Evaluation of brain metabolism in steno-occlusive carotid artery disease by proton MR spectroscopy: a correlative study with oxygen metabolism by PET.

Carotid occlusive diseases may cause ischemic changes in both the gray matter and the white matter as a result of hemodynamic compromise. To validate the use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in evaluating the carotid occlusive diseases, we compared changes in peaks of choline, in the sum of creatine and phosphocreatine, and in N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) of the white matter with cortical oxygen metabolism measured by PET. METHODS: Eleven patients with unilateral steno-occlusive carotid artery disease underwent PET and MRS. Ten age-matched healthy volunteers underwent MRS. No subjects had cortical infarction. MRS was performed bilaterally in the centrum semiovale. Regional blood flow, regional metabolic rate of oxygen (rCMRO2), and regional oxygen extraction fraction (rOEF) of the cerebral cortex were measured by the steady-state method with 15O gas. RESULTS: The asymmetry index of the ratio of NAA to the sum of creatine and phosphocreatine (NAA/Cr) correlated positively with the asymmetry index of rCMRO2 (r = 0.77; P < 0.01). Because rCMRO2 is a marker of tissue viability, the NAA/Cr of the centrum semiovale may reflect viable neuronal cells. The asymmetry index of the ratio of choline to the sum of creatine and phosphocreatine (Cho/Cr) showed a significant positive correlation with the asymmetry index of rOEF (r = 0.65; P < 0.05). All but 1 patient with an increased Cho/Cr (>1.03) showed an increase in rOEF of the ipsilateral cortex (>0.56). This finding may indicate membrane damage caused by ischemia, because the centrum semiovale is the deep watershed zone. CONCLUSION: The metabolic changes in the centrum semiovale detected by proton MRS reflect a hemodynamically compromised state and are useful in evaluating tissue viability.     

Chemical shift magnetic resonance spectroscopy of cingulate grey matter in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is frequently diagnosed in patients with liver cirrhosis who do not show overt clinical cirrhosis-associated neurological deficits. This condition manifests primarily with visuo-motor and attention deficits. We studied the association between visuo-motor deficits and magnetic resonance spectroscopic parameters in cingulate grey matter and white matter of centrum semiovale in patients with liver cirrhosis. The data revealed an increase in the glutamate–glutamine/creatine ratio and a decrease in choline/creatine and inositol/creatine ratios in patients with liver cirrhosis. The analysis of the data showed that cirrhosis-associated deterioration of the visuo-motor function significantly correlates with a decrease in the choline/creatine ratio and an increase in N-acetylaspartate/choline in cingulate grey matter but not in the neighbouring white matter. Furthermore, the increase in the glutamate–glutamine/creatine ratio correlated significantly with the increase in the N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratio. These data suggest an association between altered choline, glutamate-glutamine and NAA metabolism in cingulate grey matter and symptoms of MHE, and underline the importance of differentiation between grey and white matter in magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies on patients with cirrhosis-associated brain dysfunction.     

Cerebral White Matter in the Centrum Semiovale Exhibits a Larger N-acetyl Signal than Does Gray Matter in Long Echo Time 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging

Long echo time (272 ms) ¹H magnetic resonance spectro-scopic imaging was used to measure the relative magnitudes of the N-acetylaspartate (NAA) signal in a variety of anatomically defined brain structures (centrum semiovale, thalamus, medial frontal cortex, and genu of the corpus callosum) composed primarily of gray matter or white matter. Six normal young adult humans aged 30–40 were studied. With a 95% level of statistical confidence, the white matter in the centrum semiovale (CSO) produced a more intense NAA signal than did the gray matter in the thalamus and the frontal cortex. Differences between the white matter regions were also noted. The CSO white matter's NAA signal yielded a larger NAA signal than did the white matter of the genu of the corpus callosum. Possible reasons for the anatomical variation in the cerebral NAA signal intensity are discussed.     

Evaluation of metabolic changes within the normal appearing gray and white matters in neurologically asymptomatic HIV-1-positive and HCV-positive patients: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and immunologic correlation

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate early metabolic changes using proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) in asymptomatic HIV-1-positive and HCV-positive patients without abnormalities in the structural MR examination.

