Third window abnormalities are defects in the integrity of the bony structure of the inner ear, classically producing sound-/pressure-induced vertigo (Tullio and Hennebert signs) and/or a low-frequency air-bone gap by audiometry. Specific anatomic defects include semicircular canal dehiscence, perilabyrinthine fistula, enlarged vestibular aqueduct, dehiscence of the scala vestibuli side of the cochlea, X-linked stapes gusher, and bone dyscrasias. We discuss these various entities and provide key examples from our institutional teaching file with a discussion of symptomatology, temporal bone CT, audiometry, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.
Accurate assessment of cerebral perfusion is vital for understanding the hemodynamic processes involved in various neurological disorders and guiding clinical decision‐making. This guidelines article provides a comprehensive overview of quantitative perfusion imaging of the brain using multi‐timepoint arterial spin labeling (ASL), along with recommendations for its acquisition and quantification. A major benefit of acquiring ASL data with multiple label durations and/or post‐labeling delays (PLDs) is being able to account for the effect of variable arterial transit time (ATT) on quantitative perfusion values and additionally visualize the spatial pattern of ATT itself, providing valuable clinical insights. Although multi‐timepoint data can be acquired in the same scan time as single‐PLD data with comparable perfusion measurement precision, its acquisition and postprocessing presents challenges beyond single‐PLD ASL, impeding widespread adoption. Building upon the 2015 ASL consensus article, this work highlights the protocol distinctions specific to multi‐timepoint ASL and provides robust recommendations for acquiring high‐quality data. Additionally, we propose an extended quantification model based on the 2015 consensus model and discuss relevant postprocessing options to enhance the analysis of multi‐timepoint ASL data. Furthermore, we review the potential clinical applications where multi‐timepoint ASL is expected to offer significant benefits. This article is part of a series published by the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) Perfusion Study Group, aiming to guide and inspire the advancement and utilization of ASL beyond the scope of the 2015 consensus article.
Zero echo-time (ZTE) MRI is a novel imaging technique that utilizes ultrafast readouts to capture signal from short-T2 tissues. Additional sequence advantages include rapid imaging times, silent scanning, and artifact resistance. A robust application of this technology is imaging of cortical bone without the use of ionizing radiation, thus representing a viable alternative to CT for both rapid screening and “one-stop-shop” MRI. Although ZTE is increasingly used in musculoskeletal and body imaging, neuroimaging applications have historically been limited by complex anatomy and pathology. In this article, we review the imaging physics of ZTE including pulse sequence options, practical limitations, and image reconstruction. We then discuss optimization of settings for ZTE bone neuroimaging including acquisition, processing, segmentation, synthetic CT generation, and artifacts. Finally, we examine clinical utility of ZTE in the head and neck with imaging examples including malformations, trauma, tumors, and interventional procedures.