Seismological evidence for crustal-scale thrusting in the Zagros mountain belt (Iran)

International audienceCrustal receiver functions computed from the records of 45 temporary seismological stations installed on a 620-km long profile across central Zagros provide the first direct evidence for crustal thickening in this mountain belt. Due to a rather short 14-km average station spacing, the migrated section computed from radial receiver functions displays the Moho depth variations across the belt with good spatial resolution. From the coast of the Persian Gulf to 25 km southwest of the Main Zagros Thrust (MZT), the Moho is almost horizontal with slight depth variations around 45 km. Crustal thickness then increases abruptly to a maximum of ~70 km beneath the Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone, between 50 and 90 km northeast of the surface exposure of the MZT. Further northeast, the Moho depth decreases to ~42 km beneath the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic assemblage and the southern part of the Central Iranian micro-continent. The region of thickest crust is located ~75 km to the northeast of the Bouguer anomaly low at –220 mgals. Gravity modelling shows that the measured Moho depth variations can be reconciled with gravity observations by assuming that the crust of Zagros underthrusts the crust of central Iran along the MZT considered as a crustal-scale structure. This hypothesis is compatible with shortening estimates by balanced cross-sections of the Zagros folded belt, as well as with structural and petrological studies of the metamorphic Sanandaj-Sirjan zone

Role of high-resolution ultrasound in detection and monitoring of peripheral nerve tumor burden in neurofibromatosis in children

Purpose!#!Peripheral nerve sheath tumors are hallmark findings in neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2. With increasing size, they typically lead to neurological symptoms, and NF1 patients have a lifetime risk of 8-13% for developing malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Medical imaging is therefore highly needed for early detection and exact localization of symptomatic or potentially malignant tumors. This review will give an overview of the ultrasound characteristics of peripheral nerve sheath tumors and findings in patients with neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2.!##!Methods!#!A systematic search of electronic databases, reference lists, and unpublished literature was conducted including the keywords 'schwannoma,' 'neurofibroma,' 'neurofibromatosis,' 'benign and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.'!##!Results!#!The high-resolution allows a clear analysis of tumor echotexture, definition of margins, and the relation to the parent nerve. The use of color duplex/Doppler and contrast agent adds valuable information for the differentiation of benign and malignant tumors.!##!Conclusion!#!High-resolution ultrasound is a well-established, non-invasive, and easily repeatable first-line tool in diagnostic procedures of soft tissue tumors

Nerve Ultrasound as Helpful Tool in Polyneuropathies

Background: Polyneuropathies (PNP) are a broad field of diseases affecting millions of people. While the symptoms presented are mostly similar, underlying causes are abundant. Thus, early identification of treatable causes is often difficult. Besides clinical data and basic laboratory findings, nerve conduction studies are crucial for etiological classification, yet limited. Besides Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), high-resolution nerve ultrasound (HRUS) has become a noninvasive, fast, economic and available tool to help distinguish different types of nerve alterations in neuropathies. Methods: We aim to describe typical ultrasound findings in PNP and patterns of morphological changes in hereditary, immune-mediated, diabetic, metabolic and neurodegenerative PNP. Literature research was performed in PubMed using the terms ‘nerve ultrasound’, neuromuscular ultrasound, high-resolution nerve ultrasound, peripheral nerves, nerve enlargement, demyelinating, hereditary, polyneuropathies, hypertrophy’. Results: Plenty of studies over the past 20 years investigated the value of nerve ultrasound in different neuropathies. Next to nerve enlargement, patterns of nerve enlargement, echointensity, vascularization and elastography have been evaluated for diagnostic terms. Furthermore, different scores have been developed to distinguish different etiologies of PNP. Conclusions: Where morphological alterations of the nerves reflect underlying pathologies, early nerve ultrasound might enable a timely start of available treatment and also facilitate follow up of therapy success