MRI venous architecture of insula.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to describe the venous anatomy of the insula using conventional MR brain imaging and confocal reconstructions in cases with glioma induced venous dilatation (venous gliography). METHODS: Routine clinical MRI brain scans that included thin cut (1.5-2 mm) post contrast T1 weighted imaging were retrospectively reviewed to assess the insular venous anatomy in 19 cases (11 males and 8 females) with insular gliomas. Reconstruction techniques (Anatom-e and Osirix) were used to improve understanding of the venous anatomy. RESULTS: We identified the following insular and peri-insular veins on MRI: the superficial middle cerebral vein (SMCV), peri-insular sulcus vein, vein of the anterior limiting sulcus, the precentral, central, and posterior sulcus veins of the insula, the communicating veins and deep MCV. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that venous anatomy of insula is complicated and is often overlooked by radiologists on MR brain imaging. Use of confocal imaging in different planes helped us to identify the superficial and deep middle cerebral veins and their relationship to the insula. The understanding of the insular venous architecture is also useful to distinguish these vessels from insular arteries. This knowledge may be helpful for presurgical planning prior to insular glioma resection.

Surgical anatomy of the temporal bone: an atlas.

This atlas demonstrates the usefulness of reconstructed high-resolution CT for planning temporal bone surgery. The first part focuses on a sagittal plane, the second on a rotated longitudinal plane, and the third on a rotated transverse plane. We believe knowledge of temporal bone anatomy in these planes facilitates surgical planning by showing anatomic relationships and providing a customized map for each patient. This decreases the likelihood of surgical mishap and improves teaching.

Sectional imaging anatomy: pelvic ring ligaments.

The purpose of this article is to describe the complex anatomy of the pelvic ligaments. It uses schematics to display 10 color-coded ligaments in relation to the bony architecture. This atlas and the accompanying summary of the classification of pelvic ligamentous injuries is designed to encourage the use of magnetic resonance imaging in cases of pelvic ring trauma.

Sectional neuroanatomy of the lower limb II: leg and foot.

The authors have produced a pair of articles that can be used to rapidly identify back, hip, and lower limb muscles and their innervation(s). This article presents the motor and sensory innervation of the lower limb by color-coding structures to match their peripheral nerves. It provides a companion summary table that allows prediction of unique patterns of denervation from 12 lesions sites.

Nerves of the thorax: atlas of normal and pathologic findings.

An anatomic and imaging atlas was created to provide detailed information about the six pairs of thoracic nerves (phrenic nerves, vagus nerves, recurrent laryngeal nerves, sympathetic trunks, costal nerves, long thoracic nerves). Serial axial computed tomographic (CT) scans of the normal thorax were obtained and included in the atlas, along with drawings showing the proper location of each nerve relative to adjacent anatomic structures. CT scans obtained in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with various thoracic diseases were paired with appropriate drawings and normal CT scans in the atlas. This format was designed to help determine the presence and severity of related disease, including injury from surgery, trauma, or penetrating injury, metastatic disease involvement, and, rarely, primary tumor. Although the nerves of the thorax are rarely identified at cross-sectional imaging, their location can be inferred by localizing easily identified anatomic landmarks. Familiarity with the functional anatomy and clinical significance of the nerves of the thorax is important for the correct interpretation of thoracic images.

Sectional neuroanatomy of the lower limb I: lower back and hip.

This series of two articles is structured to provide anatomically accurate functional schematics of the motor and sensory innervation of the lower back, hip, and lower limb. This first paper provides radiographically oriented schematic axial sections of the lower back and hip in which the muscles are appropriately color-coded to match the peripheral nerves. A companion color-coded summary table allows prediction of unique patterns of denervation from 25 lesion sites. These are divided into three categories (roots T12 to S4, four plexal quadrants, and 11 sectional levels). Correlation between an imaging abnormality at one of these lesion sites and the predicted denervation pattern ensures the lesion is, in fact, clinically significant. The next article will continue this color-coded approach into the lower limb.

Reconciliation of the anatomic, surgical, and radiographic classifications of the mediastinum.

The mediastinum is a complex region that is variously subdivided by radiologists, surgeons and anatomists. This paper describes the most popular of these classifications and color-codes the radiologic and surgical divisions on 22 labeled axial sections of the chest. This allows the reader to quickly name the appropriate location of a lesion on any section.

Sectional neuroanatomy of the upper limb III: forearm and hand.

This paper is the last of three articles that describe the functional anatomy of the upper limb. It extends the series by presenting the axial anatomy of the forearm and hand. In addition, it provides a table that defines the patterns of muscle denervation specific to six representative sites. This set of articles is clinically useful because it can be used to rapidly identify and describe the innervation of the muscles and skin of the upper limb.

Sectional neuroanatomy of the upper limb II: shoulder and upper arm.

This article is the second in a series of three that presents an anatomic functional guide to the peripheral innervation of the shoulder and upper limb. It illustrates the axial anatomy of the shoulder and upper arm. The next article continues this format for the lower arm and hand. Together, all three papers can be used to rapidly identify each upper limb muscle and its innervation(s). They can also be used to locate the peripheral nerve trunks, and correlate lesions with the classic pattern(s) of muscle denervation and altered sensation.

