Correlation of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with neuropathology in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
BACKGROUND
Although the diagnosis of Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD) is straightforward in fully developed cases, a definitive diagnosis can be difficult early in the course of the illness. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal abnormalities, and recently, diffusion-weighted MRI abnormalities, have been described in patients with CJD, suggesting the utility of MRI in the early recognition of CJD.


OBJECTIVE
To correlate diffusion-weighted MRI signal abnormalities with neuropathologic changes in CJD.


METHODS
Diffusion-weighted MRI and neuropathologic changes of 2 patients with autopsy-proven CJD were examined in a blinded fashion by a neuroradiologist and a neuropathologist.


RESULTS
Areas of bright signal on diffusion-weighted MRI correlated with a higher degree of spongiform changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Diffusion-weighted MRI in CJD demonstrates specific-signal abnormalities that correlate well with areas of the most severe and characteristic neuropathologic changes.
Mittal
Sanjay
S
Department of Neurology, North Shore University Hospital, 300 Community Dr, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.
Farmer
Peter
P
Kalina
Peter
P
Kingsley
Peter B
PB
Halperin
John
J
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests