Brain abscess and necrotic brain tumor: discrimination with proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Discriminating pyogenic brain abscesses from cystic or necrotic tumors is sometimes difficult with CT or MR imaging. We compared findings of proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) with those of diffusion-weighted imaging to determine which technique was more effective for this differential diagnosis. METHODS: Fourteen patients (necrotic or cystic tumor [n = 7]; pyogenic abscess [n = 7]) who underwent 1.5-T (1)H-MRS and diffusion-weighted imaging and had findings of ring-shaped enhancement after contrast agent administration were enrolled in this study. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed with a single-shot spin-echo echo-planar pulse sequence (b = 1000 s/mm(2)). The apparent diffusion coefficient and ratio were also measured. RESULTS: Spectra for two patients were unacceptable because of either poor shimming conditions or contamination from neighboring fat. Spectra in three of five patients with abscess had lactate, amino acids (including valine, alanine, and leucine), and acetate peaks; one of the three spectra had an additional peak of succinate. In one patient with abscess treated by antibiotics, only lactate and lipid peaks were detected. Spectra for four of seven patients with cystic or necrotic tumors showed only lactate peaks. Lactate and lipids were found in three patients with tumors. Hyperintensity was seen in all the pyogenic abscess cavities and hypointensity in all the cystic and necrotic tumors on diffusion-weighted images. CONCLUSION: (1)H-MRS and diffusion-weighted imaging are useful for differentiating brain abscess from brain tumor, but the latter requires less time and is more accurate than is (1)H-MRS. (1)H-MRS is probably more limited in cases of smaller peripheral lesions, skull base lesions, and treated abscesses.     

Hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy in full-term neonate: correlation proton MR spectroscopy with MR imaging

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1HMRS) in the diagnosis of hypoxia-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) of full-term neonates correlated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight cases of full-term neonates diagnosed as HIE clinically were selected to perform MRI and 1HMRS examination. The ages ranged from 7 to 17 days, with median age of 8.2 days. In which, 26 cases were followed up and/or MRI reexamined at 6 months of age or later. Eight healthy neonates, with no evidence of birth asphyxia, also underwent 1HMRS for comparison. SE sequences were used for routine MR examination; point resolved spectroscopy sequence was required for 1HMRS. The metabolites in the spectra includes: N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline compounds (CHO), creatine compounds (CR), myo-inositol (MI), lactate (LAC), glutamate and glutamine (Glu-Gln). RESULTS: The peaks of NAA were fall in two cases; the peaks of LAC, which were elevated, appeared as typical double-peaks appearance in 26 cases; the peaks of Glu-Gln, which were also elevated, appeared as zigzag appearance in nine cases. The peaks of CR were decreased in 11 cases, while those of MI were increased in seven cases. Mild type of lesions was present on MRI in 12 cases whose LAC/CR ratio lower than 0.5; mild and moderate types of lesions were present in 15 cases whose LAC/CR ratio between 0.5 and 1.5. Whereas, nine cases of severe lesions and two cases of moderate lesions were present on MRI in 11 cases whose LAC/CR ratio greater than 1.5. Twenty-six of 38 cases were followed up and/or MRI reexamined after 6 months, in which, sequelae were present in 12 cases. Among them, eight cases of sequelae in nine cases whose LAC/CR ratio greater than 1.5 were present (account for 88.89%). CONCLUSION: 1HMRS plays an important role to diagnose and predict outcome of HIE.     

Serial diffusion-weighted MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy of acute large demyelinating brain lesions: case report

We present the serial MR studies of two patients with symptomatic acute large demyelinating lesions that initially showed a drop in apparent diffusion coefficient values. Baseline proton MR spectroscopy showed a slight decrease in N-acetylaspartate and a normal choline level. An excess of lactate was observed at the first examinations and completely disappeared by the final examinations. The time-course evolution of the lesions shown by MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopic examinations suggests that the initial drop in apparent coefficient diffusion may have been related to dense inflammatory cell infiltration and scant tissue destruction or to reversible reduced vascular supply due to the severity of the inflammatory process.     

