Fernando Quintana

Publications (3)10.75 Total impact

• Article: White matter defects in first episode psychosis patients: a voxelwise analysis of diffusion tensor imaging.

  Rocío Pérez-Iglesias, Diana Tordesillas-Gutiérrez, Gareth J Barker, Philip K McGuire, Roberto Roiz-Santiañez, Ignacio Mata, Enrique Marco de Lucas, Fernando Quintana, Jose L Vazquez-Barquero, Benedicto Crespo-Facorro
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  ABSTRACT: Disruptions in white matter structure have consistently been shown in schizophrenia--but mainly in patients in whom the illness is well-established. In order to determine whether white matter abnormalities are present at illness onset, and to minimise the potentially confounding effects of chronic illness and treatment, we used diffusion tensor imaging to study a large cohort of first episode psychotic patients who were medication-naive. Sixty two first episode patients and 54 controls matched on age, sex, years of education and laterality index underwent diffusion tensor imaging. Data were acquired on a GE Signa NVi 1.5 Tesla System. Fractional anisotropy maps were generated on a voxel-by-voxel basis. An optimized voxel-based morphometry technique was conducted with two-stage registration approach. Group differences were examined using a non-parametric statistical method. The voxelwise analysis revealed four clusters where fractional anisotropy values were significantly lower in patients than controls. These were localised bilaterally to regions of white matter corresponding to superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculus, forceps major, anterior and superior thalamic radiation and corpus callosum. Reductions in white matter integrity are present early in the course of the schizophrenia and localised in fascicule that connect brain regions implicated in the disorder.
  NeuroImage 08/2009; 49(1):199-204. · 5.89 Impact Factor
• Article: CT-guided fine-needle aspiration in vertebral osteomyelitis: true usefulness of a common practice.

  Enrique Marco de Lucas, Andrés González Mandly, Agustín Gutiérrez, Raúl Pellón, Laura Martín-Cuesta, Javier Izquierdo, Elena Sánchez, Eva Ruiz, Fernando Quintana
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  ABSTRACT: Computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy of the spine is considered a safe, accurate, and relatively inexpensive examination technique. Our purpose was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of CT-guided biopsies exclusively for vertebral osteomyelitis. A retrospective study was performed from a consecutive series of 72 patients with confirmed vertebral osteomyelitis with 46 CT-guided biopsies performed in 40 patients. Biopsy specimens were sent for bacteriologic and cytologic analysis. An adequate specimen for microbiologic examination was not obtained in one case and not enough sample for additional pathologic examination in 17 cases. The mean age of patients was 58 years, with a range of 1-88 years, including 24 men and 16 women. The level of spinal biopsy was thoracic in 18 (40%) and lumbar in 28 (60%). The analysis revealed the infection agent in 20 cases (43% sensitivity). Diagnostic rates obtained in patients with previous antibiotic treatment were significantly lower (23% vs. 60%, p = 0.013). Computed tomography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy is an important tool in the diagnostic evaluation of vertebral osteomyelitis. However, this technique yields a lower diagnostic rate than previously reported biopsy of neoplastic vertebral lesions, especially if performed in patients with previous antibiotic treatment.
  Clinical Rheumatology 12/2008; 28(3):315-20. · 2.00 Impact Factor
• Article: CT protocol for acute stroke: tips and tricks for general radiologists.

  Enrique Marco de Lucas, Elena Sánchez, Agustín Gutiérrez, Andrés González Mandly, Eva Ruiz, Alejandro Fernández Flórez, Javier Izquierdo, Javier Arnáiz, Tatiana Piedra, Natalia Valle, Itziar Bañales, Fernando Quintana
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  ABSTRACT: Acute stroke services have been installed in most hospitals in the industrialized world, and dealing with hyperacute stroke has become one of the most frequently performed tasks of the on-call radiologist. Imaging plays a key role in current guidelines for thrombolysis, and knowledge of classic early ischemic signs or depiction of hemorrhage at nonenhanced computed tomography (CT) is necessary (although not sufficient) for a satisfactory imaging study. A modern CT examination must also include perfusion CT and CT angiography. Perfusion CT delineates the ischemic tissue (penumbra) by showing increased mean transit time with decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) and normal or increased cerebral blood volume (CBV), whereas infarcted tissue manifests with markedly decreased CBF and decreased CBV. CT angiography can depict the occlusion site, help grade collateral blood flow, and help characterize carotid atherosclerotic disease. A complete CT study (nonenhanced CT, perfusion CT, and CT angiography) may be performed and analyzed rapidly and easily by general radiologists using a simple standardized protocol and may even facilitate diagnosis by less experienced radiologists in affected patients.
  Radiographics 28(6):1673-87. · 2.85 Impact Factor