title: Is magnetic resonance spectroscopy superior to conventional diagnostic tools in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Katja E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Wartenberg
authors.forename: Athos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patsalides
authors.forename: Manuel S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yepes
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline