Every day MRI is gaining more and more appreciation by all me die al specialists for its impressive quality of anatomical images. This morphological information gives consistent help in terms of earlier diagnosis, lesion characterisation, and definition of the extent of disease. However, morphology is not the only infor mation obtained through MRI. Recently, a large number of researchers have exploited the possibility of also obtaining functional information with MRI. Results of brain activation studies have been initially performed in Boston and have been confirmed by investiga tors all over the world. Important functional data can be obtained not only on the brain, but also on the heart and on parenchymal organs. The diffusion nowadays of commercial MR units used with high field gradient and echo planar techniques allows functional data to be obtained in any routine clinical activity. This book appears at the right time to provide information on fMRI to all MR users wanting to obtain clinical experience with this new too1. We thank the authors of each paper for their efforts and for the outstanding contribution both to the seminar and on these pages. We are especially grateful to BRACCO INTERNATIONAL, who generous ly supported the publication of this Syllabus and the European Seminar on Di agnostic and Interventional Radiology (ESDIR), held in Rome on October 26- 28,1995. We hope that this editorial work will be valid as a reference collection of pa pers on this new field of medicine.

Basics of Functional MRI

Evaluating Brain Activation: A Methodological Perspective
Intrinsic Parameters Measurable with MRI
Assessment of Hemodynamic Function with Phase Contrast Flow Quantitation
Functional MRI: The Environment and Technology for Clinical Application
Neurofunctional MRI: Techniques
Diffusion, Perfusion and Functional MRI
Tumor Viability Assessed by Cerebral Blood Volume Measurements
Cerebral Perfusion Imaging with Gadolinium Chelates and Iron Oxides in Humans
High Resolution Studies of Oxygen, Carbogen and Carbon Dioxide in the Brain - with Supporting Findings from Peripheral Muscle
fMRI Using True 3D Sequences and Full Positional Registration
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Photic and Motor Stimulation: Comparison of Results Obtained at 1.0 T and 1.5 T
Functional Activity Mapping of the Perirolandic Cortex During Motor Performance and Motor Imagery
Brain Functional Anatomy as Assessed with MRI: Clinical Applications of Functional Brain MRI
Basic Aspects of Magnetic Resonance Functional Neuroimaging: Physiology, Signals, and Maps
In Vivo Verification of the Intravascular BOLD Effect
Human Brain Mapping: State of the Art
Clinical Applications of Functional MRI
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Echo Planar Imaging
High Field Functional MRI in Humans: Applications to Cognitive Function
Functional MRI Brain Mapping Prior to Craniotomy or Radiosurgery: Initial Clinical Experience
MR Imaging in Hyperacute Stroke
fMRI in Current Clinical Practice
PRESTO, a Rapid 3D Approach for Functional MRI of Human Brain
Clinical Diffusion Imaging on a Standard MR System: Diagnostic Usefulness Compared with Conventional MRI
fMRI of the Brain with Medium Field Strength Units
Localization of PrimaryMotor Cortex in Patients with Frontal-parietal Neoplasms: an fMRI Study
Functional Evaluation of Parenchymal Organs and the Heart with MRI
Functional MRI of the Kidneys
Magnetic Resonance Angiography in the Abdomen and Pelvis
Regional Motion Analysis with Tagged MRI
Ultrafast Imaging of the Cardiovascular System
Rapid and Interactive Cardiovascular Imaging
Stunned Myocardium: Functional and Perfusion MR Imaging
Stress-Strain Modeling with MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Valvular Prosthetic Function.