Wallerian degeneration: evaluation with MR imaging

Twenty-three patients who underwent routine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain were found to have signal or structural abnormalities corresponding to white matter tracts. Images were evaluated for anatomic and MR signal characteristics of the involved tract, associated primary lesions, and, when possible, changes in MR signal and anatomic structures with time. Images from 20 patients demonstrated a thin band of abnormal signal contiguous with the primary lesion and conforming to the known anatomic pathway of a white matter tract. Cerebral infarction was the most common associated primary disorder (n = 17). Neoplasms (n = 2), demyelinating (n = 1) and posthemorrhagic (n = 2) conditions, and an idiopathic movement disorder (n = 1) were associated with white matter tract signal abnormalities that were indistinguishable from those seen with infarction. Signal abnormality corresponding to the corticospinal tract was the type most commonly seen. No change in signal characteristics was seen with time (six cases) or following contrast material administration (two cases). The authors conclude that MR imaging provides a sensitive method of evaluating wallerian degeneration in the living human brain.     

Wallerian degeneration of the middle cerebellar peduncle after pontine infarction: MR imaging

PURPOSE: To report magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of wallerian degeneration of the pontocerebellar tract secondary to a pontine infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed cranial MR images obtained during the past seven years in our institution and selected those from patients with a chronic stage of pontine infarction and a hyperintense lesion at the central portion of the middle cerebellar peduncle on T2-weighted images. RESULTS: In three patients with a ventromedial pontine infarction, we found a symmetrical hyperintense lesion at the central portion of the middle cerebellar peduncle bilaterally on T2-weighted MR images in the chronic stage. In another patient with a ventrolateral pontine infarction, we found such a lesion at the ipsilateral middle cerebellar peduncle. CONCLUSION: Because the middle cerebellar peduncle carries afferent fibers from the contralateral basis pontis to the cerebellar cortex, these middle cerebellar peduncular lesions are regarded as wallerian degeneration. This secondary degeneration should not be misinterpreted as a newly developed infarction or other disease.     

Early abnormalities related to postinfarction Wallerian degeneration: evaluation with MR diffusion-weighted imaging

PURPOSE: Wallerian degeneration (WD) is most commonly seen after cerebral infarctions and results in persistent neurological deficits. MRI may detect changes related to WD as early as 4 weeks after the insult. We sought to determine if MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) detects changes of WD during the acute period that follows a cerebral infarction. METHOD: Eleven patients with cerebral infarctions underwent DWI within 72 h of the onset of symptoms. DWI was performed using a high diffusion gradient strength (B = 1,000) in a single axis and trace imaging. We reviewed all images with special attention to the signal intensity in the location of the corticospinal tracts. RESULTS: Ten patients harbored 11 middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarcts, and one patient had an anterior cerebral artery (ACA) infarction. Only one patient with an MCA infarct showed a subtle abnormality in the ipsilateral corticospinal tract. The patient with the ACA infarct showed an abnormality in the region of the corticopontine tract. CONCLUSION: As used in this study, DWI depicted presumed early WD in only 20% of instances.     

Wallerian degeneration in a patient with Schilder disease: MR imaging demonstration

Wallerian degeneration in the corticospinal tract was demonstrated by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in a patient with Schilder disease. The histochemical stages of myelin breakdown that allow its demonstration by MR imaging are reviewed.     

MR imaging of Wallerian degeneration in the brainstem: temporal relationships

Degeneration of the myelin sheath and axon distal to the most proximal site of axonal interruption secondary to axonal disease has been called wallerian degeneration. On MR imaging, wallerian degeneration of the pyramidal tract can be observed as an abnormal signal intensity, showing prolonged T1 and T2 relaxation times that correspond to the corticospinal tract, with or without shrinkage of the ipsilateral cerebral peduncle and pons. Review of MR studies in 150 cases of supratentorial cerebrovascular accidents showed abnormal signal alterations in the ipsilateral brainstem in 33 of the cases. Abnormal intensity in the ipsilateral brainstem was seen as early as 5 weeks after the supratentorial ictus and was fully evident after 10 weeks in all 33 cases. Signal alterations were strongest at about 3-6 months when compared with alterations seen at 10 weeks or even 10 months after the ictus. Shrinkage of the ipsilateral brainstem appeared as early as 8 months and was demonstrated in all cases 13 months after the ictus. MR seems to be the most effective technique for early detection of wallerian degeneration and may provide insight into its pathophysiological and chemical changes.     

