The purpose of this paper is to describe automated techniques for the visualization and mapping of articular cartilage in magnetic resonance (MR) images of the osteoarthritic knee. The MR sequences and analysis software which will be described allow the assessment of cartilage damage using a range of standard scanners. With high field strength systems it would be possible, using these techniques, to assess micro-damage. The specific aim of the paper is to develop and validate software for automated segmentation and thickness mapping of articular cartilage from three-dimensional (3-D) gradient-echo MR images of the knee. The method can also be used for MR-based assessment of tissue engineered grafts. Typical values of cartilage thickness over seven defined regions can be obtained in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and control subjects without OA. Three groups of patients were studied. The first group comprised patients with moderate OA in the age range 45-73 years. The second group comprised asymptomatic volunteers of 50-65 years; the third group, younger volunteers selected by clinical interview, history and X-ray. In this paper, sagittal 3-D spoiled-gradient steady-state acquisition images were obtained using a 1.5-T GE whole-body scanner with a specialist knee coil. For validation bovine and porcine cadaveric knees were given artificial cartilage lesions and then imaged. The animal validations showed close agreement between direct lesion measurements and those obtained from the MR images. The feasibility of semi-automated segmentation is demonstrated. Regional cartilage thickness values are seen as having practical application for fully automated detection of OA lesions even down to the submicrometer level.

Volumes de hematomas em hemorragias intracerebrais espontâneas: o método da elipse (ABC/2) produziu volumes inferiores do que aqueles determinados pelo método planimétrico Intracranial hypertension is considered the main reason for surgical indication in subjects with ICH, especially in cases in which there is a progressive neurological deterioration 5,6 . The ABSTRACT Objective:To compare two different methods for measuring intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) volume: the ellipse volume (called ABC/2), and the software-aided planimetric. Methods: Four observers evaluated 20 brain computed tomography (CT) scans with spontaneous ICH. Each professional measured the volume using the ABC/2 and the planimetric methods. The average volumes were obtained, and the intra-and inter-rater variability was determined. Results: There is an absolute 2.24 cm 3 average difference between both methodologies. Volumes yielded by the ABC/2 method were as much as 14.9% smaller than by the planimetric one. An intra-observer variability rate of 0.46% was found for the planimetric method and 0.18% for the ABC/2. The inter-observer rates were 1.69 and 1.11% respectively. Conclusions: Both methods are reproducible. The ABC/2 yielded hemorrhage volumes as much as 14.9% smaller than those measured using the planimetric methodology.Key words: cerebral hemorrhage, tomography, evaluation studies. RESUMO Objetivo:Comparar dois métodos diferentes para determinar o volume da hemorragia intracerebral: volume da elipse (chamado ABC/2), e método planimétrico auxiliado por computador. Métodos: Quatro diferentes observadores avaliaram as imagens de 20 tomografias cerebrais com diagnóstico de hemorragia intracerebral espontânea. Cada profissional determinou o volume da hemorragia usando os dois métodos. Foram comparadas as médias dos volumes obtidos, bem como suas variabilidades intra e interobservadores. Resultados: Foi observada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os volumes calculados por meio dos dois métodos, com uma variação média absoluta de 2,24 cm 3 e com volumes até 14,9% menores para o método ABC/2. A média da variabilidade intraobservador foi de 0,46% para o método planimétrico e 0,18% para o ABC/2. As taxas de variabilidade interobservador foram de 1,69 e de 1,11%, respectivamente. Conclusões: Ambos os métodos são reprodutíveis. O volume determinado pelo ABC/2 pode ser até 14,9% menor que aquele determinado pelo método planimétrico.Palavras-Chave: hemorragia cerebral, tomografia, estudos de avaliação.

The measurement of temperature variation along the surface of the body, provided by digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI), is becoming a valuable auxiliary tool for the early detection of many diseases in medicine. However, DITI is essentially a 2-D technique and its image does not provide useful anatomical information associated with it. However, multimodal image registration and fusion may overcome this difficulty and provide additional information for diagnosis purposes. In this paper, a new method of registering and merging 2-D DITI and 3-D MRI is presented. Registration of the images acquired from the two modalities is necessary as they are acquired with different image systems. Firstly, the body volume of interest is scanned by a MRI system and a set of 2-D DITI of it, at orthogonal angles, is acquired. Next, it is necessary to register these two different sets of images. This is done by creating 2-D MRI projections from the reconstructed 3-D MRI volume and registering it with the DITI. Once registered, the DITI is then projected over the 3-D MRI. The program developed to assess the proposed method to combine MRI and DITI resulted in a new tool for fusing two different image modalities, and it can help medical doctors.

No abstract

ObjectiveTo compare brain structures using volumetric magnetic resonance imaging with isotropic resolution, in T1-weighted gradient-echo (GRE) acquisition, with and without inversion recovery (IR).Materials and methodsFrom 30 individuals, we evaluated 120 blocks of images of the left and right cerebral hemispheres being acquired by T1 GRE and by T1 IR GRE. On the basis of the Naidich et al. method for localization of anatomical landmarks, 27 anatomical structures were divided into two categories: identifiable and inconclusive. Those two categories were used in the analyses of repeatability (intraobserver agreement) and reproducibility (interobserver agreement). McNemar's test was used in order to compare the T1 GRE and T1 IR GRE techniques.ResultsThere was good agreement in the intraobserver and interobserver analyses (mean kappa > 0.60). McNemar's test showed that the frequency of identifiable anatomical landmarks was slightly higher when the T1 IR GRE technique was employed than when the T1 GRE technique was employed. The difference between the two techniques was statistically significant.ConclusionIn the identification of anatomical landmarks, the T1 IR GRE technique appears to perform slightly better than does the T1 GRE technique.

RESUMOIntrodução: O entendimento da anatomia integral do sistema de conexão do corpo caloso permite que as principais síndromes calosas sejam melhor compreendidas. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão das principais síndromes calosas com ênfase na síndrome da mão alienígena baseado nas diferentes partes do corpo caloso seguindo a divisão proposta por Witelson em 1989. Material e Métodos: Os autores realizaram uma revisão sobre a síndrome da mão alienígena após busca de dados no PUBMED e MEDLINE. Conclusão: O conhecimento da anatomia e da função do corpo caloso pode auxiliar na detecção de patologias neurológicas que cursam com distúrbios do movimento, além de doenças psiquiátricas. Palavras-chave: Corpo caloso, Síndromes calosas, Síndrome da mão alienígena, Main étrangère, Anatomia, TopografiaABSTRACT Background: The knowledge of the integral anatomy of the corpus callosum connection system allows the main callosal syndromes to be better understood. Objective: to conduct a review of the main callosal syndromes with emphasis on alien hand syndrome based on different parts of the corpus callosum according to the division proposed by Witelson in 1989. Material and Methods: The authors performed a review of the alien hand syndrome after search data in PUBMED and MEDLINE. Conclusion: The knowledge of the anatomy and function of the corpus callosum may aid in the detection of brain disorders which occur with movement disorders, and psychiatric disorders.

No abstract

Fisioter Mov. 2012 jul/set;25(3):607-15 Jeronymo LP, Gariba MA. 608 ou alterada, porém se mostrou pouco especí ica para distinguir entre osteopenia e osteoporose. Apesar da especi icidade da densitometria, a radiogra ia mostrou ser o melhor método quando há fraturas vertebrais. [P] Palavras-chave: Osteoporose. Densitometria. Radiogra ia. Doenças ósseas metabólicas. [B] [K]