Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 14 consecutive patients with pathologically proven primary intracranial lymphoma were reviewed. All patients had a brain MR imaging before any treatment and were immunologically competent. MR images were acquired using 2.07 (n= 6) or 0.57 (n= 8) machine. The MR images were reviewed regarding the location, multiplicity, size, signal intensity, margin, shape, and the extent of surrounding edema of the lesion. Seven patients had multiple lesions, 2 to 4 in number. A total of 26 lesions was found; 25 were parenchymal lesions and one was dural lesion. The location of tumor was either central (r= 11) or peripheral (n= 14). The size of tumor was variable ranging from 0.6cm to 6.0cm in its maximal diameter. The tumors were isointense (n= 19) or hypointense (n= 7) relative to gray matter on T1-weighted images, isointense (n= 24) or hyperintense (n=2) on proton-density weighted images, and isointense (n= 21) or hyperintense (n= 5) on 78-weighted images. On gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images of 13 patients strong enhancement was seen in 22 of 23 lesions. Nineteen lesions showed smooth, well-defined margin, whereas remaining 7 lesions showed irregular, ill-defined margin. The shape of the tumor was diverse; round of ovoid (n= 15), lobulated (n= 9), or short linear (n= 2). These results suggest that one should consider the diagnosis of CNS lymphoma in cases with single or multiple masses that abut CSF space and show iso-or similar intensity to gray matter with strong enhancement on MR images.
Brain ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Gray Matter ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

Gray Matter/diagnostic imaging* ; Cerebral Cortex ; Brain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: The periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), a small midbrain structure, presents dysfunction in migraine. However, the precise neurological mechanism is still not well understood. Herein, the aim of this study was to investigate the texture characteristics of altered PAG in episodic migraine (EM) patients based on high resolution brain structural magnetic resonance (MR) images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The brain structural MR images were obtained from 18 normal controls (NC), 18 EM patients and 16 chronic migraine (CM) patients using a 3T MR system. A PAG template was created using the International Consortium Brain Mapping 152 gray matter model, and the individual PAG segment was developed by applying the deformation field from the structural image segment to the PAG template. A grey level co-occurrence matrix was used to calculate the texture parameters including the angular second moment (ASM), contrast, correlation, inverse difference moment (IDM) and entropy. RESULTS: There was a significant difference for ASM, IDM and entropy in the EM group (998.629 ± 0.162 × 10−3, 999.311 ± 0.073 × 10−3, 916.354 ± 0.947 × 10−5) compared to that found in the NC group (998.760 ± 0.110 × 10−3, 999.358 ± 0.037 × 10−3 and 841.198 ± 0.575 × 10−5) (p < 0.05). The entropy was significantly lower among the patients with CM (864.116 ± 0.571 × 10−5) than that found among patients with EM (p < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.776 and 0.750 for ASM and entropy in the distinction of the EM from NC groups, respectively. ASM was negatively related to disease duration (DD) and the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) scores in the EM group, and entropy was positively related to DD and MIDAS in the EM group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study identified altered MR image texture characteristics of the PAG in EM. The identified texture characteristics could be considered as imaging biomarkers for EM.
Biomarkers ; Brain ; Brain Mapping ; Entropy ; Gray Matter ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesencephalon ; Migraine Disorders ; Periaqueductal Gray ; ROC Curve

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the resting metabolism of hand knob and hand function after stroke, diffuse tensor tractography (DTT) and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose position emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET) were used to evaluate constructible state of white matter tract and metabolic state of gray matter, respectively. METHODS: A total of 17 patients were included in the study, who had suffered a stroke with hand weakness, after a stroke. They underwent diffusion tensor analysis and FDG PET in the subacute period. The ratio of both hemisphere parameters in voxel number of fibers, fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient obtained by corticospinal tract as constructed by DTT, and the metabolism of hand knob area on cerebral cortex obtained from ¹⁸F-FDG PET were calculated. Hand movement scale was evaluated on the day of FDG PET or tractography, and at 6 months after onset. RESULTS: Difference of FA in DTT between both hemispheres and hand knob metabolism in FDG PET significantly correlated with the hand movement scale at the subacute stage and 6 months after onset. However, the difference of both hemispheres in DTT and metabolism of hand knob area was not significant. CONCLUSION: Resting metabolism on hand knob in FDG PET correlated with hand function after stroke.
Anisotropy ; Cerebral Cortex ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Gray Matter ; Hand* ; Humans ; Metabolism* ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Pyramidal Tracts* ; Stroke* ; White Matter

