Lothar Wicke

Magnetic resonance imaging of the lower vertebral column in patients with multiple myeloma.

Eighteen patients with multiple myeloma (clinical stages 1-3) and a control group of 21 persons underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine. This was done to determine the potential benefit of MRI in addition to conventional radiographs, tomograms, computed tomography and nuclear scans. In addition to focal fatty replacement of normal hematopoietic marrow, which presented as focal hyperintense lesions on T1-weighted images (T1-WI) and on T2-weighted images (T2-WI), two types of myelomatous lesions were found: (1) focal areas with reduced signal intensity when compared with normal bone marrow on T1-WI and enhanced signal intensity on T2-WI, mainly found in untreated myelomas; and (2) focal areas of decreased signal intensity on T1-WI and on T2-WI, which were predominantly detected after previous radiation therapy. MRI surpassed conventional radiography in detecting abnormal focal marrow infiltration in 41 of 247 vertebrae. Radiographs identified only 11 of the 41 as pathologic, based on shape and structure of the vertebral bodies; however, 15 other collapsed vertebrae showed no signal abnormalities of the marrow on MR images. Discrimination of normals and abnormals by statistical analysis of intensity measurements of the bone marrow was not possible.

MRI evaluation of pigmented skin tumors. Preliminary study.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 16 patients with pigmented skin lesions, seven with nodular melanomas, two with superficial spreading melanomas, two with subcutaneous melanoma metastases, and five with different benign pigmented nodular skin lesions. The results of MRI were compared with the histologic diagnoses. Signal intensities of the lesions were compared with subcutaneous fat, revealing a lower signal intensity of all lesions on T1-weighted images. Intensity measurements showed a significant (P less than .01) difference between benign and malignant lesions on T2-weighted images.

Sonoanatomy of the Shoulder

With the aid of ultrasound we tried to visualize the muscles of the shoulder region, the collum scapulae, the axillary artery and vein and the brachial plexus. We were successful with exception of the vessels and the nerves. Knowledge of the anatomical landmarks is essential in ultrasound image reading.

Stereotaktische Biopsie von Hirntumoren: Vergleich von CT-und MR-gesteuerter Berechnung

ZusammenfassungBei 3 Patienten mit Hirntumor wurde eine stereotaktische Biopsie nach Zielpunktberechnung über Computertomographie (CT) und Magnetresonanztomographie (MR) durchgeführt. Die beiden Techniken werden miteinander verglichen und ihre Vor-und Nachteile diskutiert.SummaryCT and MR guided stereotactic tumor biopsy has been performed in 3 patients. Both techniques for target determination are compared and their advantages discussed.