mri

Are Migraine Related Changes Related to Impaired Cognition?

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A recent study titled “Structural Brain Changes in Migraine,” appears in The Journal of the American Medical Association, November 14, 2012, vol. 308, no. 13, pp. 1189-1897, by Inge H. Palm-Meinders et al. The study set out to follow-up the 2000 Cerebral Abnormalities in Migraine, an Epidemiological Risk Analysis cohort (CAMERA-1), a prospective population based observational study of Dutch participants with migraine and an age and sex matched control group. This study showed that women with migraines were more likely to have scattered areas of white mater changes on MRI scans. The current study is known as CAMERA-2 and the researchers wanted to determine  whether women or men with migraine have a higher incidence of brain lesions 9 years after initial MRI, whether migraine frequency was associated with progression of brain lesions, and whether progression of brain lesions was associated … Read more

3T MRI Detects Breast Cancer Not Seen on other Modalities

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A recent study suggests, 3T MRI, a powerful tool for evaluating patients with a high risk of having breast cancer, can detect a significant number of lesions not found on mammography and sonography. Results showed that 3T MRI detected 66/66 malignant lesions; mammography detected 54/66 malignant lesions; and sonography detected 57/66 malignant lesions. “3T MRI depicted a significantly higher number of malignant tumors of the breast than mammography and sonography,” said Haitham Elsamaloty, MD, lead author of the study. For those not familar, 3T is a higher field strength for MRI machines. Much higher than 3T field strengths are available but only in a research and not a hospital or clinical setting. Many hospitals are now having 3T MRI scanners so if you feel you would benefit you can request and make sure you use one that is 3T. I … Read more

New MRI Techniques can lead to Faster Scan Times

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Two new techniques using different approaches to see molecular changes inside people’s bodies can potentially lead to faster and more detailed imaging scans. Both magnetic resonance imaging technologies rely on manipulating the spin of molecules to provide more detailed scans that one day could rapidly do things like analyze how well a drug is working or tell how fast tumors are growing at the molecular level. The technique could  replace current imaging technologies that depend on the use of radioactive substances or heavy metals.” The research team based their technique on manipulating parahydrogen by transferring its magnetism to more easily detected molecules. This could potentially translated to increase scan sensitivity by 1000 times. This technique creates large imbalances among the populations spin states and makes the molecules into more powerful magnets. This in turn leads to more detailed images. Adapted … Read more