Magnetic resonance line scan diffusion imaging of the brain, with diffusion weighting between 5 and 5,000 sec/mm(2), was performed in healthy subjects and patients with a 1.5-T machine. For each voxel, biexponential signal decay fits produced two apparent diffusion constants and respective signal amplitudes. Images based on these parameters show potential for use in the differentiation of gray and white matter, edema, and tumor.

✓ In this retrospective study, the authors analyzed surgical outcomes in patients who suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) as a result of a ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm. They studied 47 patients who underwent early aneurysm surgery and hematoma evacuation within 24 hours after onset of ICH. The types of ICH were classified into three groups according to their appearance on computerized tomography scanning: 1) temporal ICH; 2) intrasylvian hematoma; and 3) ICH with diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Overall, 25 patients (53%) achieved a favorable outcome and 18 (38%) died. Factors that could be used to predict a favorable outcome included age less than 60 years, temporal ICH, World Federation of Neurological Surgeons Grade II or III, absence of a surgical complication, and a hematoma volume less than 25 ml. In the patients with temporal ICH, eight of nine patients achieved a good recovery and no patient developed a surgical complication or delayed ischemic deficit. The significant prognostic factor in patients with an intrasylvian hematoma was surgery within 6 hours after onset of symptoms. In patients with temporal ICH or intrasylvian hematoma, the results of the initial neurological examination did not accurately predict outcome. On the other hand, in patients with ICH and diffuse SAH, those patients who developed an ICH with a volume greater than 25 ml had a poor prognosis. These results indicate that aggressive surgical treatment should be performed in patients with a temporal ICH or an intrasylvian hematoma, regardless of the neurological findings on admission; in patients with ICH and diffuse SAH, a careful review of surgical indications is required.

The authors retrospectively analyzed surgical outcomes in patients with an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) due to a ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysm. A total of 47 patients with ICH who underwent early aneurysm surgery and hematoma evacuation within 24 hours following onset were studied. The types of ICH were classified into three groups by computerized tomography findings: 1) temporal ICH; 2) intrasylvian hematoma; and 3) ICH with diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Overall, 25 patients (54%) had a favorable outcome and 18 (38%) died. Prognostic factors that predicted a favorable outcome included age less than 60 years, temporal ICH, World Federation of Neurological Surgeons Grade II or III, absence of a surgical complication, and a hematoma volume of less than 25 ml. In the patients with temporal ICH, eight of nine patients had a good recovery, and no patient developed a surgical complication or a delayed ischemic deficit. The most important predictive factor for a favorable outcome in patients with an intrasylvian hematoma was that they underwent early surgery (within 6 hours after symptom onset). In patients with a temporal ICH or intrasylvian hematoma, the initial neurological examination did not accurately predict outcome. By contrast, in the patients with ICH and diffuse SAH, those who developed an ICH with a volume of 25 ml or greater had a poor prognosis. These results suggest that aggressive surgical treatment should be initiated in patients with a temporal ICH or an intrasylvian hematoma, regardless of neurological findings on admission. In patients with an ICH and diffuse SAH, careful review of surgical indications is required.

The use of a diffuse-projection fiber system which intermittently transmits a reduced intensity laser beam is an effective tool to regulate temperature during LITT using MR temperature measurement.

Magnetic resonance cisternography appears to show great promise for evaluation of patients with neurovascular compression or tumors in and around the basal cisterns; the procedure adds only a small amount of imaging time.