MR imaging and in vivo proton spectroscopy of the brain in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

INTRODUCTION: A number of studies have suggested the potential utility of in vivo proton MR spectroscopy for the evaluation of brain injury in the asphyxiated neonates. We present our initial experience with in vivo proton MR spectroscopy in neonates who were diagnosed as having hypoxic injury on clinical examination and the severity of the insult was graded using Sarnat staging. METHODS AND MATERIAL: MR imaging and in vivo proton MR spectroscopy was performed in 16 neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) to correlate the imaging and metabolite abnormality with clinical severity of the condition at the time of insult and with outcome at 2 months of age. The ratios of different metabolites were calculated as observed on MR spectroscopy from an 8 ml voxel that included thalami, basal ganglia and part of the ventricular system using spin echo technique with an echo time of 135 ms. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results of the spectroscopy were compared with imaging abnormalities and Sarnat's clinical staging of HIE. MR Imaging abnormalities included basal ganglia, thalamic and periventricular hemorrhage and periventricular hyperintensities and were noticed in 8/16 neonates with different stages of HIE. Maximum imaging abnormalities were noted in stage II (6/9) followed by stage III (1/2) and stage I (1/5), respectively. The alpha-Glx resonance at 3.76 ppm was seen in 14/16, Glycine at 3.56 ppm (Gly) was seen in 10/16 and Lactate (L) at 1.33 ppm was observed in 4/16 neonates with HIE. CONCLUSION: MR spectroscopy was more sensitive than imaging in detecting the insult due to HIE and increased concentration of alpha-Glx/Cr and Gly/Cr correlated better with severity of the HIE. The demonstration of L was associated with poor outcome.     

H proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging in discrimination between pyogenic brain abscesses and necrotic brain tumors

Background

Differentiation between cerebral abscesses and necrotic brain tumors showing ring enhancement can be confusing at times by conventional MRI. The introduction of advanced imaging techniques, such as MR spectroscopy and diffusion WI, have contributed to the differentiation.The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that MR spectroscopy and diffusion weighted can be used to differentiate between necrotizing or cystic brain tumor and brain abscesses.

Methods

The study was conducted on 45 patients (necrotic or cystic tumor (30 cases); brain abscess (15 cases) showing ring-shaped contrast enhancement on conventional MRI. 1.5-T ¹H-MR Spectroscopy and diffusion WI were performed and the results were ensured by stereotactic biopsy or aspiration procedures in surgically indicated cases and/or follow up.

Results

14 patients (out of 15) with pyogenic abscess had lactate, amino acids, and acetate peaks; Succinate peak is seen as extra peak in three of these patients, and lipid peaks are also seen as extra peaks in 3 patients. One patient with brain stem abscess after 20 days treatment by antibiotics shows only lactate and lipid peaks. 2 of them show mild increase in choline with decrease in NAA (brain tissue contamination).17 out of 30 patients with cystic or necrotic tumor showed only lactate peak in MRS. While 13 patients show lactate and lipid peaks, four of them show additional high choline peak with low NAA and creatine peak (contamination with brain tissue).The results were confirmed by Sterotactic biopsy in 27 cases and aspiration in 13 cases and follow up for all cases.The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and overall accuracy of diffusion and MRS were 88%, 100%, 100%, 93.3% and 95.5% respectively.

Conclusion

¹H-MRS and diffusion WI are fast, easy to perform, noninvasive, and provide additional information that can accurately differentiate between necrotic/cystic tumors and cerebral abscesses.     

轻微肝性脑病的氢质子MR波谱研究

目的 应用氢质子MR波谱(~1H-MRS)检测肝硬化患者脑内代谢物改变,评价其异常变化是否能鉴别轻微肝性脑病(MHE),并与临床神经心理测试进行相关性分析.方法 选取54例肝硬化患者(肝硬化组)和13名健康志愿者(正常对照组)完成神经心理测试,包括数字连接试验A(NCT-A)和数码-符号试验(DST),54例肝硬化患者中包括肝性脑病(HE)9例(HE组)、MHE 23例(MHE组)、无HE和MHE者22例(无HE组).所有患者和志愿者均进行常规头颅MR扫描以及枕叶皮质、左侧顶叶白质的~1H-MRS扫描,分别计算各代谢物包括N-乙酰天冬氨酸(NAA)、胆碱化合物(Cho)、肌醇(mI)和谷氨酰胺复合物(Glx)与肌酸(Cr)的比值.正常对照组与肝硬化组的代谢物比值比较采用独立样本t检验,正常对照组和肝硬化各分组间代谢物比值的比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用非参数Mann-Whitney U检验,并用Bonferroni法进行校正.~1H-MRS代谢物比值与HE分级、神经心理测试结果、静脉血氨的相关性分析采用Spearman等级相关分析.结果 肝硬化组枕叶皮质和左顶叶白质的代谢物比值NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr/、mI/Cr、Glx/Cr值分别为1.55±0.12、0.48±0.10、0.42±0.14、2.52±0.48和1.73±0.17、0.75±0.16、0.42±0.16、2.75±0.59,其中无HE组为1.53±0.10、0.48±0.09、0.51±0.11、2.20±0.39和1.69±0.15、0.82±0.14、0.53±0.12、2.40±0.40,MHE组为1.58±0.13、0.48±0.08、0.38±0.13、2.62±0.39和1.78±0.18、0.74±0.14、0.38±0.15、2.84±0.58,HE组分别为1.54±0.12、0.50±0.13、0.29±0.07、3.04±0.31和1.70±0.19、0.62±0.16、0.29±0.07、3.37±0.38.正常对照组相应部位代谢物比值分别为1.61±0.06、0.60±0.10、0.63±0.04、2.05±0.11和1.78±0.07、1.01±0.14、0.70±0.07、1.93±0.34.与正常对照组比较,肝硬化组及肝硬化各分组的Cho/Cr、mI/Cr值均降低,Glx/Cr值均升高,差异均有统计学意义(肝硬化组与对照组比较,枕叶皮质:t值分别为3.196、9.394、-6.527,肝硬化各分组与对照组比较,F值分别为5.097、25.896、20.204,P值均＜0.01.左顶叶白质:t值分别为5.592、9.717、-6.681,F值分别为16.435、28.660、21.283,P值均＜0.01＝.枕叶皮质和左顶叶白质的Glx/Cr值在无HE组、MHE组和HE组间的差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.0084＝,mI/Cr值在无HE组和MHE组间比较差异也有统计学意义(P＜0.0084＝.Cho/Cr、mI/Cr值与肝硬化患者HE的严重程度成负相关(枕叶皮质Cho/Cr和mI/Cr的r值分别为-0.316和-0.740,P值均＜0.01;左顶叶白质Cho/Cr和mI/Cr的r值分别为-0.620和-0.749,P值均＜0.01＝,Glx/Cr值与其呈正相关(枕叶皮质和左顶叶白质的r值分别为0.709、0.720,P值均＜0.01＝.正常对照组NCT-A值为(49±8)s,DST值为39 ±6,肝硬化组HE、MHE、无HE组患者NCT-A值分别为(134±37)、(83±26)、(64 ±22)s,DST值分别为15±2、25±9、35±8.正常对照组和肝硬化组67例的代谢物比值Cho/Cr、mI/Cr、Clx/Cr的改变与神经心理测试有很好相关性(P＜0.01＝,其中Glx/Cr值与NCT-A为正相关(枕叶皮质r=0.570,左顶叶白质r=0.541),与DST值为负相关(枕叶皮质r=-0.642,左顶叶白质r=-0.632).各代谢物比值与静脉血氨值之间无相关性.结论 ~1H-MRS研究能显示肝硬化患者大脑皮质与白质区代谢物异常改变,以mI/Cr值和Glx/Cr值明显,并且与神经心理测试之间存在相关性,可以作为HE分级的参考,对MHE有提示作用.     

1H-MR spectroscopy, magnetization transfer, and diffusion-weighted imaging in alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients with cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy

