The intensity of an isotropically weighted MR image is proportional to a rotationally invariant measure of bulk diffusion, Trace(D) (where D is the effective diffusion tensor). Such images can be acquired from as few as two diffusion-weighted images (DWIs). Analogously, the intensity of an anisotropically weighted MR image is proportional to a rotationally invariant measure of diffusion anisotr...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Recent research has shown that a T2* image (either magnitude or phase) is not identical to the internal spatial distribution of a magnetic susceptibility (χ) source. In this paper, we examine the reasons behind these differences by looking into the insights of T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2*MRI) and provide numerical characterizations of the source/image mism...

A 50-year-old male presented with acutely progressed paraplegia. His magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated two well-demarcated components with opposite signals in one cystic lesion between the T1- and T2-weighted images at the T1 spine level. The patient showed immediately improved neurological symptoms after surgical intervention and the histopathological exam was compatible with a neurenter...

Purpose: To investigate whether MS atrophy can be assessed by SIENA and SIENAX software using other image types from MS research protocols than T1-weighted images without contrast agent, which are not always available. Method: We selected 46 MS patients with identical MRI protocols at two timepoints. We calculated normalized brain volume (NBV) using SIENAX, and percentage brain volume change (P...

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the hypotheses that administration routes [intra-arterial (IA) vs. intravenous (IV)] affect the early stage migration of transplanted human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs) in acute brain infarction. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=40) were subjected to photothrombotic infarction. Three days after photothrombotic infarction, rats...

Background: To assess MRI in diagnosing endometriotic lesions, emphasizing T2*weighted imaging efficacy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study of 48 females (22-38 years, average 29.6) clinically suspected of endometriosis from September 2009 to April 2012. MRI was performed with a 1.5 T imager (Siemens) with a body array coil. T1, T2 and T2* weighted (2D-FLASH) sequences were obtained ...

Background Myocardial T2 mapping sequence allows quantitative assessment of myocardial edema and inflammation. Commonly, a series of T2 weighted images with steadystate free-precession (SSFP) are acquired after T2 magnetization preparation (T2Prep) with different echo times. Conventionally, a single slice per breath-hold is acquired to image one single slice. Because inflammation/edema is often...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Image quality and diagnostic reliability of T2-weighted MR images of the cervical spine are often impaired by several kinds of artifacts, even in cooperative patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate if BLADE sequences might solve these problems in a routine patient collective. MATERIALS AND METHODS TSE and BLADE sequences were compared in 60 patients for T2-weigh...

PURPOSE To compare conventional T2-weighted spin-echo imaging with a rapid acquisition relaxation enhanced (RARE) technique in the routine evaluation of lumbar degenerative disk disease. METHODS Thirty consecutive patients referred for evaluation of the lumbar spine for suspected degenerative disk disease were evaluated with sagittal and axial T1-weighted spin-echo, conventional T2-weighted s...