Objective To determine the optimal sequences and scan parameters of Brachial Plexus MRI.Methods Eighteen volunteers were underwent conventional MRI and echo planar imaging scanning. The images acquired were compared with the standard anatomical pictures. Results Ventral rami, ganglion, trunks, cords and some peripheral nerves of brachial plexus were demonstrated very well by echo planar imaging with the post-processing techniques such as MIP, thin slice MIP and MPR.In 18/18 cases the postganglions on both sides and 17/18 cases the preganglions of brachial plexus on both sides could be visualized in EPI pre-processed and post-processed images.Conclusion Echo planar imaging is an effective technique of accurately displaying brachial plexus and adjacent structures. It has potential value in the diagnosis and treatment of brachial plexus diseases. It is also a potential technique to demonstrate other peripheral nerves accurately.

Objective To analyses the magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)findings of different clinical patterns of neurosyphilis(NS).Methods Clinical records and MRI of 26 patients with NS were retrospectively studied.Results Abnormal MRI was found in 17 patients of 26 patients with NS.In 7 patients were with meningo-vascular syphilis,the MRI commonly showed multiple cerebral ischemia focus and cerebral infarction focus,very few similar to those of encephalitis;Six patients had general paresis,who presented cerebral MRI abnormalities of frontal and temporal atrophy,and few simultaneously with cerebral ischemia focus,granular apendymitis and hippocampus sclerosis;Three patients had syphilitic myelitis,their MRI showed mild tumefaction with multiple ischemic focus all the way through lower cervical spinal cord to lower thoracic spinal cord:One patient was with tabes dorsalis,whose cerebral MRI showed ischemic locus.Another 9 patients had normal MRI,of whom 4 patients with meningitis NS and 5 with tabes dorsalis.Conclusion The MRI of neurosyphilis has diverse presentations,and clinicians should pay much attention to it.

Objective To investigate the values of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),and high-resolution MRI for diagnosing intracranial arterial dissection (IAD)caused ischemic stroke. Methods From August 2008 to April 2015,59 consecu-tive patients (age 45 ±15years,41males)with IAD caused ischemic stroke admitted to the First Affiliated Hos-pital of Sun Yat-Sen University were enrolled prospectively. All patients underwent conventional cranial MRI/MRA examination,25 of them underwent whole brain DSA examination,and 10 underwent high-resolution MRI. The findings of conventional MRI/ MRA and high-resolution MRI of IAD were analyzed. For patients undergoing DSA,the proportions of detection and compliance of IAD were compared between DSA and conventional MRI / MRA. Results (1)Conventional MRI / MRA revealed typical sign of artery dissection in 42 patients (71. 2%),among them,the intramural hematoma (n = 22,52. 4%)was most common. Other common signs included intimal flap/ double lumen sign (n = 13,31. 0%)and long irregular or thread-like stenosis (n = 9,21. 4%);while dissecting aneurysm (n = 7,16. 7%)and rat tail-shaped occlusion (n = 3, 7. 1%)were relatively rare. In 17 patients (28. 8%)with IAD that conventional MRI/ MRA did not detect the typical dissection sign,the dissections were involved in the middle cerebral artery (11 / 17,64. 7%), they were more common than the 42 patients with IAD (10 / 42,23. 8%)detected the typical dissection sign by conventional MRI/ MRA. There was significant difference (P = 0. 006). (2)Among the 25 patients undergoing DSA,DSA revealed that 15 patients (60%)had the typical dissection sign,and conventional MRI/ MRA only revealed 8 of them (32%)with the typical dissection sign,but there was no significant difference (P = 0. 088). In 15 patients with IAD that DSA detected the typical dissection sign;conventional MRI / MRA detected the typical dissection sign in 8 of them. The diagnostic coincidence rate was 8 / 15. (3)Both conventional MRI/ MRA and DSA revealed non-specific limitation stenosis or cut-off occlusion in 10 patients (16. 9%)with IAD,while the high-resolution MRI revealed intimal flap in 5 of them,intramural hematoma in 4,and intimal flap and intramural hematoma in 1. Conclusion Conventional cranial MRI/MRA is an effective technique for revealing IAD,whereas high-resolution MRI has the unique advantages for diagnosing IAD without typical dissection in other vascular imaging.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the clinicopathologic features of rhabdoid glioblastoma of the brain and its differential diagnoses.

METHODSA 10-year-old and a 45-year-old female both presented with gradually worsening headache, limbs twitch and blurred vision. MRI scan revealed a contrast enhancing tumor in the right temporal lobe and left cerebellum respectively. Both patients underwent tumor resection, followed by postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

RESULTSMicroscopic examination of both tumors showed rhabdoid tumor cells with an eccentric nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasms. Both tumors had areas of classic glioblastoma with microvascular proliferation and necrosis. Immunohistochemical staining showed the rhabdoid tumor cells were positive for vimentin diffusely and GFAP, EMA, CK focally. Integrase interactor (INI-1) was expressed in most tumor cells, but IDH1 R132H was not detected in both tumors. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed 1p/19q co-deletion in one case. One patient was alive without tumor recurrence after 16 months follow-up, the other patient died of intraspinal tumor dissemination 9 months after surgery.

CONCLUSIONSRhabdoid glioblastoma is a rare glial cell tumor with specific rhabdoid tumor cells, a highly aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. Combining histological features, a panel of selected immunostains including vimentin, GFAP, CK, EMA, SMA and INI-1 is helpful in making an accurate diagnosis for those diagnostically challenging cases with rhabdoid features in central nervous system.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; pathology ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; pathology ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology