Table of Contents
Editorial
Perspectives
Review Articles
Level 1 EBM Expedited Publication
Research Perspectives
Health Care Reform Vignette
Brain
- Calvarial Fracture Patterns on CT Imaging Predict Risk of a Delayed Epidural Hematoma following Decompressive Craniectomy for Traumatic Brain Injury
The authors assessed patterns of skull fractures that could play a role in the development of delayed epidural hematoma. All patients who developed a delayed epidural hematoma had a contralateral calvarial fracture on preoperative CT. The contralateral calvarial fracture had perfect sensitivity (100%) for subsequent development of delayed epidural hematoma and a contralateral calvarial fracture involving 2 or more bone plates was particularly significant.
Interventional
- Mechanical Embolectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Anterior Cerebral Circulation: The Gothenburg Experience during 2000–2011
Safety and efficacy of intra-arterial treatment using the AmplatzGooseNeck device in acute anterior circulation strokes were assessed in 156 patients. High recanalization rates were obtained with the AmplatzGooseNeck snare without any device-related complications. Favorable outcome, mortality, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage were comparable with results of newer embolectomy devices.
- Enhancing Brain Lesions after Endovascular Treatment of Aneurysms
These authors present MR images in 7 patients who developed enhancing lesions after endovascular therapy for intracranial aneurysms, 3 of which were symptomatic. The number of lesions increased in 2, was stable in 1, decreased in 3, and disappeared in 1 patient. The authorsput forward that the imaging and clinical characteristics suggested a foreign body reaction. They found no correlation to a specific device, but a possible source may be the generic hydrophilic coating.
Head & Neck
- Orbital Lymphoproliferative Disorders (OLPDs): Value of MR Imaging for Differentiating Orbital Lymphoma from Benign OPLDs
After retrospectively analyzing MR images of 47 patients with proven orbital lymphoproliferative disease, the authors propose that ill-defined lesion margins suggest lymphoma whereas the presence of accompanying sinusitis and intralesional flow voids suggest benign lymphoproliferative disease. Lower ADC and contrast enhancement also suggest lymphoma.
Pediatrics
Spine
- MR Myelography for Identification of Spinal CSF Leak in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension
Twenty-four patients with intracranial hypotension received CT myelography as well asintrathecal gadolinium MR myelography. Comparisons demonstrated a higher rate of leak detection with intrathecal gadolinium MR myelography. Although intrathecal gadolinium is an FDA off-label use, all patients tolerated the medication without evidence of complications.
- Distinguishing Imaging Features between Spinal Hyperplastic Hematopoietic Bone Marrow and Bone Metastasis
MR, FDG-PET, and CT images from 8 patients with proven spinal findings of hyperplastic hematopoietic bone marrow were compared with those of 24 patients with spinal metastases. If a lesion was isointense to hyperintense to normal-appearing marrow on MR imaging or had a maximum standard uptake value of >3.6, the lesion was metastatic. A normal appearance on CT or bone scintigraphy excluded metastasis.