Methods

Sixty-five asymptomatic patients: 21 HIV-1-positive naive, 20 HIV-1-positive with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), 9 HIV-1/HCV-positive naive, 15 HCV-positive naive and 18 normal subjects were enrolled in the study. The MRS examinations were performed with a 1.5 T MR scanner. Voxels were located in the following regions: posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG), anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG), parietal white matter (PWM), left basal ganglia (BG) and frontal white matter (FWM). The NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr ratios and correlations of MRS measurements with the immunologic data were analyzed.

Results

There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) of the NAA/Cr ratios in PCG, ACG and PWM regions in HIV-1-positive cART treated patients compared to the normal subjects. The significantly decreased NAA/Cr ratios in PWM and FWM were observed in HCV infected patients. The subjects with HIV-1/HCV co-infection revealed significantly lower NAA/Cr ratios in the ACG area. Other metabolite ratios in all analyzed regions, as well as the NAA/Cr ratios in BG showed no significant differences. The decrease of CD4n T cell count was associated with the decease of the NAA/Cr ratio in the PCG area and the increase of Cho/Cr ratio in the FWM region.

Conclusions

The metabolic changes – reduction of NAA/Cr ratios are most pronounced in HIV-1-positive patients using cART. The low CD4n T cell count is a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment in HIV-1-positive patients.     

Subcortical gray matter N-acetylaspartate reduction in two cases of vascular dementia

Many of the previous studies of vascular dementia using proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy had been carried out on white matter. However, no proton spectroscopic data of the subcortical gray matter are available in such disease. We report two cases suffering from vascular dementia, with an unilateral N-acetylaspartate (NAA) decrease on subcortical gray matter. This significant reduction in NAA ratios was associated with an increase of choline on the ipsilateral centrum semiovale. We discuss the pathophysiology of these cases.     

The prognostic value of multivoxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy determined metabolite levels in white and grey matter brain tissue for adverse outcome in term newborns following perinatal asphyxia

Objective  

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy can identify brain metabolic changes in perinatal asphyxia by providing ratios of metabolites, such as choline (Cho), creatine (Cr), N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and lactate (Lact) [Cho/Cr, Lact/NAA, etc.]. The purpose of this study was to quantify the separate white and grey matter metabolites in a slab cranial to the ventricles and relate these to the outcome.     

MR动脉血质子自旋标记与波谱成像在颈内动脉系统狭窄或闭塞的应用研究

目的 探讨MR动脉血质子自旋标记(ASL)与氢质子磁共振波谱成像(1H-MRS)在颈动脉系统狭窄或闭塞的应用价值. 资料与方法 28例单侧颈内动脉(ICA)/大脑中动脉(MCA)重度狭窄或闭塞患者行ASL 和1H-MRS检查.对ASL后处理的相对脑血流量(CBF) 图进行定性和定量分析;对1H-MRS测量病变侧和对侧脑组织的氮-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、胆碱(Cho)、肌酸(Cr)的波峰下面积,比较两侧各代谢物峰下面积比值(NAA/Cho、NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr)的差异,并观察是否出现乳酸(Lac)峰. 结果 28例CBF图显示18例病变侧灌注较对侧降低,10例未见明显异常;1H-MRS显示病变侧的NAA/Cho、NAA/Cr低于对侧,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),Cho/Cr高于对侧,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),3例于病变侧检测到Lac峰. 结论 ASL 能够早期发现颈动脉系统狭窄或闭塞患者的CBF改变,1H-MRS能够显示缺血脑组织的代谢异常.     

Proton MR spectroscopic imaging in multiple sclerosis

We studied 24 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (1H-MRSI) to assess the neurochemical pathology of the white-matter lesions (WML) and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). Our 1H-MRSI technique allowed simultaneous measurement of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline-containing compounds (Cho), and creatine plus phosphocreatine (Cr) signal intensities from four 15-mm slices divided into 0.84 ml single-volume elements. In WML we found significantly lower NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho ratios and a significantly higher Cho/Cr ratio than in NAWM or control white matter. In NAWM, NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr were significantly lower than in control white matter. 1H-MRSI was compatible with damage to myelin in WML, and with axonal damage and/or dysfunction in WML and NAWM. These findings extend data on involvement of NAWM in MS beyond the abnormalities visible on MRI.     