PURPOSE: Mild swelling of astrocytes is proposed as a key event in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. Proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MR spectroscopy), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and magnetization transfer imaging were performed in patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis and correlated with different clinical stages of hepatic encephalopathy to assess alterations in cerebral water metabolism in different subgroups of patients with cirrhosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five patients (26 alcoholics, 19 nonalcoholics [due to hepatitis C (n = 9), hemochromatosis (n = 2), primary chronic cholangitis (n = 2), hepatitis B (n = 1), Wilson disease (n = 1), cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 4)]) and 18 controls underwent (1)H-MR spectroscopy, magnetization transfer imaging, and DWI of the basal ganglia and normally appearing occipital white matter (NAWM). N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myo-inositol (mIns), and glutamine/glutamate (Glx) relative to creatine (Cr), the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC), and the magnetization transfer ratios (MTR) were correlated to the neuropsychologic status, which was assessed by computerized psychometry and mental state grading, according to the West Haven criteria. RESULTS: Compared with controls, nonalcoholic subjects exhibited a gradual increase of Glx/Cr in the basal ganglia and NAWM; a decrease in mIns/Cr; a significant decrease of MTR in the thalamus, the putamen, the pallidum, and NAWM; and an increase in the ADC of the NAWM with increasing hepatic encephalopathy severity. In alcoholics, mIns/Cr of the basal ganglia and the NAWM, Cho/Cr of the basal ganglia, and MTR of all assessed regions were decreased. Glx/Cr of the basal ganglia and of the NAWM was increased, compared with that of controls; but no correlation to the clinical hepatic encephalopathy grading was found. ADC did not change significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from a typical pattern of (1)H-MR spectroscopy alterations in hepatic encephalopathy, a gradual decrease in MTR and an increase of ADC was found correlating to clinical grading of hepatic encephalopathy in nonalcoholic patients with cirrhosis. In alcoholic patients with hepatic encephalopathy, there was no such correlation. Abnormalities detected by MR imaging may hint at different pathways of brain damage in alcohol-induced liver disease.     

肝硬化轻微型肝性脑病病人大脑功能连接的改变:功能性MR成像研究

目的应用功能性MRI探讨轻微型肝性脑病病人的全脑功能连接改变。材料与方法本研究得到单位伦理委员会批准,符合HIPAA原则。所有病人都签署了知情同意书。采用A型数字连接试验和数字符号测试在内的神经心理测试确定轻微型肝性脑病的诊断。选取23例轻微型肝性脑病病人和25名年龄、性别相匹配的健康志愿者纳入此次试验。采用3.0TMR设备进行静息态功能成像。在轻微型肝性脑病病人和正常对照组中,比较90对皮质和皮质下区的功能连接情况,存在显著差异的功能连接作为兴趣连接(COI)。并且将兴趣连接的相关系数与神经心理测试结果进行相关性分析。结果轻微型肝性脑病病人与正常对照组在51个区域(COI)存在统计学差异,其中44个功能连接在肝性脑病时表现为减弱。所有的22个皮质下COI区(双侧壳核、苍白球、丘脑)均表现出功能连接减弱。在29个皮质COI区中,轻微型肝性脑病时22个表现为连接减弱,其余7个表现为连接增强。几乎所有存在差异的兴趣连接均与数字符号测试得分之间存在相关性(P<0.05,错误发现率校正)。轻微型肝性脑病病人的血氨水平、Child-Pugh评分和兴趣连接之间未发现相关性(P>0.05,错误发现率校正)。结论研究发现轻微型肝性脑病病人存在着与神经心理损害相关的广泛的皮质和皮质下功能连接改变。轻微型肝性脑病病人的基底节-丘脑皮质通路障碍可能存在神经认知损害,特别是在精神运动加速和注意力缺陷中扮演着重要角色。     

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: detection with diffusion-weighted MR imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although diffusion-weighted imaging has been shown to be highly sensitive in detecting acute cerebral infarction in adults, its use in detecting neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) has not been fully assessed. We examined the ability of this technique to detect cerebral changes of acute neonatal HIE in different brain locations. METHODS: Fifteen MR examinations were performed in 14 neonates with HIE (median age, 6.5 days; range, 2-11 days). Imaging comprised conventional T1-weighted, proton density-weighted, and T2-weighted sequences and echo-planar diffusion-weighted sequences. The location, extent, and image timing of ischemic damage on conventional and diffusion-weighted sequences and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were compared. RESULTS: Although conventional sequences showed cerebral changes consistent with ischemia on all examinations, diffusion-weighted imaging showed signal hyperintensity associated with decreased ADC values in only seven subjects (47%). All subjects with isolated cortical infarction on conventional sequences had corresponding hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted images and decreased ADC values, as compared with 14% of subjects with deep gray matter/perirolandic cortical damage. The timing of imaging did not significantly alter diffusion-weighted imaging findings. CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted imaging, performed with the technical parameters in this study, may have a lower correlation with clinical evidence of HIE than does conventional MR imaging. The sensitivity of diffusion-weighted imaging in detecting neonatal HIE appears to be affected by the pattern of ischemic damage, with a lower sensitivity if the deep gray matter is affected as compared with isolated cerebral cortex involvement.     

