CT diagnosis of early stroke : the initial approach to the new CAD tool based on multiscale estimation of ischemia

Background: Computer aided diagnosis (CAD) becomes one of the most important diagnostic tools for urgent states in cerebral stroke and other life-threatening conditions where time plays a crucial role. Routine CT is still diagnostically insufficient in hyperacute stage of stroke that is in the therapeutic window for thrombolytic therapy. Authors present computer assistant of early ischemic stroke diagnosis that supports the radiologic interpretations. A new semantic-visualization system of ischemic symptoms applied to noncontrast, routine CT examination was based on multiscale image processing and diagnostic content estimation. Material/Methods: Evaluation of 95 sets of examinations in patients admitted to a hospital with symptoms suggesting stroke was undertaken by four radiologists from two medical centers unaware of the final clinical findings. All of the consecutive cases were considered as having no CT direct signs of hyperacute ischemia. At the first test stage only the CTs performed at the admission were evaluated independently by radiologists. Next, the same early scans were evaluated again with additional use of multiscale computer-assistant of stroke (MulCAS). Computerized suggestion with increased sensitivity to the subtle image manifestations of cerebral ischemia was constructed as additional view representing estimated diagnostic content with enhanced stroke symptoms synchronized to routine CT data preview. Follow-up CT examinations and clinical features confirmed or excluded the diagnosis of stroke constituting 'gold standard' to verify stroke detection performance. Results: Higher AUC (area under curve) values were found for MulCAS -aided radiological diagnosis for all readers and the differences were statistically significant for random readers-random cases parametric and non-parametric DBM MRMC analysis. Sensitivity and specificity of acute stroke detection for the readers was increased by 30% and 4%, respectively. Conclusions: Routine CT completed with proposed method of computer assisted diagnosis provided noticeable better diagnosis efficiency of acute stroke according to the rates and opinions of all test readers. Further research includes fully automatic detection of hypodense regions to complete assisted indications and formulate the suggestions of stroke cases more objectively. Planned prospective studies will let evaluate more accurately the impact of this CAD tool on diagnosis and further treatment in patients suffered from stroke. It is necessary to determine whether this method is possible to be applied widely

Olivopontocerebellar artrophy in MRI spectroscopy : case report

Background: Olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) is an adult-onset disorder. It may occur in a sporadic or familial form. Case report: We present the case of a 62-year-old man with clinical symptoms of progressive cerebellar ataxia. Conclusions: Radiography presented atrophy of the pons and cerebellum. Clinically the syndrome results in progressive ataxia and bulbar dysfunction. Spectroscopy MR shows decrease in NAA/Cr ratio in cerebellum and pons - typical patterns of atrophy

Różnicowanie popromiennej martwicy i wznowy złośliwego guza mózgu u pacjentów leczonych przy pomocy brachyterapii Ir 192 metodą HDR w oparciu o analizę spektroskopową widma metabolitów z użyciem H1-MRS

Background: Computerized tomography (CT) with contrast infusion and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) do not differentiate radionecrosis and malignant tumor recurrence. Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy seems to be a new radiological method that could solve this problem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usability of H1-MRS in patients after brachytherapy. Material/Methods: Sixty patients were treated by Ir 192 HDR brachytherapy because of malignant brain tumors (gliomas and brain metastases). Prospectively, 4 months after brachytherapy, 24 patients underwent MRI and H1-MRS examinations. All patients qualified for the prospective study were in good general condition before and after the brachytherapy (Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) > 60%). Results: Combined assessment of MRI and H1-MRS gave us the possibility to differentiate the observed pathological changes. In 18 cases (75%) there was a decrease in tumor volume. The tumor infiltration area was larger than the necrotic area in 5 cases. An isolated recurrence mass was observed in only one case. Neurosurgical brain decompression with pathological mass resection was needed in 6 patients with increased intracranial pressure and enhanced neurological deficits. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis revealed in the H1-MRS examination in each case. Conclusions: Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy is helpful in evaluating the influence of radiation on the tumor and the surrounding brain tissue. Moreover, it solves the problem of differentiating between radionecrosis and tumor recurrence

Scimitar syndrome of atypical, rare drainage of venous vessel to the superior vena cava : a case report

Scimitar syndrome is a rare and complex congenital anomaly characterized by partial or complete anomalous pulmonary venous return from the right or left lung into the inferior vena cava, through drainage into the hepatic vein, right atrium or left atrium. The syndrome is commonly associated with hypoplasia of the right lung and right pulmonary artery. We present an 11-yearold female with atypical and rare type of scimitar syndrome. The girl has had cough for 2 months before admission, without fever or abnormalities on medical examination. X-ray films revealed inflammatory and atelectatic changes with mediastinal shift to the right. CT and CT angiography - hypoplasia of the right lung with no visible interlobar fissures. No areas of consolidation in the pulmonary parenchyma. Mediastinum shifted to the right. Single wide venous vessels draining the upper part of the right lung entering the superior vena cava. In our patient, clinical symptoms are mild, but a thorough physical examination could have helped diagnose the syndrome earlier