High-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used to study intact glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour tissue. The results were compared with in vitro chemical extract and in vivo spectra. The resolution of 1H one-dimensional, 1H TOCSY and 13C HSQC HR-MAS spectra is comparable to that obtained on perchloric extracts. 13C HSQC HR-MAS spectra have been particularly useful for the identification of 37 different metabolites in intact biopsy tumours, excluding water and DSS components. To our knowledge, this is the most detailed assignment of biochemical compounds obtained in intact human tissue, in particular in brain tumour tissue. Tissue degradation during the recording of the NMR experiment was avoided by keeping the sample at a temperature of 4 degrees C. Detailed metabolical compositions of 10 GBM (six primary, two secondary and two unclassified) were obtained. A good correlation between ex vivo and in vivo MRS has been found.

Agreement on the assessment of metastatic spine instability is moderate. The SINS can help improve communication among clinicians in oncology care.

The prevalence of Baker cysts in MR studies of the knee is high. Its presence and volume are related to the quantity of synovial fluid, and to the presence and severity of meniscal lesions.

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Our objective was to analyse the usefulness of single-slice MR-myelography images as a complementary test to conventional MR of the spine in patients with clinically suspected degenerative spine disease. A prospective analysis of 1022 consecutive patients studied with conventional MR and MR-myelography (four acquisitions: one coronal plane, one sagittal plane, and two oblique lateral, right and left planes) examinations was performed. Conventional MR and MR-myelography studies were classified as positive when morphological or structural alterations were noted. Positive MR-myelography information was also categorized as relevant if findings were considered important and radiologically significative to the final diagnosis (either by increasing the radiologists confidence in the diagnosis or because the findings were not observed in the conventional study). Other positive findings were considered non- relevant. There were 62% cases considered positive in the MR-myelography examination. Of them, 3% revealed no alterations on the conventional MR examination. Of the negative MR-myelography studies, 75% had a positive conventional MR examination. Considered as diagnostic techniques, their Kappa concordance was poor. However, MR-myelography complemented the information obtained with the conventional MR examination of the spine, this information being relevant to the final MR diagnosis in 22% of the total number of cases. The contribution of MR-myelography was not different in the three spinal levels. In conclusion, MR-myelography complements the information obtained with conventional MR in a large number of cases.