Objeetive The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of age on the iron concentration of the human brain.Methotis The brain iron level wag evaluated in vivo in 78 healthy adult volunteers using a noninvasive magnetic resonance method termed susceptibility weighted jmaging.The subjects were divided into three groups due to different ages:young(22-35 years old,n=27),middleaged(36-55 years old,n=35),and aged(56-78 years old.n=16).The phase values were measured on the corrected phase images in the giohus pallidus,putamen,caudate,substantia nigra,red nucleus,thalamus and frontal white matter.The phase values of those regions measured from the subjects over than 30 years old were correlated with published valnes of brain iion concentration in normal adults to check the validity of the data.Then,the phase values of the three groups were tested for significant age-related differences using one-way ANOVA,foUowed by post hoc testing using least significant difference(LSD)procedure.Regression analysis wflg used to further examine age.related effects revealed by group compagisons,and to estimate the rates of age-related changes.Results A strong negative correlation was found between the phase values and the published values ofthe brain iron concentration(r=-0.796.P=0.032),which indicated that the hisher the imn deposition level.the greater the negative phase values.In the putamen(F=20.115,P＜0.01)and frontal white matter(F=3.536,P=0.034),significant differences were detected in the phase value$ofthe three age groups.Linear regression analysis showed that phase values of the putamen,frontal white matter,and red nucleus decreased with age(The regression coefficients were-0.001,-0.001,and＜-0.001 respectively,and the P value were all＜0.05),which indicated that the iron concentration of those brain structures increased with age.No significant agerelated changes of the iron concentration were found in the globus pallidus,caudate,substantia nigra,and thalamus.Conclusions These findings extended our knowledge of the patterns of the brain iron accumulation in normal aging.Such information is necessary to understand disease-related changes that involve the brain iron deposition.

Objective To explore the imaging features of giant cell tumor of tendon sheath(GCTTS) so as to improve the accuracy of imaging diagnosis. Methods Thirty?nine cases of GCTTS confirmed by pathological examination were retrospectively analyzed.Of the 39 cases, 32 were diffuse form and 7 were localized form.Seventeen patients underwent X?ray examination,18 had CT pain examination,37 had pain MR imaging and 17 had contrast?enhanced MR imaging.Results X?ray showed local soft tissue masswith slightly high density, and the adjacent bones were shown destruction or erosion tovarious degrees(10/17). No obvious calcification and periosteal reaction were shown.CT scans could provide images better than X?ray films.CT showed local soft tissue masses in the peri?articular muscle gaps. Some tumors were lobulated with cross?jointed growth(8/18),and the adjacent bones were shown destruction or erosion tovarious degrees(11/18).No obvious calcification and periosteal reaction were shown. On MRI,most cases were isointense on T1WI(32/37),and hyperintense on T2WI(27/37). Most cases tended to be heterogeneously enhanced following Gd?DTPA administration(14/17).The lesions were typically located adjacent to a tendon or partially/completely encasing it. Conclusions The imaging findings of GCTTS have some certain characteristics. MRI is able to depict the characteristic internal signal of GCTT and its relationship with adjacent tissues, which is valuable for diagnosis, treatment and follow?up.

Objective To study the quality assurance(QA) and quality control(QC) of PACS image display device in the department of radiology equipped with PACS and radiology information system (RIS). Methods Routine maintenance and periodic calibration were performed using photometer and automatic calibration software according to American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 18 (AAPM TG18) test patterns and evaluating criterion. Digital image and communication in medicine (DICOM) gray scale standard display function (GSDF) standard calibration ,maximum luminance and minimum luminance,luminance uniformity,display resolution and geometry distortion adjustment were performed quarterly on BARCO CRT displays. Results All the results were well conformed to the criteria recommended by the AAPM TG18. About 95 percents of radiological images were interpreted on the PACS diagnostic image display.Conclusion The QC program of PACS image display device is an essential to ensure high-quality in digital medical environment.

Objective To evaluate solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) using quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced functional computed tomography (CT), and to illustrate its clinical efficacy in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules.Methods Eighty patients with non-calcified SPNs (diameter, 5-30 mm) were studied with dynamic contrast enhanced CT.Patterns of time-density curve (T-DC) were assessed.The precontrast density, peak height in density (PH: the maximum value of the T-DC), and S/A ratio (the ratio of the PH of SPN over aorta) were recorded.Enhancement patterns of SPNs were also recorded.The perfusion of SPNs was calculated.Results Malignant, benign, and inflammatory nodules showed quite different patterns in T-DC.PH and S/A ratio of the malignant and inflammatory nodules were significantly higher than those of the benign nodules (P

Objective To summarize the method and experience of microsurgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms in anterior circulation. Methods The clinical data, the skills and experience of 171 cases with aneurysmso of anterior circulation within the latest 2 years. Results One hundred and seventy-one patients under surgery, including 67 PCOA aneurysm, 56 ACoA aneurysm, 32 MCA aneurysm, 10 ICA aneurysm, OphA aneurysm and 3 haimess aneurysm. Accoring to Glasgow Prognostic Scale, there were 3 cases of grade Ⅰ, 6 cases of grade Ⅲ, 14 cases of grade Ⅳ and 148 cases of grade Ⅴ. Conclusion The key points to cure intracranial aneurysms successfully is favourable exposure and the skills of microsurgery; the factors of intluent surgery include forcejudgement in surgery, reasonable choice of aneurysm clips, correctly block in arterious.

Objective To evaluate three different tracer-kinetic models used for dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) data processing in the prediction of the histopathologic grade of cerebral gliomas.Methods Forty-one patients with histopathologically graded gliomas (grade Ⅱ 13,grade Ⅲ 14,grade Ⅳ 14)were imaged with DCE-MRI from March,2013 to November,2014.The values of Ktrans of gliomas were obtained by three tracer-kinetic models,which were Patlak model,Tofts model and Extended Tofts Linear model.All data were analyzed statistically by a Graphpad 6.0 statistical software.Comparison of the differences of Ktrans among different grades of gliomas was conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn's multiple comparisons test for the data not conform to normal distribution.Correlations of Ktrans values among those three models were analyzed using linear regression analysis,The differences of Ktrans between low grades and high grades of gliomas was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to determine the cut-off values for Ktrans to distinguish different low grades and high grades of gliomas.Results The Ktrans values obtained by Patlak model was 0.008(0.004-0.043) min-1for grade Ⅱ,0.021(0.005-0.088) min-1 for grade Ⅲ,and 0.035(0.017-0.061) min-1 for grade Ⅳ.The Ktrans values obtained by Tofts model was 0.085 (0.041-0.158)min 1for grade Ⅱ,0.140 (0.063-0.315) min-1for grade Ⅲ,0.229 (0.126-0.419)min 1 for grade Ⅳ.The Ktrans values obtained by Extended Tofts Linear model was 0.012 (0.004-0.092) min 1 for grade Ⅱ,0.048 (0.010-0.188) min-t for grade Ⅲ,0.094 (0.036-0.215)min 1 for grade Ⅳ.All the Ktrans values obtained by three models increased when the histological grades increased,with statistical significance between grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ (H=18.31,18.09,20.18,P＜0.05).Ktrans values among the three models had good linear correlations.The Ktrans obtained by Extended Tofts Linear model had good linear correlations with both Patlak model and Tofts model (r=0.933,0.893,P＜0.05),and the Ktrans obtained by Patlak model had less linear correlation with Tofts model (r=0.822,P＜0.05).The K values were statistically different between LGG and HGG (P＜0.01).The cut-off value of K provided good combination of sensitivity and specificity in the differentiation between LGG and HGG,and the K obtained by Extended Tofts Linear model had the best sensitivity and specificity among the three models (sensitivity 92.3％,specificity 85.7％).Conclusions K from DCE-MRI has a high performance in predicting the histopathologic grade of brain glioma,and the Extended Tofts Linear model is more suitable for the evaluation of cerebral glioma.

Objective To evaluate Alberta stroke programme early CT score on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI-ASPECTS)and clot burden score on MR angiography (MRA-CBS)in predicting hemorrhagic transformation(HT) in acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction after thrombolysis in diffusion-weighted imaging Alberta stroke program.Methods A total of 37 consecutive patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction were treated with thrombolysis.The clinical information , score of DWI-ASPECTS before thrombolysis , score of MRA-CBS before thrombolysis and images of enhanced gradient echo T 2*-weighted angiographywithin ( ESWAN) 24 hours before and after thrombolysis were all collected.The interval between onset and the two MRI scans were recorded respectively.We identified HT according to the images of ESWAN scanned after thrombolysis , and divided patients into 2 groups:with HT(14 cases) and without HT (23 cases).Differences of clinical data and imaging indicators between the two groups were compared by using Fisher′s exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test.Logistic regression analysis was performed by taking HT as the dependent variable , and the scores of NIHSS , DWI-ASPECTS and MRA-CBS at admission were taken as independent variables.The variables which were statistically significant in logistic regression analysis were enrolled in receiver operating characteristic analysis.Results In HT group, the scores of NIHSS, DWI-ASPECTS and MRA-CBS were 15.00 ±5.30, 6.00(4.75,7.00) and 7.00(0.75,8.50) respectively.In the other group without HT, these scores were 7.00 ±4.80, 9.00(8.00,10.00)and 10.00(6.00,10.00) respectively.Compared with patients without HT , patients with HT had a higher baseline NIHSS score ( Z=-3.72,P<0.01), a lower DWI-ASPECTS (Z=-4.13,P<0.01) and a lower MRA-CBS (Z=-2.00, P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that the scores of DWI-ASPECTS ( OR 0.42,95%CI 0.21-0.87,P <0.05 ) and NIHSS ( OR 1.22, 95%CI 1.00-1.48, P <0.05 ) at baseline predicted HT development independently.Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the optimal cut -off point of DWI-ASPECTS to predict the development of HT was≤7.Its sensitivity, specificity and area under ROC curve were 92.9%, 78.3% and 0.902 respectively ( P<0.01 ).Conclusions ASPECTS on DWI is of great value in predicting HT after thrombolysis in acute cerebral infarction.CBS on MRA can provide additional information for predicting HT.

Objective To improve the clinic,CT and pathologic knowledge of pleomorphic hyanilizing angiectatic tumor of soft parts(PHAT).Methods Clinical,CT and pathologic characters of PHAT in one case at the right nuchal region were detailedly analysed with literature review.Results The clinical symptoms of PHAT were slight and unspecified.The lesion appeared as a orbicular-ovate tumour with sublobe and clear edge,the density of tumor was uneven on plain scan and uneven enhanced after injected contrast agent,and a part of the tumour was enhanced close to the CT value of blood vessel.The characters of pathology were the presence of clusters of dilated thin-walled vessels,with prominent hyalinization of vessel wall,perivascular and intercellular hyalinization,and pantomorphia neoplastic cell distributed between these dilated vessels.Conclusion PHAT is a low potential malignant soft tissue tumor,it has some specific CT and pathologic characters.

Objective To explore the pathological and imaging characteristics of focal nodular hyperplasia(FNH) of liver.Methods 17 cases of FNH proven pathologically underwent triphase spiral CT scan,of them,10 cases underwent fast MR imaging.The pathological andimaging features were comparatively analysed.Results All lesions were a solitary globular or lobulated mass,the majority of cases wasapproximately 2~5 cm in diameter.On plain CT and MRI,FNH was classically seen as a solitary,homogeneous and slightly hypoattenuating or isoattenuating area in comparison with normal liver,slightly hyper-or isointense on T_2WI,intense homogeneous enhancement during the arterial phase of enhanced imaging,and hyperattenuating in 12 cases,hypoattenuating or isoattenuating in 6 cases in comparison with normal liver during venous and delayed phase.The central scar was showed in 11 cases during delayed phase and 8 cases showed delayed enhancement,4 cases had pseudocapsular like enhancement in delayed images.In histology,17 cases of FNH were well limited but nonencapsulated,the hyperplastic parenchyma of the liver was subdivided into small nodules surrounded by the fibrous septa,there was a central scar composedof fibrous connective tissue and malformed vessels of various caliber.Conclusion The typical FNH can be easily diagnosed,while theatypical cases should be differentiated from hepatocelluar adenoma,hepatocellular carcinoma and hemangiomas.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of contrast enhanced dynamic MRI in differentiating benign from malignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) Methods A prospective study was undertaken in forty four patients with SPNs using contrast enhanced dynamic MRI Patterns of Time Signal Intensity Curve (T SI Curve) were assessed Steepest Slope (SS), Peak Height (PH) and the change rates in signal intensity at the first (E 1), second (E 2), and fourth (E 4) minute of T SI curve were calculated Results Malignant nodules and inflammatory nodules showed higher SS [(4 44?1 40) %/s,(3 99?0 71)%/s, (0 86? 0 37)%/s, P