Localized proton MR spectroscopy of the brain in children

Small-voxel (3.0–8.0 cm³), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging–guided proton MR spectroscopy was performed in 54 patients (aged 6 days to 19 years) with intracranial masses (n = 16), neurodegenerative disorders (n = 34), and other neurologic diseases (n = 4) and in 23 age-matched control subjects without brain disease. A combined short TE (18 msec) stimulatedecho acquisition mode (STEAM) and long TE (135 and/or 270 msec) spin-echo point-resolved spatially localized spectroscopy (PRESS) protocol, using designed radio-frequency pulses, was performed at 1.5 T. STEAM spectra revealed short T2 and/or strongly coupled metabolites; prominent resonances were obtained from N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), and total creatine (tCr). Lactate was well resolved with the long TE PRESS sequence. Intracranial tumors were readily differentiated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collections. All tumors showed low NAA, high Cho, and reduced tCr levels. Neurodegenerative disorders showed low or absent NAA levels and enhanced mobile lipid, glutamate and glutamine, and inositol levels, consistent with neuronal loss, gliosis, demyelination, and amino acid neuro-toxicity. Preliminary experience indicates that proton MR spectroscopy can contribute in the evaluation of central nervous system abnormalities of infants and children.     

Diagnostic value of proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted MR imaging in childhood inherited neurometabolic brain diseases and review of the literature

The purpose of this study is to evaluate parenchymal diffusion properties and metabolite ratios in affected brain tissues of inherited neurometabolic brain diseases with an overview of the current literature about the diagnostic data of both techniques in childhood inherited metabolic brain diseases. The study group was consisting, 19 patients (15 males, 4 females; mean age, 54 months (4.5 years); age range, 1-171 months (14.25 years)) diagnosed with inherited neurometabolic brain disease. Single- and multivoxel proton MRS was carried out and NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr, Glx/Cr ratios were calculated. Presence of lactate peak and abnormal different peaks were noted. ADC values were calculated from brain lesions. Results are compared with age and sex matched normal subjects. Elevated NAA/Cr ratio (Canavan disease), galactitol peak (galactosemia) at 3.7 ppm, branched chain amino acids (Maple syrup urine disease—MSUD) at 0.9 ppm were seen on different diseases. In Leigh disease and MSUD restricted diffusion was detected. Different diffusion properties were seen only in one Glutaric aciduria lesions. NAA/Cr ratios and calculated ADC values were significantly different from normal subjects (p < 0.05). DWI combined with MRS are complementary methods to routine cranial MRI for evaluating neurometabolic diseases which can give detailed information about neurochemistry of affected brain areas.     

MR imaging and (1)H spectroscopy of brain metabolites in hepatic encephalopathy: time-course of renormalization after liver transplantation

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in hydrogen 1 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic findings in overt or subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (HE) after liver transplantation and to compare these changes with clinical outcomes and basal ganglia high signal intensity (BGH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients scheduled for liver transplantation and 17 healthy control subjects were examined with (1)H MR spectroscopy and standard nonenhanced MR imaging. Eight patients underwent complete MR imaging and (1)H spectroscopic examinations before liver transplantation and at 3-4-week, 12-28-week, and 10-12-month follow-up after liver transplantation. RESULTS: Before liver transplantation, typical (1)H spectroscopic changes-decreased myo-inositol (mI)/creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho)/Cr ratios and an elevated glutamine and glutamate (Glx)/Cr ratio-were found in 21 patients. Eighteen patients had BGH at T1-weighted imaging. Three to 7 months after liver transplantation, the mI/Cr and Glx/Cr ratios were within the normal range in five of eight and eight of eight patients, respectively, without any residual signs of subclinical or overt HE; however, at MR imaging, seven patients still had BGH. CONCLUSION: After successful liver transplantation, renormalization of HE-specific brain metabolite changes is detected at (1)H spectroscopy and precedes the disappearance of BGH. The neuropsychologic signs of subclinical or overt HE follow the changes seen at (1)H spectroscopy rather than those seen at MR imaging.     

