BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Cerebral microbleeds are thought to represent cerebral amyloid angiopathy when in lobar regions of the brain and hypertensive arteriopathy when in deep and infratentorial locations. By studying cerebral microbleeds, their topography, and risk factors, we aimed to gain an insight into the vascular and amyloid pathology of dementia diagnoses and increase the understanding of cerebral microbleeds in dementia.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to correlate kinetic and morphologic MR features with histologic prognostic factors in invasive breast cancer. Sixty-one women with invasive breast cancer underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging at 1.5 T, using T1-weighted 3D fast low-angle shot technique. The MR characteristics were correlated with classical pathologic prognostic factors (tumor size, histologic type, grade and lymph node status) and immunohistochemically detected biomarkers [c-erbB-2, p53, Ki-67, and estrogen receptor (ER)]. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Presence of rim enhancement pattern, early maximal enhancement and washout phenomenon were independently associated with established predictors of poor prognosis (higher histologic grade, positive Ki-67, and negative ER status). Our results suggest that these MR signs are not only important in differentiating benign from malignant lesions, but may also be useful to noninvasively identify highly aggressive breast carcinomas.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Quantitative MR imaging techniques are gaining interest as methods of reducing acquisition times while additionally providing robust measurements. This study aimed to implement a synthetic MR imaging method on a new scanner type and to compare its diagnostic accuracy and volumetry with conventional MR imaging in patients with MS and controls.

With increasing availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there is also an increase in incidental abnormal findings. MRI findings suggestive of multiple sclerosis in persons without typical multiple sclerosis symptoms and with normal neurological findings are defined as radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). Half of the persons with RIS have their initial MRI because of headache, and some have a subclinical cognitive impairment similar to that seen in multiple sclerosis. Radiological measurements also show a similarity between RIS and multiple sclerosis. Approximately two-thirds of persons with RIS show radiological progression and one-third develop neurological symptoms during mean follow-up times of up to five years. Cervical cord lesions are important predictors of clinical conversion. Management has to be individualised, but initiation of disease modifying therapy is controversial and not recommended outside of clinical trials since its effects have not been studied in RIS. Future studies should try to establish the prevalence and long-term prognosis of RIS, its impact on quality of life, and define the role of disease modifying therapy in RIS.