Meeting Banner
Abstract #1496

Prospectively and Retrospectively Gated Lung MR Imaging Sequences Compared for Visualizing Pneumonial Cryptococcosis

Tom Dresselaers1, Greetje Vande Velde1, Jennifer Poelmans1, Arno Nauerth2, Eric Verbeken1, Katrien Lagrou3, Uwe Himmelreich1

1Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Vl.Brabant, Belgium; 2MR-Technologies, Bruker Biospin MRI GmbH, Ettlingen, Germany; 3Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Vl.Brabant, Belgium

Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are encapsulated yeasts that cause life-threatening disease that affect the lungs and may spread to the brain. As symptoms appear only after the disease manifestation at a very late stage, it is essential to dynamically monitor cryptococcosis non-invasively to establish the infection kinetics and potential spreading to the CNS on an individual basis. Although CT can be used with good spatial resolution, the soft tissue contrast is limited and radiotoxicity concerns limit the applicability in longitudinal studies. Therefore, we have aimed at evaluating different MRI protocols to visualize lung infection in a mouse model for pneumonial cryptococcosis.

Abstract PDF Poster PDF

Keywords

absence acquisition advances affects afterwards aimed allow animal animals apparent appearance assessment audience available bandwidth basis best better brain cardiac cause cell combination combined competent concerns confirmed confirming contrast control currently cycles dept described difficult disease dynamically efficient encapsulated enhance enigmatic establish evaluate evaluating extensive extent feasible fine flash fungal gated gradient greatly help histology horizontal host immune immunology in vivo indicating individual individually individuals infected infection infections inflammation inhalation insert inter invasion invasive isolation kinetics knowledge lacking life limited load longitudinal lung made manifesting maximal meningitis methodology mice microbiology mode model models monitor monitoring mostly mouse novel onset pathogenesis pathology position post profile progression prospective prospectively protocols quantification rare repetitions requirement resolution resonator respiration retrospectively scanned scanner screening seems setup sham short signs slice slices soft software spatial spread spreading still suspension target technologies tedious temporal thereby thick threatening tissue tools transplantation triggered tuning ultra unraveling validated variability visualize visualized visualizing yeast