Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37968363›Full record

ArticleEuropean radiology experimental2023

Brainstem anatomy with 7-T MRI: in vivo assessment and ex vivo comparison.

Graziella Donatelli, Aron Emmi, Mauro Costagli, Paolo Cecchi, Veronica Macchi, Laura Biagi, Marta Lancione, Michela Tosetti, Andrea Porzionato, Raffaele De Caro and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in European radiology experimental, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Observational
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Graziella DonatelliNeuroradiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
Aron EmmiDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Mauro CostagliDepartment of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Sciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Paolo CecchiNeuroradiology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy.
Veronica MacchiDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Laura BiagiLaboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Marta LancioneLaboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Michela TosettiLaboratory of Medical Physics and Magnetic Resonance, IRCCS Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
Andrea PorzionatoDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Raffaele De CaroDepartment of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Mirco CosottiniDepartment of Translational Research On New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Neuroradiology Unit, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy. mirco.cosottini@unipi.it.ORCID 0000-0001-9400-6574

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe brainstem contains grey matter nuclei and white matter tracts to be identified in clinical practice. The small size and the low contrast among them make their in vivo visualisation challenging using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences at high magnetic field strengths. Combining higher spatial resolution, signal- and contrast-to-noise ratio and sensitivity to magnetic susceptibility (χ), susceptibility-weighted 7-T imaging could improve the assessment of brainstem anatomy.

methodsWe acquired high-resolution 7-T MRI of the brainstem in a 46-year-old female healthy volunteer (using a three-dimensional multi-echo gradient-recalled-echo sequence; spatial resolution 0.3 × 0.3 × 1.2 mm

resultsThis in vivo imaging revealed structures usually evaluated through light microscopy, such as the accessory olivary nuclei, oculomotor nucleus and the medial longitudinal fasciculus. Some fibre tracts, such as the medial lemniscus, were visible for most of their course. Overall, in in vivo acquisitions, χ and frequency maps performed better than T2*-weighted imaging and allowed for the evaluation of a greater number of anatomical structures. All the structures identified in vivo were confirmed by the ex vivo imaging and histology.

conclusionsThe use of multi-echo GRE sequences at 7 T allowed the visualisation of brainstem structures that are not visible in detail at conventional magnetic field and opens new perspectives in the diagnostic and therapeutical approach to brain disorders. RELEVANCE STATEMENT: In vivo MR imaging at UHF provides detailed anatomy of CNS substructures comparable to that obtained with histology. Anatomical details are fundamentals for diagnostic purposes but also to plan a direct targeting for a minimally invasive brain stimulation or ablation. KEY POINTS: • The in vivo brainstem anatomy was explored with ultrahigh field MRI (7 T). • In vivo T2*-weighted magnitude, χ, and frequency images revealed many brainstem structures. • Ex vivo imaging and histology confirmed all the structures identified in vivo. • χ and frequency imaging revealed more brainstem structures than magnitude imaging.

Indexed as

Brain StemMagnetic Resonance ImagingFemaleHumansMiddle AgedBrain stemGrey matterMagnetic resonance imagingStaining and labellingWhite matter

Identifiers

PMID37968363
PMCPMC10651583

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