OBJECTIVE: To compare apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of brain segments by using two diffusion-weighted imaging acquisition modes, single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) and read-out-segmented echo-planar imaging (rs-EPI), and to assess their correlation and agreement in healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2-weighted (T2W) images, rs-EPI, and ss-EPI of 30 healthy subjects were acquired using a 3T magnetic resonance scanner. The T2W images were co-registered to the rs-EPI and ss-EPI, which were then segmented into the gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to generate masking templates. ADC maps of rs-EPI and ss-EPI were also segmented into the GM, WM, and CSF by using the generated templates. ADCs of rs-EPI and ss-EPI were compared using Student's t tests and correlated using Pearson's correlation coefficients. Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the agreement between acquisitions.
Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Diffusion ; Echo-Planar Imaging ; Gray Matter ; Healthy Volunteers ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Masks ; White Matter

OBJECTIVE: To simulate the B₁-inhomogeneity-induced variation of pharmacokinetic parameters on dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: B₁-inhomogeneity-induced flip angle (FA) variation was estimated in a phantom study. Monte Carlo simulation was performed to assess the FA-deviation-induced measurement error of the pre-contrast R₁, contrast-enhancement ratio, Gd-concentration, and two-compartment pharmacokinetic parameters (K(trans), v(e), and v(p)). RESULTS: B₁-inhomogeneity resulted in −23–5% fluctuations (95% confidence interval [CI] of % error) of FA. The 95% CIs of FA-dependent % errors in the gray matter and blood were as follows: −16.7–61.8% and −16.7–61.8% for the pre-contrast R₁, −1.0–0.3% and −5.2–1.3% for the contrast-enhancement ratio, and −14.2–58.1% and −14.1–57.8% for the Gd-concentration, respectively. These resulted in −43.1–48.4% error for K(trans), −32.3–48.6% error for the v(e), and −43.2–48.6% error for v(p). The pre-contrast R₁ was more vulnerable to FA error than the contrast-enhancement ratio, and was therefore a significant cause of the Gd-concentration error. For example, a −10% FA error led to a 23.6% deviation in the pre-contrast R₁, −0.4% in the contrast-enhancement ratio, and 23.6% in the Gd-concentration. In a simulated condition with a 3% FA error in a target lesion and a −10% FA error in a feeding vessel, the % errors of the pharmacokinetic parameters were −23.7% for K(trans), −23.7% for v(e), and −23.7% for v(p). CONCLUSION: Even a small degree of B₁-inhomogeneity can cause a significant error in the measurement of pharmacokinetic parameters on DCE-MRI, while the vulnerability of the pre-contrast R₁ calculations to FA deviations is a significant cause of the miscalculation.
Brain ; Gray Matter ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Monte Carlo Method ; Phantoms, Imaging

OBJECTIVETo measure gray matter volume of whole brain with voxel-based morphometry (VBM) method and to study brain structures associated with gross motor function.

METHODForty children with cerebral palsy were recruited in the authors' hospital from Oct. 2012 to Dec. 2013 (26 male, 14 female cases, average age (3.6 ± 2.0) years ). Gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) for children was used to obtain their motor function. The whole-brain three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. The data were segmented by VBM 5, and the whole brain volumes of gray matter, white matter and cerebospinal fluid were produced. Correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation of GMFCS with whole brain volumes using SPM 5 in Matalab 7.1.

