ARTICLE REVIEW 2

Journal Article Aurthor:

M. Forgues, R.  Mehta, D. Anderson, C. Morel, L. Miller, 

A. Sevy, L Son and M Arriaga

Article Title:

Non-contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging for monitoring patients with Acoustic Neuroma

Journal Name: 

Journal of Laryngology & Otology

1) Bibliography 

Forgues, M., Mehta, R., Anderson, D., Morel, C., Miller, L., Sevy, A., & Son, L. (2018). Non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring patients with acoustic neuroma. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology, 132(1984), 780–785. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215118001342

2) Purpose of the article

The purpose of the this article is to assess the feasibility of non-contrast T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging as compared to T1-weighted post-contrast magnetic resonance imaging for detecting acoustic neuroma growth and consider the MRI imaging protocol based on non-contrast imaging. 

3) Brief description of Procedure and Findings/Result

This article  was conducted on 26 adult patients with acoustic neuroma who underwent at least three MRI scans of the internal auditory canals with and without contrast in the past nine years, started from early of 2011 till end of 2016. MRI machine used in this study was 1.5T Siemen Magnetom *Espree Machine where the T2-weighted were based on 3D, T2-W, turbo spin-echo sequence and  'Restore" pulse, meanwhile only turbo spin-echo sequence used for T1-weighted_post_contrast. results from the other hospital which using the same protocol were also has been reviewed. 

The report / review of the images has been based on randomly prepared by three neuroradiologist in the department. the review is made to differentiate the accuracy of the measured tumor size in between T1- and T2-weighted images. 

The measurement accuracy  on T2-weighted images was defined as a difference of less than or equal to 2 mm from the measurement on T1-weighted images. A true growth of the tumor is 2mm diameter increase in diameter was accepted  by many other researchers. 

From the  total of 107 magnetic resonance imaging scans of 26 patients were reviewed. Measurements on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were 88 per cent highly accurate and precise from measurements on T1-weighted images by an average of 1.27 mm, or 10.4 per cent of the total size. The specificity of T2-weighted images was 88.2 per cent and the sensitivity was 77.8 per cent. therefore, it shows that the measurement of tumor in T2-weighted images are much smaller than in post contrast T1-weighted image by 47% by evaluation.

4) Conclusion and comments

As a conclusion, The T2-weighted sequences are fairly accurate in measuring acoustic neuroma size and identifying growth if one keeps in mind the caveats associated with the tumour characteristics or location. Therefore it prove that the diagnosing an asymptomic acoustic neuroma would be much easier and accurate since MRI scans is fully utilized.  

5) Opinion of this article

Based on my reading, this article is far more understandable as compared to the others since it provide an abstract  and using a straight forward literature and research terminology. from early of the paper the objective is achieved successfully which show the committed and thoughtful practice was applied.