Is magnetic resonance spectroscopy superior to conventional diagnostic tools in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?
Anoxic brain injury carries a poor prognosis. Therefore, a diagnostic tool sensitive enough to predict its outcome is needed. The authors describe the case of a 51-year-old woman who suffered cardiorespiratory arrest. Electroencephalography, somatosensory evoked potentials, and magnetic resonance imaging did not prove to be useful in establishing a definitive prognosis. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of significant neuronal loss in the cortex and cerebellum and was the only diagnostic procedure closely associated with this patient's prognosis.
Wartenberg
Katja E
KE
Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Patsalides
Athos
A
Yepes
Manuel S
MS
D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001224:Aspartic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline