Glioma is the most common intra-axial brain tumor characterized by invasion into the surrounding white matter (WM) tracts. These tumors are usually diagnosed by conventional MRI, but this method is unable to describe the relationship between tumor and neighboring WM tracts. Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) is a new imaging modality which can solve this problem. The current study evaluated the application of DTT imaging in the presurgical assessment of gliomas, and introduces this new modality and its importance to physicians and imaging centers in Iran. Ten patients with intra-axial brain tumor and suspicion of glioma underwent conventional brain MRI pulse sequences and DTT imaging between December 2011 and February 2013 with a 1.5 Tesla system using 64 independent diffusion encoding directions. Acquired images were assessed by the neuroradiologist and neurosurgeon. The treatment strategies were recognized and compared using data before and after the tractography. On the basis of DTT data, the treatment strategy changed from radiotherapy to the craniotomy in seven patients, and in one patient, the neurosurgeon preferred to avoid surgery. In one patient, the treatment technique did not change, and in the last one radiosurgery was replaced by craniotomy. As we can infer from this study, based on the tractography results, the treatment strategy may be changed, and the treatment technique could be devised more accurately and may lead to fewer postoperative neurological deficits and better outcomes.

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Objective: Ionizing radiation has been extensively used in medical procedures throughout the world. Such interventional radiological procedures could result in occupational exposure that needs urgent control. Therefore, MPs (medical professionals) should receive education and appropriate training on occupational radiation protection. In this context, the present study is aimed to investigate the MPs’ knowledge and practice regarding radiation protection principles during interventional radiological procedures. Material and Methods: A descriptive questionnaire-based study was carried out among 215 MPs involved in interventional fluoroscopy procedures. The practice of 31 MPs was studied using a checklist based on ALARA principles and ICRP guidelines. Results: A total of 43.3% and 45.1% answered correctly for knowledge and practice. However, the difference between radiation protection knowledge and practice between the physicians and nurses was statistically significant. The knowledge and practice survey of MPs demonstrated that nurses rarely adhered to radiation-protection measures. Conclusion: The present study reflects the lack of knowledge and practice concerning radiation protection concepts among the nurses. This deficiency needs to be resolved by periodic practical radiation protection courses in the curriculum of medicine.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, typically progressive and most common autoimmune disease which damaged the central nervous system. According to the reports in 2008, this disorder has affected 2 and 2.5 million people globally. While the reason is not clear, proposed causes for this include immunologic, environmental, infectious and genetic factors, and sexuality. MS can cause many symptoms, including blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness, and more. There are four distinguished illness fields in MS: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary–progressive MS (PPMS), secondary–progressive MS (SPMS), and progressive–relapsing. MRI is a great tool to identify the asymptomatic distribution of lesions in space and time.Materials and Methods: 32 patients with MS plaques were evaluated by FLAIR and DWI pre- and post-Gadolinium injection compared with 15minutes delay T1w SE.Results: FLAIR post-inject had significantly better detection of the number and signal intensity of active MS lesions. DWI and ADC images detected active plaques different from non-active lesions without contrast.Conclusion: The result of this study showed that FLAIR post-inject had the highest sensitivity in detection of active MS lesions due to the CSF signal suppression in FLAIR, thus offering enough TR time recovery in active enhanced plaques.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly throughout the world. Lung is the primary organ which the COVID-19 virus affects and leads to pneumonia, an acute respiratory distress syndrome. COVID-19 infects the lower respiratory system, and the lung’s response to this infection is recruiting macrophages and monocytes leading to inflammation, this response causes widespread damage to the lung’s airways. Aim: The purpose of this study is to review studies of using low-dose radiation as a treatment for the inflammation of the tissue and pneumonia resulting from COVID-19. These studies were compared with the risk of developing lung cancer during performed dose for the treatment of COVID-19 in radiation therapy. Materials and methods: Our study focused on in vitro, in vivo and clinical reports of using low-dose radiation for the treatment of inflammation, pneumonia and COVID-19. The risk of lung cancer resulting from suggested dose in these studies was also evaluated. Conclusion: From the review of articles, we have found that low-dose radiation can lead to improvement in inflammation in different line cells and animals; in addition, it has been effective in treating inflammation and pneumonia caused by COVID-19 in human up to 80%. Since suggested doses do not remarkably increase the lung cancer risk, low-dose radiation can be an adjuvant treatment for COVID-19 patients.