Comparative study of cerebral white matter in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder by means of magnetic resonance spectroscopy

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental disorders whose pathophysiology is mostly unknown. As far as the symptoms are different and, in some aspects, opposed, we hypothesize that there must be biochemical differences in the brain of the afflicted children. The aim of the study is to analyze comparatively the metabolite concentration of the cerebral white matter in autism, in ADHD, and in a control group of healthy children to test the hypothesis that N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) is decreased in autism and increased in ADHD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 21 autistic children according to DSM-IV criteria, 8 children with ADHD meeting the respective criteria of DSM-IV, and 12 healthy controls of similar age. Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed on all of them with an echo time of 30 milliseconds and a repetition time of 2500 milliseconds. The voxel was placed in the left centrum semiovale. Metabolite ratios relative to creatine were reported for NAA, choline, and myoinositol. RESULTS: Although we did not observe differences between autistic children and controls, we found a mean higher concentration of NAA in the left centrum semiovale of ADHD children (2.2; SD, 0.21) than that found in autistic children (1.88; SD, 0.18) and controls (1.91; SD, 0.01), which was significant (P = .01 in parametric and in nonparametric test). CONCLUSION: We conclude that white matter of autistic children does not present alterations on MRS. We hypothesize that the higher concentration of NAA in the white matter of ADHD points to mitochondrial hypermetabolism. This may constitute a new substrate in the pathophysiology and merits further research.     

顺行性或逆行性改变:肌萎缩性侧索硬化的磁共振研究

目的 结合磁共振波谱成像(MRSI)、扩散张量成像技术(DTI)及MRI对肌萎缩性侧索硬化(ALS)进行对照研究,观察ALS皮质脊髓束(CST)走行区的代谢以及水分子运动的变化规律,探讨CST是否有顺、逆行性变化.资料与方法 采用MRI、MRSI及DTI技术对12例ALS患者和12名正常志愿者进行扫描,观察测量中央前回皮层下白质(SWM)、半卵圆中心(CS)、内囊后肢(PIC)、侧脑室体旁白质(PV)和大脑脚(CP)等5个CST不同解剖平面的氮-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)与肌酸(Cr)比值,各向异性比(FA值)以及平均扩散率(MD值),分析比较ALS 患者和正常对照组以及不同侧别FA值、MD值以及NAA/Cr值的变化.结果 ALS的FA值较正常对照组明显降低(P＜0.001),在CST走行区的SWM、CS、PV 和 PIC平面,ALS组的FA值较正常组明显降低(P＜0.05或P＜0.01), MD值在ALS组有升高的趋势,但无统计学意义.在SWM和PV平面,ALS的NAA/Cr值较正常组降低明显(P＜0.05).FA值和MD值分别在PV和CP有左高右低的变化(P＜0.05).结论 MRSI与DTI相结合能够早期定量探测ALS患者CST的改变,左侧SWM可能为最先发生改变的区域,CST的改变可能为顺行性改变,在不同的平面改变不对称.     

Development and aging of the cerebrum: assessment with proton MR spectroscopy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR spectroscopy allows the noninvasive evaluation of in vivo brain metabolites. Our purpose was to use this technique to assess metabolic alterations in the human cerebrum during growth, maturation, and aging. METHODS: Ninety normal human brains in subjects aged 4 to 88 years were examined with multivoxel proton MR spectroscopy. Spectra were obtained from specific voxels of 2.5 cm3 in the gray and white matter of the centrum semiovale. The ratios of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to choline (Cho) were calculated to describe age-dependent alterations in cerebral metabolites. RESULTS: White matter NAA/Cho ratios showed rapid growth during the first decade and reached a maximum value in the second or early third decade, followed by a steady decline starting in the latter half of the third decade. The maximum peak ages for NAA/Cho were 21.9, 17.6, and 15.9 years (mean, 18.5 years) for the anterior, middle, and posterior white matter, respectively. A significant cerebral laterality of the white matter NAA/Cho was found in male subjects during development. The growth spurt and age-related decline of the white matter NAA/Cho were steeper in male than in female subjects. In contrast, the gray matter NAA/Cho showed a gradual decline with age. CONCLUSION: Proton MR spectroscopy shows significant regional and sex differences in the level of cerebral metabolites during the process of growth, maturation, and aging. This technique may play an important role in clinical applications for various conditions of metabolic disorders of the human brain.     

Subcortical ischemic vascular dementia: assessment with quantitative MR imaging and 1H MR spectroscopy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Subcortical ischemic vascular dementia is associated with cortical hypometabolism and hypoperfusion, and this reduced cortical metabolism or blood flow can be detected with functional imaging such as positron emission tomography. The aim of this study was to characterize, by means of MR imaging and 1H MR spectroscopy, the structural and metabolic brain changes that occur among patients with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia compared with those of elderly control volunteers and patients with Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Patients with dementia and lacunes (n = 11), cognitive impairment and lacunes (n = 14), and dementia without lacunes (n = 18) and healthy age-matched control volunteers (n = 20) underwent MR imaging and 1H MR spectroscopy. 1H MR spectroscopy data were coanalyzed with coregistered segmented MR images to account for atrophy and tissue composition. RESULTS: Compared with healthy control volunteers, patients with dementia and lacunes had 11.74% lower N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratios (NAA/Cr) (P = .007) and 10.25% lower N-acetylaspartate measurements (NAA) in the cerebral cortex (P = .03). In white matter, patients with dementia and lacunes showed a 10.56% NAA/Cr reduction (P = .01) and a 12.64% NAA reduction (P = .04) compared with control subjects. NAA in the frontal cortex was negatively correlated with the volume of white matter signal hyperintensity among patients with cognitive impairment and lacunes (P = .002). Patients with dementia, but not patients with dementia and lacunes, showed a 10.33% NAA/Cr decrease (P = .02) in the hippocampus compared with healthy control volunteers. CONCLUSION: Patients with dementia and lacunes have reduced NAA and NAA/Cr in both cortical and white matter regions. Cortical changes may result from cortical ischemia/infarction, retrograde or trans-synaptic injury (or both) secondary to subcortical neuronal loss, or concurrent Alzheimer's pathologic abnormalities. Cortical derangement may contribute to dementia among patients with subcortical infarction.     

White Matter Proton MR Spectroscopy in Children with Isolated Developmental Delay: Does it Mean Delayed Myelination?

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Isolated developmental delay (IDD) is a common disorder in preschool and school-age children. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) usually does not disclose abnormalities, but a myelination delay is suspected as causative or associated factor. N-acetyl-aspartate is a surrogate marker of neuronal integrity but also of axonal integrity. The goal of our study is to determine whether magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is able to detect alterations in the white matter supporting the hypothesis of delayed myelination in children with IDD and normal MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled 12 consecutive children meeting the criteria if IDD and aged between 3 and 12 years (mean 7.25 years) and 11 healthy children as control group (mean age 7.18, range 3-12 years) on whom we performed conventional MRI and MRS. We did not include children with abnormal MRI. Single voxel (8 cm(3)) was placed in the white matter of the left centrum semiovale. The mode of acquisition was probe-p (PRESS technique) with a TR of 2500 milliseconds and a TE of 30 milliseconds. We measured the metabolite concentration of n-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (Ch), creatine (Cr) y myo-inositol (mI), and ratios of NAA, Ch, and mI to creatine. RESULTS: In children with IDD, we found a significant decrease of the following ratios: NAA/Cr (P < .016), NAA/Ch (P < .026), and NAA/mI (P < .023) in relation to controls. The mean NAA/Cr ratio in IDD children was 1.92 (SD 0.14), and in controls it was 2.09 (SD 0.14); t = 2.62, fd (freedom degrees) = 21, P < .016. No differences were seen in the remaining ratios. CONCLUSIONS: The lower NAA/Cr ratio in children with IDD in relation to controls may be a promising marker of this disorder and supports the hypothesis of delayed myelination. MRS can provide important information in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.     

