Virchow-Robin (VR) spaces surround the walls of vessels as they course from the subarachnoid space through the brain parenchyma. Small VR spaces appear in all age groups. With advancing age, VR spaces are found with increasing frequency and larger apparent sizes. At visual analysis, the signal intensity of VR spaces is identical to that of cerebrospinal fluid with all magnetic resonance imaging sequences. Dilated VR spaces typically occur in three characteristic locations: Type I VR spaces appear along the lenticulostriate arteries entering the basal ganglia through the anterior perforated substance. Type II VR spaces are found along the paths of the perforating medullary arteries as they enter the cortical gray matter over the high convexities and extend into the white matter. Type III VR spaces appear in the midbrain. Occasionally, VR spaces have an atypical appearance. They may become very large, predominantly involve one hemisphere, assume bizarre configurations, and even cause mass effect. Knowledge of the signal intensity characteristics and locations of VR spaces helps differentiate them from various pathologic conditions, including lacunar infarctions, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, multiple sclerosis, cryptococcosis, mucopolysaccharidoses, cystic neoplasms, neurocysticercosis, arachnoid cysts, and neuroepithelial cysts.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) provides functional information and can be used for the detection and characterization of pathologic processes, including malignant tumors. The recently introduced concept of "diffusion-weighted whole-body imaging with background body signal suppression" (DWIBS) now allows acquisition of volumetric diffusionweighted images of the entire body. This new concept has unique features different from conventional DWI and may play an important role in wholebody oncological imaging. This review describes and illustrates the basics of DWI, the features of DWIBS, and its potential applications in oncology.
The aim of this study was to systematically review and meta-analyze published data on the diagnostic performance of combined 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in the detection of primary tumors in patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP). A systematic search for relevant studies was performed of the PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase databases. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. Reported detection rates, sensitivities and specificities were meta-analyzed. Subgroup analyses were performed if results of individual studies were heterogeneous. The 11 included studies, comprising a total sample size of 433 patients with CUP, had moderate methodological quality. Overall primary tumor detection rate, pooled sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET/CT were 37%, 84% (95% CI 78–88%) and 84% (95% CI 78–89%), respectively. Sensitivity was heterogeneous across studies (P = 0.0001), whereas specificity was homogeneous across studies (P = 0.2114). Completeness of diagnostic workup before FDG-PET/CT, location of metastases of unknown primary, administration of CT contrast agents, type of FDG-PET/CT images evaluated and way of FDG-PET/CT review did not significantly influence diagnostic performance. In conclusion, FDG-PET/CT can be a useful method for unknown primary tumor detection. Future studies are required to prove the assumed advantage of FDG-PET/CT over FDG-PET alone and to further explore causes of heterogeneity.
EUS, MDCT, and MRI achieve similar results in terms of diagnostic accuracy in T staging and in assessing serosal involvement. Most experience has been gained with EUS. Few MDCT studies and even fewer MRI studies are available. Thus, EUS remains the first-choice imaging modality in preoperative T staging of gastric cancer.
Purpose:To compare and determine the reproducibility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements of the normal liver parenchyma in breathhold, respiratory triggered, and free-breathing diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI).
Materials and Methods:Eleven healthy volunteers underwent three series of DWI. Each DWI series consisted of one breathhold, one respiratory triggered, and two freebreathing (thick and thin slice acquisition) scans of the liver, at b-values of 0 and 500 s/mm 2 . ADCs of the liver parenchyma were compared by using nonparametric tests. Reproducibility was assessed by the Bland-Altman method.
Results: Mean ADCs (in 10Ϫ3 mm 2 /sec) in respiratory triggered DWI (2.07-2.27) were significantly higher than mean ADCs in breathhold DWI (1.57-1.62), thick slice freebreathing DWI (1.62-1.65), and thin slice free-breathing DWI (1.57-1.66) (P Ͻ 0.005). Ranges of mean difference in ADC measurement Ϯ limits of agreement between two scans were Ϫ0.02-0.05 Ϯ 0.16 -0.24 in breathhold DWI, Ϫ0.14 -0.20 Ϯ 0.59 -0.60 in respiratory triggered DWI, Ϫ0.03-0.03 Ϯ 0.20 -0.29 in thick slice free-breathing DWI, and Ϫ0.01-0.09 Ϯ 0.21-0.29 in thin slice free-breathing DWI.Conclusion: ADC measurements of the normal liver parenchyma in respiratory triggered DWI are significantly higher and less reproducible than in breathhold and free-breathing DWI.
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