Objective To analyze MRI findings of the mitochondrial encephalopathy, in order to improve the understanding of this disease. Methods MR findings of 5 patients of clinically proved mitochondrial encephalopathy were retrospectively analyzed. Results Brain parenchymal lesions in all patients were low intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. One patient had bilateral globus pallidus involvement, while involvement of gray matter and white matter were observed in 4 patients. Three patients had enlargement of supratentorial ventricles, 2 patients had cerebellar atrophy and 1 patient had bilateral basal galia calcification. Conclusion MRI can show the intracranial lesions in patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy clearly, but accurate diagnosis should depend on clinical data.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for acute trauma of the spinal cord. METHODS: Sixteen patients with acute trauma of the spinal cord were examined with routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ssh-EPI-DWI, on a 1.5-tesla MR system within 72 h trauma. RESULTS: All the 16 patients were examined by MRI and ssh-EPI-DWI: 6 patients were negative and 10 were positive in MRI, which showed local lesions with significant abnormality. Positive cases were classified into 2 categories depending on different degrees of tissue injury and characteristics of DWI. (1) Edema-type: 7 presented DWI high signals with different degrees in local lesions. (2) Mixed-type: 3 showed DWI heterogeneous high signals due to hemorrhage and edema in the lesions. There was significant difference in ADC values between the lesions and normal parts (t=-7.719, P<0. 01). CONCLUSION ssh-EPI-DWI of the spinal cord may provide satisfactory images and is a useful method for visualizing the injury in the superearly stage, helpful to determine the integrity and compression degree of the spinal cord.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; diagnosis ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To report the prospective efficacy of 45 patients intracranial germinoma treated by radiotherapy and discuss its treatment. METHODS: From February 1998 to October 2007, a total of 45 intracranial germinoma patients were performed radiotherapy, including 15 combined chemotherapy in the Department of Oncology. Of them 23 were pathologically diagnosed while 22 cases were clinical diagnosed. Life table method showed the 5-year and 10-year survival rate. RESULTS: Forty patients were followed-up. Most symptoms of the patients were significantly reduced or disappeared completely. The 5-year and 10-year survival rate of all patients were 84% and 74%. CONCLUSION Radiotherapy is the main treatment for intracranial germinoma. Craniospinal irradiation, whole brain irradiation and partial brain irradiation are the main treatments. Radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, which can reduce the radiation range and dose will be the trend.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Brain Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germinoma ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

To explore the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of glioma with Brg/Brm-associated factor 53a (BAF53a) expression.
 Methods: A total of 121 patients with glioma was divided into a BAF53a high expression group (n=79) and a low expression group (n=42) according to the results of immunohistochemistry. Then the MRI characteristics, including lesion location, number, boundary, maximum diameter, peripheral edema, midline structure shift, homogeneity, cystic necrosis, hemorrhage, strengthening degree, ependymal strengthening, pia mater enhancement, deep white matter invasion and lesion across the midline (total 14 items), were analyzed.
 Results: The results showed that there were significance difference in lesion border, lesion edema, enhancement of the lesion, and deep white matter invasion between the 2 groups (all P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The MRI characteristics, such as lesion border, lesion edema degree, enhancement degree of the lesion and deep white matter invasion, might be associated with BAF53a expression in gliomas.
Actins ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Glioma ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis