Role Of Neuroimaging Research Articles

A fully Bayesian approach for comprehensive mapping of magnitude and phase brain activation in complex-valued fMRI data

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) plays a crucial role in neuroimaging, enabling the exploration of brain activity through complex-valued signals. These signals, composed of magnitude and phase, offer a rich source of information for understanding brain functions. Traditional fMRI analyses have largely focused on magnitude information, often overlooking the potential insights offered by phase data. In this paper, we propose a novel fully Bayesian model designed for analyzing single-subject complex-valued fMRI (cv-fMRI) data. Our model, which we refer to as the CV-M&P model, is distinctive in its comprehensive utilization of both magnitude and phase information in fMRI signals, allowing for independent prediction of different types of activation maps. We incorporate Gaussian Markov random fields (GMRFs) to capture spatial correlations within the data, and employ image partitioning and parallel computation to enhance computational efficiency. Our model is rigorously tested through simulation studies, and then applied to a real dataset from a unilateral finger-tapping experiment. The results demonstrate the model's effectiveness in accurately identifying brain regions activated in response to specific tasks, distinguishing between magnitude and phase activation.

Role of Neuroimaging in Suspected Dementia Patients: Utilization of Structural Imaging Algorithmic‐Based Diagnosis in Resource Limited Settings

AbstractBackgroundIn 2050, it is estimated that the number of dementia patients in the sub Saharan Africa is expected to reach 5.05 million, an increase of 136% from the previous estimate of 2.14 million. The objectives of the present study were to assess the neuroimaging findings and associated factors in dementia suspected patients.MethodA retrospective survey of the medical records of 121 suspected dementia patients whom presented to the Yehuleshet Specialty Clinic with subjective forgetfulness were reviewed. The study duration was between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyze the data.ResultThe mean age was 70.4 (1SD = 10.3) years. Sixty four (52.9%) participants were age below 70. Male accounted for 57.9%. Hyperlipidemia was the commonest (38%) identified vascular risk factor followed by prevalence of hypertension (32.2%) and diabetes mellitus (22.3%). HIV infection was observed in 3.3%. Low mean serum vitamin D level (below 20ng/mL) was observed in individuals with focal & global cortical atrophy and those with white matter hyperintensity. Fifty two (43%) participants fulfilled the clinical and imaging criteria of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Nearly quarter of the patients had imaging evidences of focal or global cortical atrophy. Eleven (9.1%) had imaging evidences of surgical causes of dementia. the presences of comorbid hypertension, previous stroke, and Parkinsonism were independent predictors of vascular dementia.ConclusionThe present study shows high burden of vascular cognitive impairment among individuals suspected of dementia.Furthermore, the presences of comorbid hypertension, previous stroke, and Parkinsonism were independent predictors of vascular dementia.

The role of Neuroimaging in Patient Selection and Safety Monitoring during Lecanemab Treatment

AbstractBackgroundLecanemab (Leqembi) is a monoclonal antibody therapy approved in the United States for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Administration of lecanemab in community settings will be guided by the appropriate use recommendations (AURs) that are soon to be published.MethodThe lecanemab AUR’s use clinical trial data as well as evidence from research and clinical practice regarding AD to inform clinicians how to administer lecanemab with optimal safety and opportunity for efficacy. Neuroimaging will play a significant role in selecting the appropriate patients for administration of lecanemab as well as in safety monitoring for adverse events such as amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA). In this presentation we will review the selection and monitoring guidelines for lecanemab as detailed in the AURs.ResultMost ARIA are asymptomatic, but a few cases are serious or fatal. While micro‐ and macrohemorrhages are rare, they can occur in patients receiving lecanemab. Patients who are apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) gene carriers, and especially those that are APOE4 homozygotes, are at higher risk for ARIA than APOE4 non‐carriers. The AURs recommends genotyping to better inform risk discussions with patients who are candidates for lecanemab therapy. The AURs recommends a screening MRI and periodic along with symptom‐triggered MRI surveillance to detect asymptomatic and symptomatic ARIA and address it appropriately.ConclusionClinician and institutional preparedness are mandatory for the use of lecanemab. This includes training of neurologists, geriatric psychiatrists, radiologists, primary care, emergency room and intensive care physicians, and stroke neurologists in safety monitoring and treatment of symptomatic ARIA.

Emotional Regulation and Adolescent Concussion: Overview and Role of Neuroimaging.

Emotional dysregulation symptoms following a concussion are associated with an increased risk for emotional dysregulation disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety), especially in adolescents. However, predicting the emergence or worsening of emotional dysregulation symptoms after concussion and the extent to which this predates the onset of subsequent psychiatric morbidity after injury remains challenging. Although advanced neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, have been used to detect and monitor concussion-related brain abnormalities in research settings, their clinical utility remains limited. In this narrative review, we have performed a comprehensive search of the available literature regarding emotional regulation, adolescent concussion, and advanced neuroimaging techniques in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar). We highlight clinical evidence showing the heightened susceptibility of adolescents to experiencing emotional dysregulation symptoms following a concussion. Furthermore, we describe and provide empirical support for widely used magnetic resonance imaging modalities (i.e., functional and diffusion imaging), which are utilized to detect abnormalities in circuits responsible for emotional regulation. Additionally, we assess how these abnormalities relate to the emotional dysregulation symptoms often reported by adolescents post-injury. Yet, it remains to be determined if a progression of concussion-related abnormalities exists, especially in brain regions that undergo significant developmental changes during adolescence. We conclude that neuroimaging techniques hold potential as clinically useful tools for predicting and, ultimately, monitoring the treatment response to emotional dysregulation in adolescents following a concussion.

Clinical Profile, Follow-up, and Role of Neuroimaging in Pediatric Guillain-Barré Syndrome in the COVID Era: An Ambispective Study.

Background: To define the varied presentations of Guillain-Barré syndrome in children in the COVID era and 6 months' follow-up outcome. Methods: Ambispective study of 15 months' duration involving children with Guillain-Barré syndrome aged 1 month to 18 years at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. They were categorized into groups A and B based on COVID-19 serology testing. Hughes Disability Scale was used for disability assessment. Modified Rankin scale was used for improvement assessment in follow-up. Results: Of 19 children with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 9 (47%) were females and 10 (53%) were males. Groups A and B had children with negative (8) and positive serology (11), respectively. The most common presentation in both groups was motor weakness. Post-COVID pediatric Guillain-Barré syndrome presented with variants of Guillain-Barré syndrome rather than the classical form (P = .03). In group B, patients with elevated inflammatory markers had poor response to intravenous immunoglobulin, and 5 of 11 patients had good response to pulse steroids, probably depicting an inflammation-predominant pathology. Conclusion: Post-COVID Guillain-Barré syndrome in children presented with Guillain-Barré syndrome variants rather than the classic form. Neuroimaging is of great value in both confirming Guillain-Barré syndrome diagnosis and excluding differentials. Patients with elevated inflammatory markers and residual weakness may be given a pulse steroid trial.

Case Report: Pelvic Neurofibroma with Atypical Neurofibromatosis Type 1

A 23 short-stature female patient presenting initially to gynecologist for left ovarian mass and bilateral sciatica but on further investigations it had been proved to be big pelvic neurofibroma with little findings of neurofibromatosis type 1. Surgical excision had been done without any complications. We aim to discuss the manifestations of neurofibromatosis type 1 and why lack of some findings in the current case with the role of neuroimaging in diagnosis of the case.