MR imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging in acute and chronic Wernicke encephalopathy

Wernicke encephalopathy is a neurologic disorder that results from thiamine deficiency. It is associated with a classic triad of symptoms consisting of ataxia, ocular motor cranial neuropathies, and changes in consciousness. We report 3 cases of Wernicke encephalopathy in which MR imaging, including diffusion-weighted imaging, was performed at the onset and during follow-up. MR imaging findings were correlated with the clinical status of both the acute and chronic stage of Wernicke encephalopathy.     

Prognostic value of brain proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion tensor imaging in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated by brain cooling

Introduction

MRI, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) have been shown to be of great prognostic value in term newborns with moderate–severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Currently, no data are available on ¹H-MRS and DTI performed in the subacute phase after hypothermic treatment. The aim of the present study was to assess their prognostic value in newborns affected by moderate–severe HIE and treated with selective brain cooling (BC).

Methods

Twenty infants treated with BC underwent conventional MRI and ¹H-MRS at a mean (SD) age of 8.3 (2.8) days; 15 also underwent DTI. Peak area ratios of metabolites and DTI variables, namely mean diffusivity (MD), axial and radial diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (FA), were calculated. Clinical outcome was monitored until 2 years of age.

Results

Adverse outcome was observed in 6/20 newborns. Both ¹H-MRS and DTI variables showed higher prognostic accuracy than conventional MRI. N-acetylaspartate/creatine at a basal ganglia localisation showed 100 % PPV and 93 % NPV for outcome. MD showed significantly decreased values in many regions of white and gray matter, axial diffusivity showed the best predictive value (PPV and NPV) in the genu of corpus callosum (100 and 91 %, respectively), and radial diffusivity was significantly decreased in fronto white matter (FWM) and fronto parietal (FP) WM. The decrement of FA showed the best AUC (0.94) in the FPWM.

Conclusion

Selective BC in HIE neonates does not affect the early and accurate prognostic value of ¹H-MRS and DTI, which outperform conventional MRI.     

脑白质疏松症的MR扩散加权成像及波谱研究

目的通过MR扩散加权成像(DWI)及MR波谱(MRS)分析脑白质疏松症(LA)的表观扩散值(ADC)和不同代谢产物比值的变化,探讨LA中脑白质缺血过程中出现的病理、生化改变与MR功能成像改变之间的关系。方法30例经常规MRI检查诊断为LA患者,及30例年龄相匹配的正常脑白质表现的患者作为对照组,进行DWI检查,分析病变不同区域ADC值的变化,同时对LA患者进行MRS分析N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)/肌酸(Cr)、胆碱复合物(Cho)/肌酸(Cr)比值的变化,比较不同位置和不同程度病变在ADC值和代谢变化中的差异。结果LA患者病灶区(双侧侧脑室枕角、体部旁脑白质)ADC值升高与对照组差异有显著的统计学意义(P<0.01),相应病灶区的NAA/Cr均值明显降低,Cho/Cr均值升高,与正常白质比较差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.01),而枕角的NAA/Cr均值低于体部,差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论磁共振功能成像能够反映脑白质疏松症发展中的微观结构变化和局部代谢的异常。     

MR imaging of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy: lesion distribution and diffusion-weighted imaging findings

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR imaging features of metronidazole-induced encephalopathy (MIE) have not been fully established. This study was undertaken to determine the topographic distributions and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings of MIE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the initial MR images (n = 7), including DWI (n = 5), and follow-up MR images (n = 4) after drug discontinuation in 7 patents with clinically diagnosed MIE. The topographic distributions of lesions were evaluated on MR images, and DWI signal intensities and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the lesions were assessed. RESULTS: MR images demonstrated bilateral symmetric T2 hyperintense lesions in the cerebellar dentate nucleus (n = 7), midbrain (n = 7), dorsal pons (n = 6), medulla (n = 4), corpus callosum (n = 4), and cerebral white matter (n = 1). Brain stem lesions involved the following: tectum (n = 5), tegmentum (n = 4), red nucleus (n = 3) of the midbrain, vestibular nucleus (n = 6), and a focal tegmental lesion involving the superior olivary nucleus (n = 6) and abducens nucleus (n = 4) of the pons and vestibular nucleus (n = 4) and inferior olivary nucleus (n = 1) of the medulla. DWI (n = 5) showed isointensity or hyperintensity of lesions, and the decreased ADC value was found only in the corpus callosum lesions (n = 2). All detected lesions were completely reversible at follow-up except for the single corpus callosum lesion with an initial low ADC value. CONCLUSION: Brain lesions were typically located at the cerebellar dentate nucleus, midbrain, dorsal pons, medulla, and splenium of the corpus callosum. According to DWI, most of the lesions in MIE probably corresponded to areas of vasogenic edema, whereas only some of them, located in the corpus callosum, corresponded to cytotoxic edema.     

MR imaging and proton spectroscopy of the brain in posttraumatic cortical blindness

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and localized proton MR spectroscopy of the occipital lobes were performed in a patient with cortical blindness following brain trauma. Computed tomography (CT) scans and MR images of the visual cortex were normal in the acute stage. Six weeks after the trauma, MR images showed cortical lesions in both occipital lobes, while the spectra showed elevated lactate and decreased N-acetyl aspartate levels relative to those of healthy volunteers. One year later, visual acuity had improved and follow-up studies revealed an increase in the ratios of N-acetyl aspartate to choline and creatine. These results demonstrate that parenchymal lesions may develop in brain regions that appear normal at CT and MR imaging during the acute stage after trauma. Metabolic changes can be observed in these areas by means of localized proton MR spectroscopy.     

Metabolic and destructive brain disorders in children: findings with localized proton MR spectroscopy

The diagnostic potential of volume-selective proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in vivo was evaluated in 20 children and young adults with various neurodegenerative brain disorders. All patients were examined with MR spectroscopy in conjunction with MR imaging of the brain on a whole-body imager at 1.5 T. Comparison of spectra in our patients with those of children with normal myelination (prominent signals from N-acetylaspartate [NAA], creatine/phosphocreatine, and choline) revealed a marked decrease of NAA in 12 of 17 patients with focal or generalized demyelination. In patients with Canavan disease, NAA signal intensity was markedly increased, but no choline signal was found. Increased signal intensity from lactate occurred in patients with Leigh disease, neuroaxonal dystrophy, Schilder disease, and Cockayne disease, which indicated a disturbed energy metabolism in the examined region. These results demonstrate that proton MR spectroscopy can be applied in a clinical environment to facilitate diagnosis of hereditary and acquired brain disorders in children.     

MR imaging findings in hepatic encephalopathy

The term hepatic encephalopathy (HE) includes a spectrum of neuropsychiatric abnormalities occurring in patients with liver dysfunction. Most cases are associated with cirrhosis and portal hypertension or portal-systemic shunts, but the condition can also be seen in patients with acute liver failure and, rarely, with portal-systemic bypass and no associated intrinsic hepatocellular disease. Although HE is a clinical condition, several neuroimaging techniques, particularly MR imaging, may eventually be useful for the diagnosis because they can identify and measure the consequences of central nervous system (CNS) increase in substances that under normal circumstances, are efficiently metabolized by the liver. Classic MR imaging abnormalities include high signal intensity in the globus pallidum on T1-weighted images, likely a reflection of increased tissue concentrations of manganese, and an elevated glutamine/glutamate peak coupled with decreased myo-inositol and choline signals on proton MR spectroscopy, representing disturbances in cell-volume homeostasis secondary to brain hyperammonemia. Recent data have shown that white matter abnormalities, also related to increased CNS ammonia concentration, can also be detected with several MR imaging techniques such as magnetization transfer ratio measurements, fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences, and diffusion-weighted images. All these MR imaging abnormalities, which return to normal with restoration of liver function, probably reflect the presence of mild diffuse brain edema, which seems to play an essential role in the pathogenesis of HE. It is likely that MR imaging will be increasingly used to evaluate the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HE and to assess the effects of therapeutic measures focused on correcting brain edema in these patients.