MRI of influenza encephalopathy in children: value of diffusion-weighted imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to describe the MR findings of influenza encephalopathy and assess the value of diffusion-weighted imaging for its diagnosis.


METHODS
We examined a total of five patients diagnosed as having influenza encephalopathy or encephalitis by MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging. We analyzed the conventional images and compared them with diffusion-weighted images.


RESULTS
Abnormally hyperintense lesions of varying extent and location were noted on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images in the cortex and adjacent white matter in every case. They showed no contrast enhancement. Diffusion-weighted imaging demonstrated the lesions as areas of restricted proton diffusion more clearly than conventional imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
Influenza encephalopathy is depicted as areas of T2 elongation having a rather nonspecific distribution. Diffusion-weighted imaging can demonstrate the lesions sensitively and serve as a valuable adjunct to conventional MRI.
Tsuchiya
K
K
Department of Radiology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. RXL03761@nifty.ne.jp
Katase
S
S
Yoshino
A
A
Hachiya
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests