Value of 3D-DCE MRA in diagnosis of cavernous transformation of portal vein / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate three dimensional dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (3D-DCE MRA) in diagnosis of cavernous transformation of portal vein (CTPV).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-four patients with CTPV underwent 3D-DCE MRA examinations and the reconstructed images were retrospectively analyzed. A series of clinical, laboratory and imaging studies were performed on all these cases. Among all cases 14 underwent operations and 2 with hepatocellular carcinoma complicated portal thrombosis received transhepatic artery chemoembolization.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The CTPA was located in the main trunk in 10 cases, in both the main trunk and left/right branches in 8, and in left or right branches of the portal vein in 4. In the remaining 2 cases CTPA was located at the level of superior mesenteric vein. MRA revealed multiple circuitous collateral veins striding over obstruction to extend into the liver in 9 cases,and in 7 it simultaneously showed streaky or dot-like low signal intensities representing thrombi in the extensively dilated network of portal system. MRA did not clearly demonstrate the structure of the portal vein but only showed multiple sinuous network of venous collaterals strangling together in 6 cases. In 15 cases it also showed the route and distribution of multiple hepatofugal venous collaterals.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>3D-DCE MRA can provide adequate information about the site and severity of CTPA.</p>

Clinical value of three-dimensional dynamic contrast-enhanced MR angiography in diagnosis of angiostenosis after liver transplantation / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical application of three-dimensional dynamic contrast-enhanced MR angiography (3D DCE MRA) in diagnosis of angiostenosis after liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty recipients of liver transplantation underwent 3D DCE MRA examination. The blood vessel rating grades were accessed and the relative diameter of vascular anastomosis was measured; and the results were compared with those of US or DSA examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Satisfactory angiography images were obtained in all cases by 3D DCE MRA, including 11 cases with normal and mild stenosis, 5 with moderate and 4 with severe stenosis in hepatic artery. Except one case in which 3D DCE MRA showed severe stenosis but DSA showed moderate stenosis, the results of MRA were all consistent with those of US or/and DSA in the stenosis degree of the portal vein, hepatic vein and the postcava.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>3D DCE MRA is an effective technique to evaluate the degree of angiostenosis after liver transplantation.</p>

Cortical language activation in aphasia: a functional MRI study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Functional neuroimaging has been used in neurolinguistic research on normal subjects and on patients with brain damage. This study was designed to investigate the differences of the neural basis underlying language processing between normal subjects and aphasics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to map the language network in 6 normal subjects and 3 patients with aphasia who were in the stage of recovery from acute stroke. The participants performed a word generation task during multi-slice functional scanning for the measurement of signal change associated with regional neural activity induced by the task.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In normal subjects, a distributed language network was activated. Activations were present in the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital regions. In the patient group, however, no activation was detected in the left inferior frontal gyrus whether the patient had a lesion in the left frontal lobe or not. Two patients showed activations in some right hemisphere regions where no activation appeared in normal subjects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>fMRI with word generation task is feasible for evaluating language function in aphasic patients. Remote effect of focal lesion and functional redistribution or reorganisation can be found in aphasic patients.</p>