Title |
Diffusion-weighted MR neurography for the assessment of brachial plexopathy in oncological practice
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Published in |
Cancer Imaging, May 2015
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DOI | 10.1186/s40644-015-0041-5 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Adrian Andreou, Aslam Sohaib, David J Collins, Taro Takahara, Thomas C Kwee, Martin O Leach, David A MacVicar, Dow-Mu Koh |
Abstract |
To evaluate diffusion-weighted MR neurography (DW-MRN) for visualizing the brachial plexus and for the assessment of brachial plexopathy. 40 oncological patients with symptoms of brachial plexopathy underwent 1.5 T MRI using conventional MR sequences and unidirectional DW-MRN. The images were independently reviewed by two radiologists. Anatomic visualization of the brachial plexus was scored using a 5 point scale on conventional MR sequences and then combined with DW-MRN. A brachial plexus abnormality was also scored using a 5 point scale and inter-observer agreement determined by kappa statistics. Diagnostic accuracy for brachial plexopathy assessed by conventional MRI alone versus conventional MRI combined with DW-MRN was compared by ROC analysis using reference standards. DW-MRN significantly improved visualization of the brachial plexus compared with conventional MRI alone (P < 0.001). When assessing brachial plexopathy, inter-observer agreement was moderate for conventional MRI (kappa = 0.48) but good for conventional MRI with DW-MRN (kappa = 0.62). DW-MRN combined with conventional MRI significantly improved diagnostic accuracy in one observer (P < 0.05) but was similar in the other observer. DW-MRN improved visualization of the brachial plexus. Combining DW-MRN with conventional MRI can improve inter-observer agreement and detection of brachial plexopathy in symptomatic oncological patients. |
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Unknown | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
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Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
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Finland | 1 | 3% |
Unknown | 33 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Researcher | 8 | 24% |
Student > Master | 5 | 15% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 5 | 15% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 4 | 12% |
Student > Postgraduate | 3 | 9% |
Other | 5 | 15% |
Unknown | 4 | 12% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Medicine and Dentistry | 19 | 56% |
Neuroscience | 3 | 9% |
Physics and Astronomy | 3 | 9% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 1 | 3% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 1 | 3% |
Other | 2 | 6% |
Unknown | 5 | 15% |