Wallerian degeneration of the corticospinal tract in the brain stem: MR imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of wallerian degeneration of the corticospinal tract in the brain stem was studied in 25 patients with chronic supratentorial vascular accidents. In the relatively early stages, at least three months after ictus, increased signal intensities in axial T2-weighted images--with or without decreased signal intensities in axial T1-weighted images--were observed in the brain stem ipsilaterally. In later stages, at least six months after ictus, shrinkage of the brain stem ipsilaterally--with or without decreased signal intensities--was clearly observed in axial T1-weighted images. MRI is therefore regarded a sensitive diagnostic modality for evaluating wallerian degeneration in the brain stem.     

FA值在脑梗死及其继发Wallerian变性中的临床意义

目的 探讨FA值对脑梗死及其继发Wallerian变性的临床诊断价值.方法 收集脑梗死患者32例,所有患者均分别在发病后7天内、3～4周进行DTI检查,测量梗死区、健侧相应部位脑组织、双侧大脑脚的FA值,对比检查结果.结果 ①脑梗死灶、患侧大脑脚较对侧相应部位FA值明显下降,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;②脑梗死灶、患侧大脑脚FA值均呈逐渐下降趋势,前后两次FA测量值差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;③健侧对照区脑组织、健侧大脑脚前后两次FA值变化均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 FA值在脑梗死及其继发Wallerian变性的病理进程中逐渐降低,在Wallerian变性的早期诊断及患者运动功能预后判断中有重要临床意义.     

Cerebellorubral degeneration after resection of cerebellar dentate nucleus neoplasms: evaluation with MR imaging

The authors describe the magnetic resonance (MR) findings in seven patients who developed severe cerebellar symptoms and atrophy of the contralateral red nucleus following removal of unilateral neoplasms in the deep nuclei of the cerebellum. For most patients, pre- and postoperative spin-echo MR images were obtained with long repetition times (TRs) at 1.5 T. The long TR images obtained before surgery demonstrated unilateral masses involving the dentate nucleus. Long TR images obtained after surgical resection of the dentate nucleus showed increased signal intensity in all of seven contralateral red nuclei, three of seven ipsilateral superior cerebellar peduncles, and two of seven contralateral inferior olivary nuclei. Three other patients who underwent surgery for cerebellar neoplasms without resection of the dentate nuclei showed no postoperative brain stem changes on MR images. The authors speculate that the changes in the contralateral red nuclei are due to cerebellorubral degeneration (since well-described neural tracts interconnect the dentate nucleus and the contralateral red nucleus). Injury of the dentate nucleus may result in degeneration of distant neural connections.     

Left ventricular remodeling after infarction: sequential MR imaging with oral nicorandil therapy in rat model

PURPOSE: To use magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in quantification of the short- and long-term effects of therapy with orally administered nicorandil on left ventricular (LV) geometry and function independent of infarction size. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six rats were subjected to reperfused infarction and randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 rats (n = 21) were treated with nicorandil (3 mg/kg/day in drinking water) for 4 days before infarction and 8 weeks after infarction (hereafter, the nicorandil group). Group 2 rats (n = 25) received tap water for the same period and served as the control group. Mesoporphyrin- (as a necrosis-specific agent) enhanced MR imaging was used to define necrotic myocardium on day 2 after infarction in all 46 animals. Contrast material-enhanced MR images showed large but identical infarction size in 11 control and 11 nicorandil rats. Only these 22 rats underwent repeat MR imaging at 8 weeks after infarction. The following variables were measured: LV volumes, ejection fraction, mass, wall thickness, and infarction size. Student t test and analysis of variance for repeated measurements were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The size of the necrotic region on mesoporphyrin-enhanced MR images was 39% +/- 3 of the size of the left ventricle in the control group and 41% +/- 2 in the nicorandil group (difference not significant, unpaired Student t test). Pretreatment with nicorandil for 6 days before imaging did not reduce LV dilation or improve function compared with those in control animals with identical infarction size. Eight weeks after infarction, control animals showed deterioration in LV function, wall thinning, and gradient in regional dysfunction (analysis of variance test). Nicorandil produced significant salutary effects on LV ejection fraction (37% +/- 3 in the nicorandil group vs 24% +/- 3 in the control group), end-diastolic volume (0.53 mL +/- 0.03 vs 0.65 mL +/- 0.04), end-systolic volume (0.36 mL +/- 0.03 vs 0.49 mL +/- 0.05), LV wall thickening in remote noninfarcted myocardium (28% +/- 2 vs 19% +/- 1), and a rim of infarction (16% +/- 2 vs 8% +/- 1) (P <.05 for all parameters). The increase in LV mass was reduced in the nicorandil group (0.73 g +/- 0.03) compared with that in the control group (0.89 g +/- 0.04) (P <.05). CONCLUSION: In animals studied longitudinally, MR imaging demonstrated the deleterious changes in LV geometry and function in the period after infarction and the salutary effects of medical therapy.     

Bilateral Wallerian degeneration of the medial cerebellar peduncles after ponto-mesencephalic infarction

Three patients with acute large paramedian ponto-mesencephalic infarctions developed a bilateral retrograde degeneration of the medial cerebellar peduncles within 4 months after the insult. In an initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within the first 2 weeks, the medial cerebellar peduncles showed normal intensities, but a control MRI after 4 months showed bright hyperintensities in the T2-TSE weighted images, and moderately increased signal intensities in echo planar imaging-diffusion weighted imaging were seen, possibly representing bilateral Wallerian degeneration of the cerebellar-pontine fibers.     

脑梗死后出血性转变的CT、MRI比较

目的 探讨CT、MRI对脑梗死后出血性转变(HT)的诊断价值,并对其特征性表现进行比较.方法 回顾性分析60例HT患者的CT、MRI表现,依据欧洲急性中风合作研究(ECASS)分型进行CT分型,参照该分型,根据MRI显示的脑梗死病变内出血灶的异常信号范围进行MRI分型,并进行HT的CT、MRI比较.结果 MRI检出HT例数明显多于CT,尤其是对出血性脑梗死(HI)的检出,MRI发现了HI 52例(86.7%)而CT仅7例(11.7%),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.005).对脑实质出血(PH)的显示,二者检出率比较无明显差别.MRI可以检出CT不易发现的微小岀血及亚急性期、慢性期岀血及幕下出血.CT显示的HT的数目、大小、范围较MRI小.同一病例MRI与CT显示的HT形态可能不同.结论 MRI诊断HT较CT更敏感,2种分型方法得出的结论不同.MRI分型对判断出血分期、指导临床治疗和判断预后有重要意义.     

MR imaging of acute cerebral infarction: experimental study with Gd-DTPA

To evaluate the sensitivity of MR imaging for acute cerebral infarction and the effectiveness of MR enhancement with Gd-DTPA, we created a canine model of cerebral infarction by transarterial embolization (TAE). The external and internal carotid arteries were embolized respectively through a transfemoral catheter. MR imaging was performed with the Yokogawa Medical System prototype superconducting MR machine "Resona" operating at 0.35 Tesla. MR enhancement was done with 0.4 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA. Early detectability without Gd-DTPA was 60% (3/5) two hours after TAE and 67% (4/6) at three hours. MR imaging showed high-intensity lesions on the T2-weighted sequence (SE 2000/100). The T1-weighted sequence (SR 250-600/25-35) did not reveal any lesions four hours after TAE. Five animals which received Gd-DTPA showed abnormal enhancement in the brain parenchyma within 30 min after Gd injection on the T1 weighted sequence. Gd-DTPA enhancement not only improved early sensitivity for acute cerebral infarction when MR imaging without Gd-DTPA was negative, but also enhanced the size and number of lesions compared with SE 2000/100 images without enhancement. The breakdown of the blood-brain barrier was suggested to be an important factor in Gd-DTPA enhancement.     

Early-phase myocardial infarction: evaluation by MR imaging

In vivo gated magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed in 12 dogs immediately after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and serially up to 5 hours and again between 4 and 14 days. This was done to evaluate the appearance of acute myocardial infarcts and to determine how soon after coronary artery occlusion MR imaging can demonstrate the site of acute myocardial ischemia. In nine dogs with postmortem evidence of myocardial infarction, regional increase of signal intensity of the myocardium was present by 3 hours after coronary artery occlusion and conformed to the site of myocardial infarct found at autopsy. The signal intensity on T2-weighted images of the infarcted myocardium was significantly greater than that of normal myocardium at 3, 4, and 5 hours after occlusion. The T2 (spin-spin) relaxation time was significantly prolonged in the region of myocardial infarct at 3, 4, and 5 hours postocclusion compared with normal myocardium. Myocardial wall thinning and increased intracavitary flow signal were found in six dogs with comparable pre- and postocclusion images in late systole.     

