Faculty Collaboration Database

Pearls and pitfalls in clinical neuroradiology. Semin Neurol 1998;18(2):221-36

Date

06/03/1998

Pubmed ID

9608619

DOI

10.1055/s-2008-1040875

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-13144265781 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   2 Citations

Abstract

Imaging technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. Central nervous system imaging, in particular, is an invaluable tool for the practicing clinical neurologist. Although computed tomography (CT) was once the procedure of choice for neuroimaging, CT has been surpassed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of the latter's greater sensitivity. MRI exquisitely demonstrates brain and spine pathology by means of its multiplanar capability and its ability to generate different tissue contrast with various pulse sequences. However, artifacts as well as normal anatomic variants can mimic significant CNS pathology. An understanding of the technology involved in producing and interpreting these images is necessary in order that protocols can be tailored for each individual patient and that unimportant findings are not misinterpreted as being pathologic. This article will present cases illustrating some of the common neuroimaging artifacts and normal variants as well as important differential diagnoses of certain imaging findings.

Author List

Greenspan SL, Mathews VP

Author

Vincent Mathews MD Chair, Professor in the Radiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Artifacts
Brain
Brain Diseases
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Genetic Variation
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Middle Aged
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Diseases