title: Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy: comparison of conventional MR imaging with diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging: case report.
abstract: Conventional MR imaging, MR spectroscopy, diffusion-weighted imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging were performed in a 5-month-old male patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. On conventional T2-weighted MR images, symmetric, confluent high signal intensity was found in the temporoparietal white matter. A large lactate peak and decreased N-acetylaspartate were found in this region on proton MR spectroscopic images. Diffusion-weighted imaging showed increased apparent diffusion coefficient, representing vasogenic edema. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed decreased anisotropy, consistent with injury to the oligodendro-axonal unit. A muscle biopsy specimen revealed an isolated complex III enzyme respiratory chain deficiency. Diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging are valuable techniques for the characterization of hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted MR images in cases of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy.
authors: Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Charles B
authors: CB
authors: Majoie
authors: Erik M
authors: EM
authors: Akkerman
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Blank
authors: Peter G
authors: PG
authors: Barth
authors: Bwee Tien
authors: BT
authors: Poll-The
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: den Heeten
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007773:Lactates / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D017237:Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate