Research Summary
My main research areas are advanced MR imaging methods.
Previous research on MR angiography in cerebral aneurysms which has been published and presented internationally influenced clinical practice.
In my current research I am using MR perfusion and MR diffusion and T2*-weighted imaging in cerebrovascular diseases, brain tumours and neurodegenerative diseases .
Several years ago I have introduced T2*-weighted imaging in the assessment of stroke patients. Results showed a signifcant correlation between presence of cerebral microhaemorrhages and the cognitive performance of stroke patients. In a current prospective large scale study we are investigating the impact of microhaemorrhages on the risk of haemorrhagic complications during anti-platelet therapy and and anticoagulation.
Using high resolution carotid plaque imaging we are investigating the plaque composition as a potential risk factoe for complications following carotid stenting and surgical endarterectomy. MR perfusion will be used to assess the immediate haemodynamic effects of carotis artery recanalisation on the newly installed intra-operative MR system.
In the field of brain tumours I have lead the MR perfusion and diffusion imaging in a large scale longitudinal study of low grade glioma patients. We were able to show that MR perfusion imaging can predict malignant transformation up to one year before contrast enhancement changes. This will have an impact on the management of low grade tumours. We were also able to show that MR diffusion imaging can help differentiating low grade oligo- from low-grade astrocytomas.
The application of diffusion weighted imaging was also successful in the cases of Parkinsonian disorders and in Prion disease, providing additional information to help the differential diagnosis of these neurodegenerative conditions.
Further studies on patients with PSP and MSA using diffusion tensor imaging on a 3T MR system are underway.
I am currently supervising 5 PhD Students ( 2 as primary and 3 as secondary supervisor)
I am section Editor of NEURORADIOLGY, the official journal of the ESNR and Japanese Society of Neuroradiology .