Brain and Blood Vessel Imaging for Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Covid-19—Data from the Literature and Clinical Cases

Abstract This study explores the relationship between patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The focus is on the role of neuroimaging in confirming the diagnosis of ischemic stroke and guiding patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges in di-agnosing and treating patients with neurological pathologies due to the time-sensitive nature of stroke management. The objective of this study was to analyze cases of patients with ischemic stroke and SARS-CoV-2 infection, emphasizing the importance of neuroimaging in confirming the diagnosis. The study aimed to provide insights into the characteristics and clinical manifestations of these patients, contributing to our understanding of the neurological impacts of COVID-19. A retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke and SARS-CoV-2 infection was conducted. The study focused on five representative cases, including patient demographics, medical histories, clinical symptoms, and imaging findings. Brain CT and MRI scans were performed to confirm the diagnosis of ischemic stroke. Among the 120 cases analyzed, 5 representative cases are presented. These cases include patients of varying age and gender with concurrent neurological pathologies and COVID-19 infections. Neuroimaging, such as CT and MRI, confirmed the diagnosis of ischemic stroke in these patients. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 in-fection and ischemic stroke often present with moderate to severe strokes, frequently involving large vessel obstructions. Neuroimaging plays a critical role in diagnosing and characterizing ischemic stroke in these patients. Identifying thrombotic angiopathy, vascular injury, and im-paired vascular autoregulation are essential for prompt diagnosis and treatment. This study emphasizes the significance of neuroimaging in managing patients with both COVID-19 and neurological pathologies, contributing to our understanding of the neurological implications of COVID-19.

A systematic review of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in pregnant women with severe preeclampsia and eclampsia

Background The association of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and severe preeclampsia/eclampsia has been established but the frequency is uncertain. Objectives To determine the frequency of PRES in severe preeclampsia or eclampsia. Methods We searched published articles in PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, and CINAHL from 1990 to 2020. We included articles that reported on six or more cases of PRES with eclampsia or severe preeclampsia who underwent neuroimaging during pregnancy or up to 6 weeks postpartum. Results We identified 29 studies presenting data on 1519 women with eclampsia or severe preeclampsia. Among 342 women with eclampsia who had neuroimaging, 176 (51.4%) were diagnosed with PRES. Of 121 women with severe preeclampsia, 24 (19.8%) had PRES. The pooled maternal death rate was 5.3% (21/395). Conclusion PRES is commonly reported on neuroimaging of women with eclampsia/ severe preeclampsia. The role of neuroimaging in eclampsia and especially in women with severe preeclampsia requires re-evaluation as further management is often dictated by this finding.

Role of neuroimaging in pediatric head trauma

Pediatric head trauma is very common and accounts for most of the emergency hospital visits. It is also the most common cause for a pediatrician to refer a child for neuroimaging. Pediatric head injury causes lot of morbidity and mortality in children and can be due to accidental or abusive injury. Falls are most common in small children, whereas motor vehicle accident is more common in older children and adolescents. Pediatric brain injury differs from adult brain injury due to immature brain, mechanism of injury, and difficulty in neurological evaluation in children. The radiologist needs to be familiar with these to correctly interpret the scans and guide clinicians in appropriate patient care.

The role of neuroimaging: Quantitative approach for prognosis/staging/analysis in dementia study

The role of neuroimaging: Quantitative approach for prognosis/staging/analysis in dementia study

A rare case of petroclival meningioma: the role of neuroimaging in the diagnosis and prognosis.

A rare case of petroclival meningioma: the role of neuroimaging in the diagnosis and prognosis.

Pediatric tinnitus: The role of neuroimaging.

Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound without an external source and can be categorized as either pulsatile or nonpulsatile (ie, continuous). A variety of etiologies have been reported to cause pediatric tinnitus, many with long-lasting implications due to hearing and concentration impairments. Therefore, imaging can be an essential part of the accurate and timely diagnosis of treatable etiologies. We describe neuroimaging findings in different etiologies of pediatric tinnitus. Etiologies of pulsatile tinnitus are frequently vascular in nature and include vascular loops, congenital vascular anomalies or variants, high riding jugular bulbs with or without a jugular bulb diverticulum, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, aneurysms, internal auditory canal hemangiomas, and petrous apex cephaloceles. Etiologies of continuous tinnitus frequently affect the middle/inner ear structures and include vestibular schwannomas, cholesteatomas, trauma, Chiari malformations, and labyrinthitis ossificans. CT and MR are often complementary modalities: CT is better suited to evaluate the integrity of the temporal osseous structures and MR is better suited to evaluate the vestibulocochlear nerve and to assess for the presence of any masses or malformations. Prompt diagnosis of the etiology of tinnitus in pediatric patients is important to avoid any potential long-term developmental impairments. In the approach to pediatric tinnitus, categorizing the symptoms as either pulsatile versus nonpulsatile and then being aware of the possible causes and imaging findings of either can assist both the clinician and the radiologist in making an expeditious diagnosis.

Central Nervous System Complications in Cystinosis: The Role of Neuroimaging.

Despite improvement in the specific treatment, clinical and anatomo-functional central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities of various severities are still observed in cystinosis patients. Patients who develop CNS complications today have a worse compliance to cysteamine treatment. Radiological studies have shown that cortical or central (ventriculomegaly) atrophy is observed in more than two thirds of cystinosis patients’ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and correlates with the intelligence quotient score. Half of cystinosis patients have marked aspecific white matter hyperintensities. The development of advanced neuroimaging techniques provides new tools to further investigate CNS complications. A recent neuroimaging study using a voxel-based morphometry approach showed that cystinosis patients present a decreased grey matter volume in the left middle frontal gyrus. Diffusion tensor imaging studies have shown white matter microstructure abnormalities in children and adults with cystinosis, respectively in areas of the dorsal visual pathway and within the corpus callosum’s body. Finally, leucocyte cystine levels are associated with decreased resting cerebral blood flow, measured by arterial spin labelling, in the frontal cortex, which could be associated with the neurocognitive deficits described in these patients. These results reinforce the relevance of neuroimaging studies to further understand the mechanisms that underline CNS impairments.

Central Nervous System Causes of Sudden Unexpected Death: A Comprehensive Review

Sudden unexpected death due to central nervous system (CNS)-related pathologies though far less common than cardiac causes still account for a substantial proportion of sudden deaths that occur worldwide. This review covers the most common causes of sudden unexpected death due to CNS-related pathologies encountered by forensic pathologists. These include intracerebral hemorrhage, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, epilepsy, brain tumors, and infectious causes. Related rare causes are not discussed and are beyond the scope of this review. The role of neuroimaging and genetic testing as autopsy ancillary investigations in such sudden deaths is also discussed.

Role of Neuroimaging in Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

Role of Neuroimaging in Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease

ITPA Related Developmental Encephalopathy: Key Role of Neuroimaging.

ITPA Related Developmental Encephalopathy: Key Role of Neuroimaging.

Role of neuroimaging in children with first unprovoked seizure: A prospective observational study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the incidence and type of neuroimaging abnormalities in first unprovoked seizure (FUS) in children. To investigate the association of neuroimaging abnormalities with clinical variables. MethodsA prospective observational study enrolled children aged 6 months–14 years with FUS over one year at a tertiary-care teaching hospital, Northern India and subjected them to neuroimaging. Factors associated with abnormal neuroimaging were assessed using Chi square/Fischer Exact test. ResultsOut of 115 cases, 40 (34.8%) had abnormal neuroimaging. Frequent findings were inflammatory granuloma (70%) including Neurocysticercosis (NCC) (40%), ill-defined granuloma, calcified nodule and tuberculoma followed by white matter signal alterations. Inflammatory granuloma was significantly associated with age >2 years and focal seizures. Calcified nodule was more common in children >10 years. Other neuro-abnormalities like cerebral atrophy, gliosis, infarcts, and white matter changes were significantly prevalent with generalized seizures, perinatal asphyxia, and developmental delay. ConclusionHigh prevalence of abnormalities in FUS, especially focal seizures, due to NCC warrants neuroimaging in all children with FUS in India.