RESULTThe volume in left meditemporal gyrus (Z=3.57) and inferior temporal gyrus (Z=3.40), right thalamus and pallidum (Z=3.36), left thalamus and pallidum (Z=2.76), left supramarginal gyrus (Z=3.14), left precuneus gyrus (Z=3.00), right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (Z=3.08), right superior and medial occipital gyrus (Z=2.84) significantly increased as aggravation of gross motor dysfunction. The volume of the left medial orbitofrontal lobe and anterior cingulate (Z=3.28,3.02), left medial superior frontal gyrus (Z=3.19), left caudate (Z=3.04, 2.94, 2.92), left cerebellum (Z=2.94), right cerebellum (Z=2.97), left parahippocampal (Z=3.94), right parahippocampal (Z=3.43, 3.00), left insula (Z=3.50), right insula (Z=3.41, 3.80), left lingual (Z=3.37), right lingual (Z=3.30), left post cingulum (Z=2.73), left midioccipital gyrus (Z=2.92) and right miditemporal gyrus (Z=3.05) significantly reduced as the aggravation of gross motor dysfunction (P all<0.005).

CONCLUSIONGMFCS in children with cerebral palsy is related to abnormalities of brain gray matter structure for motor, emotion, memory and default model network when examined with VBM method.

Cerebral Palsy ; physiopathology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gray Matter ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a main type of mood disorder, characterized by significant and lasting depressed mood. Until now, the pathogenesis of MDD is not clear, but it is certain that biological, psychological, and social factors are involved. Childhood trauma is considered to be an important factor in the development of this disease. Previous studies have found that nearly half of the patients with MDD have experienced childhood trauma, and different types of childhood trauma, gender, and age show different effects on this disease. In addition, the clinical characteristics of MDD patients with childhood trauma are also different, which often have more severe depressive symptoms, higher risk of suicide, and more severe cognitive impairment. The response to antidepressants is also worse. In terms of biological mechanisms and marker characteristics, the serotonin transporter gene and the FKBP prolyl isomerase 5 have been shown to play an important role in MDD and childhood trauma. Moreover, some brain imaging and biomarkers showed specific features, such as changes in gray matter in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, and abnormal changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function.
Child ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Gray Matter ; Humans ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; Suicide

OBJECTIVE: Working memory impairments serve as prognostic factors for patients with schizophrenia. Working memory deficits are mainly associated with gray matter (GM) thickness and volume. We investigated the association between GM diffusivity and working memory in controls and individuals with schizophrenia. METHODS: T1 and diffusion tensor images of the brain, working memory task (letter number sequencing) scores, and the demographic data of 90 individuals with schizophrenia and 97 controls were collected from the SchizConnect database. T1 images were parcellated into the 68 GM Regions of Interest (ROI). Axial Diffusivity (AD), Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Radial Diffusivity (RD), and Trace (TR) were calculated for each of the ROIs. RESULTS: Compared to the controls, schizophrenia group showed significantly increased AD, RD, and TR in specific regions on the frontal, temporal, and anterior cingulate area. Moreover, working memory was negatively correlated with AD, RD, and TR in the lateral orbitofrontal, superior temporal, inferior temporal, and rostral anterior cingulate area on left hemisphere in the individuals with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated GM microstructural abnormalities in the frontal, temporal, and anterior cingulate regions of individuals with schizophrenia. Furthermore, these regional GM microstructural abnormalities suggest a neuropathological basis for the working memory deficits observed clinically in individuals with schizophrenia.
Anisotropy ; Brain ; Diffusion ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Gray Matter ; Gyrus Cinguli ; Humans ; Memory, Short-Term ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To determine possible progressive changes of the grey matter at the first stages of the schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and to determine what regions are involved in these changes. METHODS: We searched the literature concerning studies on longitudinal changes in grey matter in first-episode psychosis using magnetic resonance imaging, especially studies with an interval between scans of more than a year. Only articles published before 2018 were searched. We selected 19 magnetic resonance imaging longitudinal studies that used different neuroimaging analysis techniques to study changes in cerebral grey matter in a group of patients with a first episode of psychosis. RESULTS: Patients with first episode of psychosis showed a decrease over time in cortical grey matter compared with a group of control subjects in frontal, temporal (specifically in superior regions), parietal, and subcortical regions. In addition to the above, studies indicate that patients showed a grey matter decrease in cerebellum and lateral ventricles volume. CONCLUSION: The results suggest a decrease in grey matter in the years after the first episode of psychosis. Furthermore, the results of the studies showed consistency, regardless of the methods used in their analyses, as well as the time intervals between image collections.
Cerebellum ; Gray Matter ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Longitudinal Studies ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neuroimaging ; Psychotic Disorders ; Rabeprazole ; Schizophrenia