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Objective: During the early weeks of life optimization of nutrition in extremely preterm infants presents a critical opportunity to attenuate the adverse neurological consequences of prematurity and potentially improve neurodevelopmental outcome. We hypothesized that the use of multicomponent lipid emulsion (MLE) in parenteral nutrition (PN) would be related to larger volume of the cerebellum on brain magnetic resonance at term of equivalent age (TEA) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants., Study Design: We analyzed the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at TEA of a cohort of preterm infants with gestational age ≤28 weeks and/or birth weight <1,000 g randomly assigned in our previous trial to receive an MLE or soybean-based lipid emulsion (SLE). The primary outcome of the study was the cerebellar volume (CeV), valued on MRI acquired at TEA. Secondary outcomes included total brain volume (TBV), supratentorial volume, brainstem volume, and CeV corrected for TBV evaluated on MRI acquired at TEA., Results: MRIs at TEA of 34 infants were then analyzed: 17 in the MLE group and 17 in the SLE group. The postmenstrual age (PMA) at which MRIs were performed were comparable between the two study groups. The CeV as well as the PMA-corrected CeV were significantly higher in the MLE group than in the SLE group. No difference was found among the other brain volumes considered., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the use of MLE in PN could promote CeV growth in ELBW infants, valued with MRI at TEA., Key Points: · Optimization of nutrition in extremely low birthweight infants.. · Use of multicomponent lipid emulsions in parenteral nutrition.. · Larger cerebellar volume with use of multicomponent lipid emulsion.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv, v for variant) is a severe and heterogeneous multisystem condition with a prevalent peripheral nervous system impairment, due to mutations in the transthyretin gene. Considering the introduction of different disease-modifying therapies in the last few years, a need of reliable biomarkers is emerging. In this study, we evaluated muscle MRI in a cohort of ATTRv patients in order to establish if the severity of muscle involvement correlated with disease severity. Linear regression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the total fatty infiltration score and NIS, NIS-LL, and Norfolk, and an inverse correlation with Sudoscan registered from feet. In conclusion, we demonstrated the role of muscle MRI in ATTRv as possible disease biomarker, both for diagnostic purposes and for assessing the severity of the disease.

Purpose: We propose an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based quantitative morphovolumetric approach to the posterior cranial fossa (PCF) and craniocervical junction (CCJ) changes in achondroplastic patients investigating possible associations with ventriculomegaly and medullary compression., Methods: We analyzed MRI of 13 achondroplastic children not treated by surgery. 3D FSPGR T1-weighted images were used to analyze (1) PCF synchondroses; (2) PCF volume (PCFV), PCF brain volume (PCFBV), PCFV/PCFBV ratio, cerebellar volume, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces volume, and IV ventricle volume; (3) PCF (clivus, supraocciput, exocciput lengths, tentorial angle) and CCJ (AP and LL diameters of foramen magnum (FM)) morphometry; (4) measurements of FM and jugular foramina (JF) areas; and (5) supratentorial ventricular volume., Results: All patients showed synostosis of spheno-occipital synchondroses, eight showed synostosis of intra-occipital synchondroses, nine showed CCJ impingement on the cervical cord but only three had cervical myelopathy. Compared to controls, clivus and exocciput lengths, LL and AP diameters of FM, FM area and JF area were significantly reduced, supraocciput length, tentorial angle, PCFV, PCFBV, cerebellar volume, supratentorial ventricular system volume were significantly increased. A correlation was found between clivus length and supratentorial ventricular volume, premature closure of intra-occipital synchondroses and FM area while a trend was found between FM area and supraocciput length., Conclusion: Our analysis demonstrates a relationship between the shortening of the clivus and the ventriculomegaly. On the other hand the premature closure of PCF synchondroses, the shape, and the growth direction of supraocciput bone contribute to reduce the FM area, causing in some patients medullary compression.

Simple Summary: Craniopharyngiomas are benign but complex WHO grade I extra-axial epithelial neoplasms. Their infiltrative nature towards adjacent structures, such as the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, limits surgical excision and increases the rate of intra- and postoperative complications. An accurate depiction of the craniopharyngioma topography, craniopharyngioma–brain interface, and tumor morphology is valuable in the diagnostic work-up of craniopharyngiomas and may address treatment strategies, aiming to balance the risk of postsurgical hypothalamic dysfunction with recurrence rates. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to provide an overview of the role of imaging in both diagnosis and early post-treatment follow-up, highlighting its usefulness in the diagnostic process and its role in outcome prediction. Craniopharyngiomas continue to present a challenge in clinical practice due to their heterogeneity and unpredictable adherence to vital neurovascular structures, particularly the hypothalamus. This results in different degrees of hypothalamus–pituitary axis dysfunction and a lack of uniform consensus and treatment guidelines regarding optimal management. MRI and CT are complementary techniques in the preoperative diagnostic phase, enabling the precise definition of craniopharyngioma size, shape, and consistency, as well as guiding classification into histopathological subtypes and topographical categories. Meanwhile, MRI plays a crucial role in the immediate postoperative period and follow-up stages by identifying treatment-related changes and residual tumors. This pictorial essay aims to provide an overview of the role of imaging in identifying variables indicative of the adherence degree to the hypothalamus, hypothalamic–pituitary dysfunction, the extent of surgical excision, and prognosis. For a more comprehensive assessment, we choose to distinguish the following two scenarios: (1) the initial diagnosis phase, where we primarily discuss the role of radiological variables predictive of adhesions to the surrounding neurovascular structures and axis dysfunction which may influence the choice of surgical resection; (2) the early post-treatment follow-up phase, where we discuss the interpretation of treatment-related changes that impact outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aim to assess the role of a multidisciplinary approach in pituitary adenomas (PitNETs) classification, evaluate criteria concordance, and compare intraoperative assessments with post-operative MRIs for tumor remnants. Methods: Clinical, radiological, histological, and intra- and post-operative data of the treated PitNETs were extracted from prospectively created records. PitNETs were graded according to Trouillas, and the evaluation of the tumor remnants was recorded. Results: Of 362 PitNETs, 306 underwent surgery, with Trouillas grading assigned to 296. Eight-nine radiologically non-invasive PitNETs progressed to grades 1b (27), 2a (42), or 2b (20) due to proliferative or surgical invasiveness criteria. Twenty-six radiologically invasive tumors were graded 2b due to proliferative criteria. Surgical resection details and post-surgical MRI findings revealed that residual tumors were more common in grades 2a and 2b. During surgery, small tumor remnants were documented in 14 patients which were not visible on post-surgical MRI. Post-surgical MRIs identified remnants in 19 PitNETs not seen during surgery, located in lateral recesses of the sella (4), retrosellar (2), or suprasellar regions (7), along the medial wall of the cavernous sinus (6). Conclusions: The Pituitary Board allows for the correct grading of PitNETs to be obtained and an accurate identification of high-risk patients who should undergo closer surveillance due to tumor remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To classify pituitary macroadenomas according to the Trouillas' grading system; to compare this grading system with T2 values of volumetric signal intensity to determine T2 values able to predict the final grade. Methods: A total of 106 patients with macroadenomas were grouped according to the grading system score combining proliferation and invasiveness criteria of Trouillas' classification. Normalized volumetric signal intensity values were extracted from coronal T2-weighted images (nT2mean, nT2Max, nT2min) and were compared with the final grading score system. Results: Thirty-three patients were in grade 1a (non-invasive, non-proliferative tumors), 17 patients in grade 1b (non-invasive, proliferative tumors), 36 patients in grade 2a (invasive, non-proliferative tumors), and 20 patients in grade 2b (invasive, proliferative tumors). No patient was in grade 3 (metastatic tumors). nT2Max and nT2min were the best quantitative values to discriminate invasive from non-invasive grades; in invasive grades, nT2Max intensity values were higher, and nT2min intensity values were lower than in non-invasive grades. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of nT2 values showed that nT2min values had a better diagnostic performance than nT2Max values because they allowed differentiating with a moderate accuracy invasive tumors (2a or 2b grades) from both non-invasive proliferative tumors (1b) and non-invasive-non proliferative tumors (1a) (2a vs 1b: AUCnT2min = 0.78, 2b vs 1b: AUCnT2min = 0.72, 2a vs 1a: AUCnT2min = 0.72, 2b vs 1a AUCnT2min = 0.69). Conclusion: Volumetric nT2Max and nT2min values of MRI might be practical and non-invasive markers for assessing tumor invasiveness although nT2 min signal intensity values have more effects in discriminating tumor's invasive behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system, with a poor prognosis despite many available treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The evaluation of treatment response is essential to optimize patient outcomes. While structural MRI remains the cornerstone of imaging evaluation, advanced MRI modalities have increasingly become crucial in characterizing treatment effects more comprehensively. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to provide an overview on the role of advanced MRI modalities at the different clinical-therapeutic timepoints, thus helping radiologists and clinicians to be more confident in their applicability in clinical practice and at the proper timepoint. MRI plays a key role in the evaluation of post-treatment changes, both in the immediate post-operative period and during follow-up. There are many different treatment's lines and many different neuroradiological findings according to the treatment chosen and the clinical timepoint at which MRI is performed. Structural MRI is often insufficient to correctly interpret and define treatment-related changes. For that, advanced MRI modalities, including perfusion and permeability imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, are increasingly utilized in clinical practice to characterize treatment effects more comprehensively. This article aims to provide an overview of the role of advanced MRI modalities in the evaluation of treated glioblastomas. For a didactic purpose, we choose to divide the treatment history in three main timepoints: post-surgery, during Stupp (first-line treatment) and at recurrence (second-line treatment). For each, a brief introduction, a temporal subdivision (when useful) or a specific drug-related paragraph were provided. Finally, the current trends and application of radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) in the evaluation of treated GB have been outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MRI is undoubtedly the cornerstone of brain tumor imaging, playing a key role in all phases of patient management, starting from diagnosis, through therapy planning, to treatment response and/or recurrence assessment. Currently, neuroimaging can describe morphologic and non-morphologic (functional, hemodynamic, metabolic, cellular, microstructural, and sometimes even genetic) characteristics of brain tumors, greatly contributing to diagnosis and follow-up. Knowing the technical aspects, strength and limits of each MR technique is crucial to correctly interpret MR brain studies and to address clinicians to the best treatment strategy. This article aimed to provide an overview of neuroimaging in the assessment of adult primary brain tumors. We started from the basilar role of conventional/morphological MR sequences, then analyzed, one by one, the non-morphological techniques, and finally highlighted future perspectives, such as radiomics and artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess changes in the posterior cranial fossa (PCF) to shed light on the mechanism of cerebellar herniation in children with Costello syndrome (CS) and posterior fossa crowding. We performed a morphovolumetric PCF analysis on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in seven children with CS (mean age 31 ± 16 months) comparing the MRI scans with those of seven age-matched healthy subjects.PCF volume (PCFV), PCF brain volume (PCFBV) and cerebellar volume (CeV) were assessed on axial T2-weighted MRI. Morphometric parameters (diameters of the foramen magnum, tentorial angle, basiocciput, supraocciput, basisphenoid and exocciput lengths) were measured on sagittal T1-weighted MRI. The volume of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces was calculated as PCFV minus PCFBV.Five out of seven CS children showed tonsillar herniation in the upper cervical canal; no child had hydrocephalus but three out of seven children showed ventriculomegaly. In addition, the PCFV/PCFBV ratio, PCFV, CSF spaces volume, basiocciput, basisphenoid and exocciput lengths and latero-lateral and antero-posterior diameters of the foramen magnum were significantly reduced, whereas no significant changes were found in supraocciput length, PCFBV, CeV or hindbrain volumeThe volumetric reduction of the PCF due to bony posterior fossa hypoplasia is a predisposing factor for developing cerebellar tonsillar herniation through the foramen magnum in children with CS. The altered anatomy of the foramen magnum and upward expansion of the PCF secondary to an increased tentorial slope serves to explain the possible mechanism of cerebellar herniation in patients with CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]