Significance of virchow-robin spaces in patients newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis: a case-control study in an arab population

To assess the frequency and extent of dilatation of Virchow-Robin [VR] spaces at three levels of the brain in patients of Arab ethnicity in Kuwait recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis [MS] and compare the results with age-and gender-matched controls. Methods:The magnetic reso-nance imaging [MRI] scans performed within 3 months of the clinical diagnosis of 80 patients recently diagnosed with active MS were compared to those of 80 age- and gender-matched controls with headache but without any neurological deficits for the frequency and size of VR spaces. MRI was done with noncontrast axial and coronal T[1]W FSE, axial T[2]W FSE, axial T[2]W FLAIR and sagittal FLAIR sequences followed by postcontrast axial and coronal T

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in Young Arabs with Low Back Pain

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study. PURPOSE: To Investigate the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes of the lumbar spine in low back pain (LBP) and the associated risk factors in young Arab population. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Studies on the prevalence of MRI findings and their relationship with LBP have been conducted; these have occurred in adult populations in developed countries. The prevalence of MRI changes in the young Arab population with LBP is not known. METHODS: Two hundred and fourteen patients of Arab origin in the 16 to 29 year age group with LBP symptoms underwent MRI examinations. The prevalence of MRI changes in the lumbar spine and associated risk factors were determined and compared to age, race, and gender-matched controls. RESULTS: A majority (64%) of the patients with LBP (138 out of 214) were found to have MRI evidence of degenerative disc disease (DD) compared to 10% (22 out of 214) in the control group. The majority (61%) of patients had multiple level disease, most commonly involving the lowest 2 disc levels. Reduced signal of the disc followed by disc bulge was the most common MRI features seen in the symptomatic subjects. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities, while activity demonstrated a positive trend. CONCLUSIONS: The MRI prevalence of DD among the young Arab patients with LBP is high when compared to other reports in literature. Obesity correlated with MRI prevalence of abnormalities while activity demonstrated a positive trend.

Accuracy of the fischer scoring system and the breast imaging reporting and data system in identification of malignant breast lesions

Fischer developed a scoring system in 1999 that made identifying malignant lesions much easier for inexperienced radiologists. Our study was performed to assess whether this scoring system would help beginners to accurately diagnose breast lesions on magnetic resonance [MR] imaging and to assess the correlation between the magnetic resonance mammography Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [MRM BI-RADS] grade and the final diagnosis. The lesion morphology and contrast kinetics of 63 masses in 41 patients were evaluated on MRI and accorded a MRM BI-RADS final assessment category using the Fischer scoring system. The accuracy was evaluated after the final diagnosis was obtained by tissue sampling and follow-up imaging. There were 25 malignant and 30 benign lesions. Eight lesions were seen by MRI only and we could not verify their pathology since we did not have MR-guided biopsy facilities at the time of the study. On MR mammography, the proven carcinomatous lesions were characterized as BI-RADS category V in 16 [64%], category IV in 7 [28%], and category III in 2 [8%] lesions. Benign lesions were graded as category V in 3 [10%], category IV in 6 [20%], and category III in 3 [10%], category II in 10 [33%] and category I in 8 [27%] lesions. The MRM BI-RADS category accurately predicted malignancy in 92% and a benign pathology in 70% of the lesions. The overlap between the MRM features of chronic inflammatory lesions and carcinomas resulted in a lower accuracy in diagnosing benign as compared to malignant lesions. The MRM BI-RADS lexicon using the Fischer scoring system is useful and has a high predictive value, especially for malignant breast lesions, and is easy to apply. Overlapping features between benign inflammatory and malignant lesions might yield a reduced accuracy in inflammatory pathologies

Accuracy of the Fischer scoring system and the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System in identification of malignant breast lesions

Fischer developed a scoring system in 1999 that made identifying malignant lesions much easier for inexperienced radiologists. Our study was performed to assess whether this scoring system would help beginners to accurately diagnose breast lesions on magnetic resonance [MR] imaging and to assess the correlation between the magnetic resonance mammography Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [MRM BI-RADS] grade and the final diagnosis. The lesion morphology and contrast kinetics of 63 masses in 41 patients were evaluated on MRI and accorded a MRM BI-RADS final assessment category using the Fischer scoring system. The accuracy was evaluated after the final diagnosis was obtained by tissue sampling and follow-up imaging. There were 25 malignant and 30 benign lesions. Eight lesions were seen by MRI only and we could not verify their pathology since we did not have MR-guided biopsy facilities at the time of the study. On MR mammography, the proven carcinomatous lesions were characterized as BI-RADS category V in 16 [64%], category IV in 7 [28%], and category III in 2 [8%] lesions. Benign lesions were graded as category V in 3 [10%], category IV in 6 [20%], and category III in 3 [10%], category II in 10 [33%] and category I in 8 [27%] lesions. The MRM BI-RADS category accurately predicted malignancy in 92% and a benign pathology in 70% of the lesions. The overlap between the MRM features of chronic inflammatory lesions and carcinomas resulted in a lower accuracy in diagnosing benign as compared to malignant lesions. The MRM BI-RADS lexicon using the Fischer scoring system is useful and has a high predictive value, especially for malignant breast lesions, and is easy to apply. Overlapping features between benign inflammatory and malignant lesions might yield a reduced accuracy in inflammatory pathologies