The role of neuroimaging in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Two hallmarks of PD are the accumulation of alpha‐synuclein and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. There is no cure for PD, and all existing treatments focus on alleviating the symptoms. PD diagnosis is also based on the symptoms, such as abnormalities of movement, mood, and cognition observed in the patients. Molecular imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET) can detect objective alterations in the neurochemical machinery of the brain and help diagnose and study neurodegenerative diseases. This review addresses the application of functional MRI, PET, and SPECT in PD patients. We provide an overview of the imaging targets, discuss the rationale behind target selection, the agents (tracers) with which the imaging can be performed, and the main findings regarding each target's state in PD. Molecular imaging has proven itself effective in supporting clinical diagnosis of PD and has helped reveal that PD is a heterogeneous disorder, which has important implications for the development of future therapies. However, the application of molecular imaging for early diagnosis of PD or for differentiation between PD and atypical parkinsonisms has remained challenging. The final section of the review is dedicated to new imaging targets with which one can detect the PD‐related pathological changes upstream from dopaminergic degeneration. The foremost of those targets is alpha‐synuclein. We discuss the progress of tracer development achieved so far and challenges on the path toward alpha‐synuclein imaging in humans.

Role of Neuroimaging in COVID 19 Infection—A Retrospective Study

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a member of the family of coronaviruses, induces COVID-19 disease which is predominantly a respiratory illness. Several authors have reported neurological manifestations such as acute venous and arterial strokes and rarely acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, hemorrhagic posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, and acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy by studying magnetic resonance imaging of brain parenchymal signal abnormalities in patients with COVID-19. Owing to sparsity of literature on extrapulmonary manifestation of COVID, it is imperative to study the mechanism of neuronal invasion and manifestations of COVID-19. This study aimed to assess and correlate neurological manifestations in patients with COVID using imaging findings on computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. A retrospective observational study was conducted among 80 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 disease via a reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in a tertiary care teaching institute in Pimpri, India. Most patients presented with acute arterial and venous strokes. Arterial stroke was the most prevalent finding; nearly 42.50% showed imaging findings consistent with arterial stroke; 25% patients had findings of venous stroke. Meningitis and spontaneous hemorrhage were found in 10% of cases. Rare complications such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis comprised 7.50%, and encephalitis was found in 5%. This study highlights the need for increased neuroimaging in suspected patients to alert the treating physicians about the neurological complications. As the conventional RT-PCR and serum tests are unremarkable in the early onset of COVID-19, it is important to have a multidisciplinary approach and more neurology consultations in COVID-19 suspected patients with an emphasis on prompt neuroimaging to prevent potential life-threatening complications. To alert the attending physician about neurological involvement in patients with COVID-19, it is vital that nursing staff is aware about the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 so that they can recognize change in patients' neurological status without any undue time delay.

Update on the Neuroimaging and Electroencephalographic Biomarkers of Epileptogenesis: A Literature Review.

Epilepsy is one of the most common debilitating neurological disorders that lead to severe socio-cognitive dysfunction. While there are currently more than 30 antiseizure medications available for the treatment and prevention of seizures, none address the prevention of epileptogenesis that leading to the development of epilepsy following a potential brain insult. Hence, there is a growing need for the identification of accurate biomarkers of epileptogenesis that enable the prediction of epilepsy following a known brain insult. Although recent studies using various neuroimages and electroencephalography have found promising biomarkers of epileptogenesis, their utility needs to be further validated in larger clinical trials. In this literature review, we searched the Medline, Pubmed, and Embase databases using the following search algorithm: “epileptogenesis” and “biomarker” and “EEG” or “electroencephalography” or “neuroimaging” limited to publications in English. We presented a comprehensive overview of recent innovations in the role of neuroimaging and EEG in identifying reliable biomarkers of epileptogenesis.