Use of reconstructed sagittal computed tomography images to plan middle cranial fossa surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To facilitate planning in temporal bone surgery for the middle cranial fossa approach by using sagittal reconstructed temporal bone computed tomography images. STUDY DESIGN: Comparison of anatomic measurements on random high-resolution, reformatted computed tomography scans of the temporal bone. METHODS: High-resolution computed tomography of 10 normal temporal bones in the axial and coronal planes was obtained, and two-dimensional sagittal reconstructions were performed using a commercial software program. Eight anatomical relationships between neural and/or vascular structures were measured. Representative images were inverted to recreate the plane of the middle cranial fossa approach. RESULTS: Anatomical relationships among the vestibule, superior semicircular canal, internal auditory canal, internal carotid artery, and middle cranial fossa exhibited a high SD in the 10 subjects. The sample size and the large range for the eight anatomical relationships precluded the detection of a significant difference between right and left temporal bones or sex and age of the patient. CONCLUSION: The present report presents a novel, practical measurement protocol for rapidly evaluating important individual anatomical differences in patients before middle cranial fossa surgery. Inverted sagittal reconstructions facilitate presurgical planning for the middle cranial fossa approach by 1) assessing critical anatomical relationships before surgery and 2) providing customized measurements between vital landmarks and the first in vivo measurements. This decreases the likelihood of surgical mishaps and improves teaching by providing the first in vivo measurements of practical anatomical relationships in the sagittal plane.

Sectional neuroanatomy of the upper limb I: brachial plexus.

This series of three articles is structured to provide anatomically accurate functional schematics of the motor and sensory innervation of the shoulder and upper limb. This first paper provides radiographically oriented sagittal sections through the brachial plexus to assist in directly identifying a plexal lesion. A coronal schematic of the brachial plexus and summary table allows prediction of unique patterns of denervation from 19 lesion sites. Correlation between the lesion and the denervation pattern ensures the lesion is, in fact, clinically significant. The next two articles will present a color-coded atlas that allows the radiologist to quickly assess patterns of denervated muscles and thereby indirectly localize the lesion site. Thus, the three articles can be used together to predict the clinical picture for a given nerve lesion or extrapolate lesion location when a constellation of denervated muscles are seen on an upper limb magnetic resonance imaging or electromyographic study.

Neuroimaging contrast agents in ophthalmology.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) are routinely performed with the use of contrast materials in the diagnosis of neuro-ophthalmologic disease. Iodinated agents are commonly used in CT scanning and femoral contrast arteriography, and gadolinium is used in MR imaging. While contrast materials contribute greatly to diagnostic accuracy, they may also be responsible for adverse effects, ranging in severity from mild discomfort to death. The most frequent and severe side effects are associated with ionic iodinated contrast agents, while the rate of adverse reactions is less with use of nonionic iodinated contrast agents. Side effects and adverse reactions to gadolinium are uncommon, but they do occur. In neuro-ophthalmologic diagnosis, MR imaging is generally preferred over CT scanning, partly because of its greater ability to delineate soft tissue intracranial structures, but also because of the relative safety of gadolinium as a contrast agent. Properties of contrast agents are discussed in the context of specific imaging techniques and tissues investigated. Types and severity of adverse effects as well as risk factors for incurring such effects are summarized.

The nomenclature and sectional imaging anatomy III: capsular membranes and minor spinal ligaments.

This paper is the third in a series of three that organizes the complex anatomy of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal ligaments. It describes and color-codes the anatomy and nomenclature of the capsular membranes and minor spinal ligaments. The first two articles describe the dorsal and ventral ligaments, respectively.

The nomenclature and sectional imaging anatomy II: ventral spinal ligaments.

This paper is the second in a series of three that organizes the complex anatomy of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal ligaments. It describes and colorcodes the anatomy and nomenclature of the ventral ligaments. A prior article has described the dorsal ligaments, and a future article will illustrate the capsular joints and minor spinal ligaments.

In vivo measurements of temporal bone on reconstructed clinical high-resolution computed tomography scans.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively assess the accuracy of measurements of temporal bone anatomy made from reconstructed clinical high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. METHODS: Nine HRCT scans were performed on unselected clinical cases in which the subjects had a temporal bone study judged to be normal. The orbitomeatal line was prescribed for the direct axial sections. Variations in head position (rotation at the neck and lateral bending of the neck) were corrected by using the software supplied by the manufacturer. All measurements were done on standard 1-mm axial sections and axial reconstructions obtained from 1-mm coronal slices. The images were viewed at 4000 Hounsfield units (HU) window width and 1000 HU window level. Measurements (n = 3) made on 1-mm direct axial HRCT scans were compared with the measurements made on reconstructed axial HRCT images from the same nine patients. These values were also compared with published cadaver data. RESULTS: The measurements obtained from axial reconstructed and direct HRCT series approximated each other in each of the nine individual studies and also fell within the range of published cadaver values. They demonstrated the expected normal temporal bone variability between individuals. CONCLUSION: Useful anatomic approximations can be measured in vivo from reconstructed clinical HRCT images. Pitfalls are improper window settings, head tilt, and rotation. This protocol is widely available and can be implemented retrospectively from clinical HRCT scans.

The nomenclature and sectional imaging anatomy I: dorsal spinal ligaments.

This article is the first in a series of three that organizes the complex anatomy of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal ligaments. It describes and color-codes the anatomy and nomenclature of the dorsal ligaments. The following articles will describe the ventral ligaments, and the capsular membranes and minor ligaments.

Triple-dose contrast-enhanced images in neurologically symptomatic HIV-positive patients.

Our purpose was to determine whether triple-dose delayed contrast-enhanced images would improve lesion detection in patients with symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We reviewed 33 MRI studies on 29 patients. Single-dose immediate T1-weighted spin-echo (1x-T1) images were compared with delayed triple-dose images (D3x-T1). Two neuroradiologists decided which technique showed more lesions, increased lesion conspicuity and/or altered the radiologic diagnosis. The D3x-T1 technique improved lesion detection in 14 of 29 patients (48%). In two patients (7%), the improvement changed the radiologic diagnosis by showing new meningeal lesions.