The contribution of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in multiple sclerosis during acute attack

PURPOSE: The aims of the study are firstly, to determine the difference in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in normal appearing white matter (NAWM) between patients with acute multiple sclerosis (MS) and controls; secondly, to determine whether there is a correlation between EDSS scores and DWI in acute plaques and also NAWM. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Out of 50 patients with acute MS attack, 35 patients had active plaques with diffuse or ring enhancement on postcontrast images. Eighteen healthy volunteers constituted the control group. While 26 of 35 had relapsing-remitting, 9 had secondary progressive MS. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) of the active plaques, NAWM at the level of centrum semiovale and occipital horn of lateral ventricle in the patients and NAWM in control group were measured. ADC values of active plaques were compared with WM of the patients and the control group. The relationship of ADC value of active plaques and WM in MS with expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was investigated by using Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Of 63 plaques totally, 26 and 37 of the active plaques had diffuse and ring enhancement, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between ADC value of active plaques and EDSS (p>0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference between ADC value of WM occipital horn and EDSS (p<0.05). ADC value of active plaques were higher than WM in both groups (p<0.001). The difference between ADC value of WM at the centrum semiovale (p<0.05) and occipital horns (p<0.001) in patients and controls was statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between EDSS scores, ADC value at centrum semiovale and WM around occipital horn and active plaques in subgroups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Apparently normal tissue in MS patients may show early abnormalities when investigated carefully enough, and there is an even though moderate correlation between EDSS and ADC values and early alterations of ADC value are starting in the occipital white matter along the ventricles. This has to be verified in larger series.     

1H MR spectroscopy of the brain in multiple sclerosis subtypes with analysis of the metabolite concentrations in gray and white matter: initial findings

Many MR spectroscopy (MRS) studies of multiple sclerosis (MS) have focussed on metabolism in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and in white matter lesions (WML). In this study, eight patients suffering from primary or secondary progressive MS (PPMS/SPMS) and seven patients with relapsing/remitting MS (RRMS) were examined by ¹H-MRS to assess metabolite levels in gray matter (GM) as well. ¹H-MRS chemical-shift imaging of a cerebral volume of interest of 8×8×2 cm³ above the lateral ventricles revealed differences between the metabolite concentrations in the three groups varying from almost significant [NAWM, choline (cho); P=0.0547] to highly significant [GM, N-acetylaspartate (NAA); P=0.0003]. In PPMS/SPMS patients, the decreases in choline, creatine (Cr) and N-acetylaspartate compared with six healthy controls were significant in GM and to a lesser extent, in NAWM. No significant differences in metabolite concentrations were found between RRMS and controls. In WML, all metabolites were reduced compared with white matter in controls (Cho: P=0.0020; Cr and NAA: P<0.0001, both). In conclusion, the concentrations of Cho, Cr and NAA are reduced in PPMS/SPMS patients, especially in GM and in WML. Despite contrary observations in previous studies, increases in the concentrations of Cr and/or Cho were not observed.     

常规MRI阴性HIV感染者无神经症状期脑1H-MRS分析

目的探讨常规MRI阴性人类获得性免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染者无神经症状期脑氢质子磁共振波谱(1H-MRS)特点。资料与方法搜集无神经症状期HIV感染者28例,HIV阴性健康自愿者30名,行MRI平扫、点分辨波谱(PRESS)1H-MRS扫描。测定脑皮质、深部核团及白质区N-乙酰天门冬氨酸(NAA)、胆碱化合物(Cho)、肌酸(Cr)峰下面积;计算NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho、(NAA+Cho)/Cr及(Cho+Cr)/NAA值。结果无神经症状期HIV感染者脑皮质、深部核团及白质NAA/Cr值均降低,(Cho+Cr)/NAA值升高,Cho/Cr值无明显变化。额上回皮质NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho、(Cho+Cr)/NAA值,额上回白质NAA/Cr、(NAA+Cho)/Cr、(Cho+Cr)/NAA值,顶叶白质NAA/Cho、(Cho+Cr)/NAA值差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论在HIV感染无神经症状期,常规MRS阴性时,1H-MRS可以检测到脑早期代谢异常。额上回皮质、尾状核头部、额上回、顶叶白质NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho、(Cho+Cr)/NAA值有明显变化。     