静脉性脑梗死MR影像特点

目的回顾总结静脉性脑梗死MRI及MRV影像表现,旨在提高影像诊断水平。方法对15例静脉性脑梗死的MR表现进行了回顾性分析,其中9例临床治疗后复查MR表现明显好转,临床症状明显改善。15例均行常规MRI平扫,其中9例同时进行MR增强及3DCE-MRV,6例行2DTOF MRV。结果 15例脑内多发病灶9例,单发病灶6例,其中2例脑梗死伴出血改变。15例中发生于额叶4例,顶叶6例,颞叶3例,枕叶1例,小脑1例。静脉栓塞部位11例为上矢状窦,1例直窦及左横窦,1例右侧横窦及乙状窦,2例皮层大脑浅静脉。9例行增强扫描,5例病灶内不规则强化,2例脑膜强化,3例无强化.7例MRV均显示栓塞的静脉血流信号丢失或缺损,3例出现异常静脉侧支或引流静脉异常扩张。结论静脉性脑梗死MR影像表现具有特征性,MRI结合MRV可以作为首选的无创检查方法,对静脉栓塞早期诊断和治疗有重要作用。     

Wallerian degeneration and inflammation in rat peripheral nerve detected by in vivo MR imaging

To investigate the role of MR imaging in wallerian degeneration, a series of animal models of increasingly complex peripheral nerve injury were studied by in vivo MR. Proximal tibial nerves in brown Norway rats were either crushed, transected (neurotomy), or transected and grafted with Lewis rat (allograft) or brown Norway (isograft) donor nerves. The nerves distal to the site of injury were imaged at intervals of 0-54 days after surgery. Subsequent histologic analysis was obtained and correlated with MR findings. Crush injury, neurotomy, and nerve grafting all resulted in high signal intensity along the course of the nerve observed on long TR/TE sequences, corresponding to edema and myelin breakdown from wallerian degeneration. The abnormal signal intensity resolved by 30 days after crush injury and by 45-54 days after neurotomy, when the active changes of wallerian degeneration had subsided. These changes were not seen in sham-operated rats. Our findings suggest that MR is capable of identifying traumatic neuropathy in a peripheral nerve undergoing active wallerian degeneration. The severity of injury may be reflected by the corresponding duration of signal abnormality. With the present methods, MR did not distinguish inflammatory from simple posttraumatic neuropathy.     

MR扩散加权成像诊断脑梗死的Meta分析

目的 评价MR扩散加权成像(DWI)诊断脑梗死的临床价值及纳入研究质量.方法 检索美国医学索引(Medline)、Ovid、Springer、Elsevier、Lippincott Williams & Wilkins(LWW)数据库及中国期刊网国内文献库(CNKI)1997年1月至2007年1月公开发表的中英文文献,按照Cochrane协作网推荐的诊断试验的纳入标准筛选文献;采用Meta分析软件对纳入文献汇总分析,获得汇总敏感度和特异度及其95%可信区间,并绘制汇总受试者工作特征(SROC)曲线、森林图和倒漏斗图.结果 按照纳入标准,共获取研究DWI诊断超急性期(发病时间≤6 h)脑梗死的文献12篇,DWI诊断超急性期脑梗死的汇总敏感度、特异度、诊断比数比及其95%可信区间分别为92%、87%和180.37,SROC曲线下面积(Az)为0.9717.敏感度分析显示去除低年资医师组诊断影响后,高年资组评价研究间异质性差异无统计学意义(Q=4.34,P>0.05),提示DWI诊断超急性期脑梗死的价值受到低年资医师判断组影响.倒漏斗图不对称提示存在发表偏倚,发表偏倚系数(Z)=10.0824.按照纳入标准,共获取研究DWI诊断超急性期和急性期(发病时间≤24 h)脑梗死文献共15篇,去除低年资医师组的诊断影响后,DWI诊断急性期脑梗死的汇总敏感度、特异度、诊断比数比及其95%可信区间分别为92%、91%和623.62,Az为0.9659.敏感度分析显示组间异质性差异无统计学意义(Q=2.70,P>0.05),提示研究人群无明显异质性.倒漏斗图不对称提示存在发表偏倚,但较超急性组减低(Z=12.6194).结论 通过Meta分析和存在的偏倚分析提示,尽管可以认为DWI作为一种无创性检查方法诊断急性和超急性脑梗死具有较高的敏感度、特异度和准确度,但是纳入文献存在偏倚.     

Acute cerebral ischemia: evaluation with dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging and MR angiography.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography (MRA) were used to evaluate cerebral blood volume and the intracranial arterial system in 34 patients within 48 hours after the onset of cerebral ischemia. In 24 of the patients, an abnormality identified on T2-weighted images corresponded to the acute clinical deficit. Intracranial MRA demonstrated occlusions or severe stenoses of major vessels supplying the area of infarction in 16 of these patients, and decreased blood volume correlated well with MRA abnormalities. Infarcts less than 2 cm in diameter were not reliably shown with MRA or blood volume studies. Correlation between lesions seen with MRA and decreased blood volume in acute infarcts was good, and both techniques demonstrated lesions early in the clinical course. By providing information about hemodynamics not available with conventional T1- or T2-weighted images, MRA and dynamic MR imaging could prove helpful in describing the pathophysiologic characteristics of stroke and in guiding early therapeutic intervention.