaluating cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in comparison with time-of-flight MR angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA).nnnMETHODnTwelve AVMs were studied with CTA, non-gadolinium-enhanced MRA, and DSA. Reconstructed images were obtained in three display methods (maximum intensity projection, shaded surface black and white, shaded surface color). Shaded surface color display was obtained by assigning different colors to vessels and presumed nidus. The number of feeding arteries and draining veins associated with each AVM was independently counted in each modality. The relative ease of depicting the nidus and vessels was also determined in each display method. AVM nidus dimensions were measured on CTA and MRA source images and interobserver differences were compared.nnnRESULTSnCTA-reconstructed images depicted more veins but fewer arteries than MRA. Shaded-surface color displays best delineated vessels and nidus. Nidus dimension measurement was possible on CTA in all AVMs but impossible on MRA in four AVMs due to interference by methemoglobin (three AVMs) and phase artifact (one AVM). The interobserver difference in nidus dimension as measured on CTA was significantly smaller than that on MRA.nnnCONCLUSIONnReconstructed CTA images and CTA source images seem to be valuable adjuncts or alternatives to MRA.

Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging of CNS involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESnThe purpose of this study was to determine the range of findings at diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and central nervous system involvement.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnDiffusion-weighted MR images were reviewed in 20 patients with SLE and correlated with clinical symptoms and findings at computed tomography, conventional MR imaging, MR angiography, or conventional angiography.nnnRESULTSnDiffusion-weighted MR imaging showed acute or subacute lesions in nine of 20 patients (45%). In the other 11, it showed no abnormal findings or chronic lesions. In four of the nine patients with lesions, diffusion-weighted imaging primarily showed hyperintense lesions with decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), which indicates acute or subacute infarcts. In four other patients, it primarily showed iso- or slightly hyperintense lesions with increased ADC, suggesting vasogenic edema. In two of these four patients, the findings were consistent with hypertensive encephalopathy. In the other two, small hyperintense foci on diffusion-weighted images with decreased ADC were seen within the vasogenic edema. These foci presumably represent microinfarcts associated with SLE vasculopathy. In the ninth patient, diffusion-weighted imaging showed a small linear hyperintense lesion with normal ADC in the left parietooccipital region.nnnCONCLUSIONnDiffusion-weighted imaging shows primarily two patterns of acute or subacute parenchymal lesions in patients with SLE: acute or subacute infarction and vasogenic edema with or without microinfarcts.

Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging: clinical applications and pitfalls. A pictorial essay

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) provides unique information about various pathological changes of the brain. DWI is sensitive for the detection of hyperacute infarcts, and useful in distinguishing acute or subacute infarcts from chronic infarcts. DWI is useful in differentiating cytotoxic edema from vasogenic or interstitial edema, which may help to determine prognosis. DWI is useful in differentiating cystic or necrotic tumors from abscesses or epidermoids. DWI can discriminate nonenhanced tumor infiltration from vasogenic edema, and differentiate dysmyelination from demyelination.

Functional MR imaging of vision in the deaf.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESnEarly loss of a sensory modality has been associated with cortical reorganization in both animal models and humans. The purpose of this study was to map visual activation with functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to document possible developmental reorganization in the temporal lobe caused by early deafness.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnSix prelingual, profoundly deaf subjects were compared with a similar group of six hearing subjects. Three visual tasks were performed by both groups: attention to movement in the field-of-view periphery, shape matching, and mental rotation. Echo-planar coronal MR imaging was performed at 1.5 T.nnnRESULTSnRegions of interest encompassing the middle and posterior aspects of the superior and middle temporal gyri demonstrated a significantly (P < .05) increased activation in deaf subjects compared with hearing subjects, particularly on the right side (P < .05) and during the tasks involving motion. The most specific effect was noted during the mental-rotation task.nnnCONCLUSIONnThese results support the hypothesis that portions of the temporal lobe usually involved in auditory processing are more active during certain visual tasks in deaf compared with hearing subjects. Cortical reorganization may be an important factor in the deaf population when considering the physiology of temporal lobe lesions and predicting surgical outcomes. Functional MR imaging may be helpful during preoperative assessment in individuals with deafness.

Characteristics and pitfalls of contrast-enhanced, T1-weighted magnetization transfer images of the brain.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESnThis study was undertaken to clarify the difference in signal pattern on contrast material-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) magnetization transfer (MT) images between enhancing and nonenhancing lesions in various intracranial diseases and to determine the necessity of nonenhanced MT images for evaluating lesional contrast enhancement.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnMR images of 116 patients who underwent nonenhanced T1-weighted imaging, nonenhanced MT imaging, and contrast-enhanced MT imaging were reviewed. The increase in signal intensity of lesions relative to normal brain was compared between nonenhanced T1-weighted images and contrast-enhanced MT images. Signal intensity of lesions was compared with that of the striate nucleus and white matter on contrast-enhanced MT images. True enhancement was determined by comparison with nonenhanced MT images.nnnRESULTSnIn all, 143 lesions, including 86 enhancing and 57 nonenhancing lesions, were identified among 63 patients. Almost all (99%) of the enhancing lesions were hyperintense to striate nucleus on contrast-enhanced MT images, and most (>87%) showed moderate to marked signal intensity increase from nonenhanced T1-weighted images to contrast-enhanced MT images. Most (>95%) of the nonenhancing lesions showed mild or no increase in relative signal intensity, and most (75%) were iso- or hypointense to striate nucleus on contrast-enhanced MT images. A few nonenhancing lesions (4%-6%), however, showed increase in signal intensity that was indistinguishable from true enhancement without comparison to non-enhanced MT images.nnnCONCLUSIONnNonenhanced MT images should be obtained to assess pathologic enhancement accurately.

Two prototype blood-pool agents for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the portal vein in pigs

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVESnMacromolecular blood-pool agents such as polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine, which provide prolonged intravascular enhancement, were tested as magnetic resonance (MR) angiography contrast agents for the portal vein in pigs.nnnMETHODSnPhase-contrast MR angiography of the portal veins was performed on six pigs before and after intravenous administration of polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 3) or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine (n = 3).nnnRESULTSnThe contrast-to-noise ratio of the portal veins was improved by 74% and 52%, respectively, using polylysine-gadopentetate dimeglumine or albumin-gadopentetate dimeglumine. More branches of the intrahepatic portal veins were visualized on postcontrast images.nnnCONCLUSIONnBlood-pool paramagnetic contrast agents improved the visualization of hepatic vasculature using phase-contrast MR angiography in our experimental model.