Brain Lesion

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (AMRI) will improve the targeting of brain tumor needle biopsies compared to the standard targeting techniques. Researchers also want to learn how the results of the images and biopsies compare to each other to try to improve the way researchers and radiologists use AMRI images. This is an investigational study. The perfusion scan is not FDA approved or commercially available. It is currently only being used in research. There will be no cost to you for the advanced MRI, additional anesthesia, special pathology stains, and/or gene testing for this study. Up to 50 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at MD Anderson.

Two groups of subjects will be constitute: (i) patients with circumscribed brain injury (including stroke, vascular malformations, tumor or circumscribed infectious lesions) or degenerative/developmental disorders and selective cognitive disorders; (ii) healthy control subjects. The objective of this project is to evaluate specific neuropsychological deficits and apply current brain imaging techniques (anatomical, diffusion, functional, magnetic stimulation) to patients suffering from these cognitive deficits due to brain damage, in order to elucidate the brain mechanisms underlying these deficits.