title: Magnetic resonance spectroscopic findings in neuro-Behçet disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Behçet disease is a heterogeneous, multisystem disorder with elements of both environmental and autoimmune pathologic processes. Neuro-Behçet, found in 10%-25% of Behçet patients, has been characterized as a vasculitis primarily affecting the brain stem. On magnetic resonance imaging, some cases demonstrate extension to the bilateral cerebral cortices and/or the spinal cord, often with a degree of mass effect. Content of this paper provides a case study, along with review of the literature regarding this disease entity, and proceeds to outline the appearance of neuro-Behçet on magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In essence, a drop in the N-acetyl aspartate peak indicative of axonal loss in concert with elevations in lipid myoinositol and choline/creatine ratios (nonspecific markers of myelin breakdown) is found, indicating that a possible demyelinating process is complexed with the vasculitic pathology neuro-Behçet is traditionally ascribed to.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Neurology Service, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany.
authors.forename: Shawna E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Scully
authors.forename: Frederick C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Stebner
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yoest
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*