Magnetic resonance imaging technique for tissue characterization
First Claim
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1. A diagnostic method for differentiating necrotic from viable tissue in vivo, comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a patient having a region of diseased tissue;
b. placing said region within a constant external magnetic field;
c. applying at least one diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging technique to said region; and
d. differentiating necrotic from viable tissue based on magnetic resonance signals produced by said imaging technique.
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Abstract
An in vivo diagnostic method for differentiating normal from diseased tissue is described, using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Differences in molecular diffusion between viable and necrotic tissue, and normal and diseased tissue, are measured using diffusion-weighted MRI techniques to evaluate the success of a medical treatment regimen.
212 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A diagnostic method for differentiating necrotic from viable tissue in vivo, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a patient having a region of diseased tissue; b. placing said region within a constant external magnetic field; c. applying at least one diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging technique to said region; and d. differentiating necrotic from viable tissue based on magnetic resonance signals produced by said imaging technique. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A clinical method for evaluating the efficacy of a medical treatment, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a patient undergoing medical treatment having a region of diseased tissue;
said region selected from the group comprising;
the neck, the chest and cardiovascular system, the abdomen, pelvis and all internal organs, and the musculoskeletal system including the spine, the axial skeleton, the arms and the legs;b. placing said region within a constant external magnetic field; c. applying at least one diffusion-weighted spin-echo pulse sequence to said region; and d. differentiating necrotic from viable tissue based on magnetic resonance signals produced by said diffusion-weighted spin-echo pulse sequence, and diffusion coefficients of said region of diseased tissue calculated therefrom, so as to evaluate the efficacy of said medical treatment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A diagnostic method for differentiating necrotic from viable tissue in vivo, comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a patient having a suspected region of necrotic tissue; b. placing said suspected region within a constant external magnetic field; c. applying at least one diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging technique to said suspected region; and d. differentiating necrotic from viable tissue based on magnetic resonance signals produced by said imaging technique, wherein said magnetic resonance signals are used to calculate diffusion coefficients, and said diffusion coefficients are used to differentiate necrotic from viable tissue in said suspected region. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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