Dear MRI Insider,
The investigation into the long-term effects of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) for MRI is underway, and most likely it will take a while to figure out the impact of recent studies indicating that residual gadolinium remains in patients, even years after contrast administration.
In the meantime, researchers will continue to provide new information on gadolinium deposition. One such study comes from the University of Washington in Seattle, where researchers found gadolinium deposits in brain and bone tissue of individuals who received one of several newer classes of GBCA products -- agents that weren't believed to be implicated in gadolinium deposition. Learn more in this edition's Insider Exclusive.
In other top features, PET/MRI is making its mark with its efficacy in detecting and following all types of cancer. However, it may be difficult to show PET/MRI's superiority over PET/CT due to the latter modality's proven track record, as well as PET/MRI's rather hefty price tag.
MRI on its own can evaluate whether pregnant women with a short cervix as seen on ultrasound may be at risk of premature delivery. Italian researchers used diffusion-weighted MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient values to identify imaging biomarkers for impending delivery in this group of expectant mothers.
In addition, functional MRI (fMRI) showed that playing video games can bolster neural connections in the brains of multiple sclerosis patients and improve some cognitive abilities. Another group from Italy found that an eight-week, home-based cognitive rehabilitation program resulted in less disrupted thalamic functional connectivity and improved patient scores on attention and executive function tests.
In fact, fMRI can inspire new treatment and rehabilitation protocols based on the neuronal plasticity and redistribution of the cortical representation of a function. A presentation at the recent European Congress of Radiology in Vienna concluded that fMRI in clinical practice adds value to the correlation of imaging with patients' symptoms and signs, and it can help establish effective treatment plans.
Be sure to visit the MRI Community at AuntMinnie.com on a daily basis for the latest news and groundbreaking research from around the world.