脑胶质瘤周围区的~1H-MRS研究

目的应用多体素氢质子磁共振波谱(1H-MRS)探讨胶质瘤周围区脑代谢改变的特点,评价多体素1H-MRS在胶质瘤周围区的应用价值。方法23例病理证实的脑胶质瘤病人分为低级别组(WHOⅠ～Ⅱ级)13例和高级别组(WHOⅢ～Ⅳ级)10例,所有病例术前均行多体素1H-MRS检查,测量肿瘤实质区、周围区及对侧正常脑组织区代谢产物的相对定量,进行统计学比较。结果多体素1H-MRS显示高级别胶质瘤的周围区与实质区NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho值差异有统计学意义(P值均为0.00)。高级别胶质瘤周围区与对侧正常脑组织区NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho、Glx/Cr值差异均有统计学意义(P值均为0.00);低级别胶质瘤周围区与实质区NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho值差异均有统计学意义(P值均为0.00);低级别胶质瘤周围区与对侧正常脑组织区Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho值差异均有统计学意义(P值分别为0.02、0.00);高级别与低级别胶质瘤实质区NAA/Cr、NAA/Cho、Cho/Cr、Glx/Cr值差异均有统计学意义(P值分别为0.00、0.00、0.03、0.00);高级别与低级别胶质瘤周...     

The value of T1-weighted images in the differentiation between MS,white matter lesions,and subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (SAE)

Summary The aim of the study was to define reliable criteria for the differentiation of MR imaging between patients with MS and with vascular white matter lesions/SAE. We examined 35 patients with proven MS according to the Poser criteria and 35 patients with other white matter lesions and/or SAE. The result is that with MR a differentiation can be achieved provided that T1-weighted spin-echo sequences are included and the different pattern of distribution is considered. MS plaques are predominantly located in the subependymal region, vascular white matter lesions are mainly located in the water-shed of the superficial middle cerebral branches and the deep perforating long medullary vessels in the centrum semiovale. Infratentorial lesions are more often seen in MS. Confluence at the lateral ventricles is frequently accompanied by confluent abnormalities around the third ventricle, Sylvian aqueduct, and fourth ventricle, which is uncommon in SAE. In MS many lesions visible on T2-weighted images have a cellular or intracellular composition that renders them visible also on T1-weighted ones as regions with low signal intensity and more or less distinct boundary. Vascular white matter lesions and SAE mainly represent demyelination and can there-fore be seen on T2-weighted images, but corresponding low signal intensity lesions on T1-weighted images are uncommon. In some exceptions there are such lesions with low signal representing lacunar infarcts or widened Virchow-Robin-spaces.     

Human brain proton localized NMR spectroscopy in multiple sclerosis

Localized proton spectroscopy of the brain was performed on MS patients (n = 18) and the results are compared with those of a control group (n = 17). The experiments were performed in a 1.5-T Siemens Magnetom using the stimulated echo method and selective water suppression. Acquisition parameters were TR/TE/TM = 3000/270/30 ms, NA = 256, and Acq = 13 min. Localized volumes ranged from 8 to about 80 cc. The patients (ages 25 to 66) were at various stages of the disease. Three of the eighteen patients did not show any plaques on the MR images. VOIs were chosen to contain as much plaque volume as possible in the cerebrum white matter. In the controls and in the patients with no plaques, the VOI were localized in similar white matter regions. All spectra were characterized by the presence of Cho (3.2 ppm), PCr + Cr (3.0 ppm), and NAA (2.0 ppm). The ratios NAA/Cho and NAA/(PCr + Cr) were calculated for both the MS and the control group. The results for the three MS patients with no detectable plaques did not differ significantly from the results of the control group. The former group is, however, too limited to draw any conclusion for the moment. For the MRI positive patients, the following values were found (means +/- 1 SD); NAA/Cho = 1.98 +/- 0.33 and NAA/(PCr + Cr) = 2.16 +/- 0.14. In the normals, these values were NAA/Cho = 2.54 +/- 0.39 and NAA/(PCr + Cr) = 2.76 +/- 0.25. The results quoted are TR and TE dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

老年人皮质下动脉硬化性脑病的病理学基础和CT,MRI对照研究

本文就２６例皮质下动脉硬化性脑病患者的ＣＴ、ＭＲＩ检查结合病理学基础进行了分析。ＭＲＩ检查，当ＴＲ＝２０００ｍｓｅｅ，ＴＥ＝３０、６０ｍｓｅｃ时，皮质动脉硬化性脑病损害均为明显的高信号，Ｔ１加权像为低信号。ＣＴ像为低密度改变。Ｔ２加权像上半卵圆中心的白质表现为不均匀弥漫的高信号区，可累及基底节、丘脑、脑干及小脑的白质，并有不同程度的侧脑室扩大、脑室边缘呈斑片状改变可有脑萎缩。病理学特征是弥漫不完全