Segment 1 Ambrose begins by running through a list of examples of what is likely to happen to a patient being investigated in hospital for a disease of the central nervous system; he uses a hypothetical case of a patient with a tumour in the right hemisphere. Ambrose shows a table listing the various different diagnostic techniques for defining tumour types. These include: straight skull radiography, radio-nuclide scanning, ultrasound, cerebral angiography and cerebral pneumography. These are more or less invasive but Ambrose points out that the last two are particularly troubling for patients. He then shows examples from each of the techniques listed and explains their pros and cons. He ends by dramatically pointing to an EMI scan and describing it as a way to change the whole system of brain imaging. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:05:08:00 Length: 00:05:08:00
Segment 2 Ambrose explains, using illustrations, how a different method of scanning to those mentioned above might work. He then gives the history of the discovery of such a method - referring to the work of neurologist WH Oldendorf, AM Cormac and DE Kuhl, all of whom came close to discovering a method like EMI scanning. A short film is then shown of a patient having an EMI scan, then Ambrose talks us through the computer reading of the scan results. Time start: 00:05:08:00 Time end: 00:10:22:00 Length: 00:05:14:00
Segment 3 We hear now about how the EMI scanner can measure different densities of brain tissue, thus enabling tumorous areas in soft tissue to become apparent to the clinician. A further short film shows a woman having an EMI scan and Ambrose describes how the machinery works. We then see a sequence of slides of EMI brain scans, Ambrose discusses the appearance of each, pointing out anatomical features of interest. Time start: 00:10:22:00 Time end: 00:15:20:00 Length: 00:04:58:00
Segment 4 Ambrose moves on to discuss the kind of features that might be seen in an abnormal brain scan. He describes how abnormal structures in the brain can be according to size, shape and position, then changes in tissue density are sought. He defines 3 types of tissue density produced by: lesions with a higher density than normal, lesions with a lower density than normal and lesions with the same density as normal tissue. He shows a series of case studies detailing a wide variety of lesions in the brain in which tissue density is higher than that of normal surrounding tissue. In each case, Ambrose explains in detail how the EMI scan can be read accurately. This is particularly important as some surgical interventions can be made based on the EMI scan evidence - for instance, if a blood clot can be accurately located by imaging, surgery can be performed to remove it quickly and effectively. Time start: 00:15:20:00 Time end: 00:20:58:00 Length: 00:05:38:00
Segment 5 Ambrose moves on to show EMI scans of cases with low density lesions in the brain. In each case he explains clearly what the scan shows and how a diagnosis can be made from the visual information given. Cases include: neoplasms, infections, infarctions, cyst formation or demyelinating processes such as multiple sclerosis. Time start: 00:20:58:00 Time end: 00:25:19:00 Length: 00:04:21:00
Segment 6 Ambrose now shows EMI scans of brain lesions with the same tissue density as normal surrounding tissue. In each case he explains clearly what the scan shows and how a diagnosis can be made from the visual information given. Cases include: meningioma, small metastatic tumours, oedema and absesses. In these cases a contrast dye injected into the blood stream can be helpful to define their mass. Time start: 00:25:19:00 Time end: 00:30:02:20 Length: 00:04:43:00
Segment 7 Ambrose describes how EMI scanning can help to identify some of the more illusive lesions of the brain such as tumours in and around the pituitary fossa. More detailed scanning techniques can also show the optic nerve and surrounding tissues - Ambrose shows a case in which there is a large tumour in the outer quadrant of the left eye. Ambrose sums up his lecture by noting that the EMI scanner is really a prototype, a first generation scanner and that the future will see advancements in its speed, accuracy and picture resolution. He looks forward to seeing what modern technology will have to offer in future years. Time start: 00:30:02:20 Time end: 00:34:43:03 Length: 00:04:41:08