Osteoblastoma
When diagnosing osteoblastoma, the preliminary radiologic workup should consist of radiography of the site of the patient's pain. However, computed tomography (CT) is often necessary to support clinical and plain radiographic findings suggestive of osteoblastoma and to better define the margins of the lesion for potential surgery. CT scans are best used for the further characterization of the lesion with regard to the presence of a nidus and matrix mineralization. MRI aids in detection of nonspecific reactive marrow and soft tissue edema, and MRI best defines soft tissue extension, although this finding is not typical of osteoblastoma. Bone scintigraphy (bone scan) demonstrates abnormal radiotracer accumulation at the affected site, substantiating clinical suspicion, but this finding is not specific for osteoblastoma. In many patients, biopsy is necessary for confirmation.
Cognitive genomics
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a widely available imaging technique that measures changes in blood flow in imaged tissue. It’s commonly used in neurophysiological studies to determine neuron activation. Unlike a standard MRI, fMRI can be used to actively measure subject neuronal activity as the patient performs tasks. This technique isn’t used on conscious non-human primates due to the inability to restrain the primates during imaging. However, fMRI illustrates regional brain activity when performed on primates that performed tasks over an extended period of time and were then anesthetized.