RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Quantitative Proton MR Spectroscopic Imaging in Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 1125
OP 1130
VO 22
IS 6
A1 Bizzi, Alberto
A1 Uluğ, Aziz M.
A1 Crawford, Thomas O.
A1 Passe, Ted
A1 Bugiani, Marianna
A1 Bryan, R. Nick
A1 Barker, Peter B.
YR 2001
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/22/6/1125.abstract
AB Summary: Serial MR imaging and quantitative proton MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) findings of a 4-year-old boy with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) are reported. Over a 2-month period characterized by an initial illness and two relapses, each with full recovery, MR imaging exhibited the appearance and disappearance of multifocal lesions throughout the CNS that correlated only partly with the neurologic impairment. During one relapse, MRSI revealed low levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) within the regions of prolonged T2 signal intensity. All other metabolites were normal. At follow-up, the MR imaging and MRSI abnormalities had fully resolved. MRSI might play an important role in the diagnosis of ADEM, as well as in the elucidation of underlying pathophysiologic processes in this poorly defined disorder of children. This case demonstrates that reduced levels of NAA are not always associated with neuronal loss, irreversible tissue damage, or poor neurologic outcome.