title: MRI and proton MR spectroscopy in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is one of a group of demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). It is said to be attributed to an overshooting immunologic response following an infection or vaccination. The clinical course and type of manifestation is heterogeneous. The early application of corticosteroids has been shown to be beneficial to outcome; thus, an early diagnosis is highly desirable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The potential diagnostic value of advanced MR techniques such as proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was investigated in two paediatric patients with ADEM, one of whom had a remitting and relapsing clinical course and presented with additional cranial nerve involvement. Proton MR spectroscopy revealed typical signs of acute demyelination, such as increased macromolecules, not found in other forms of non-necrotising pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of proton MR spectroscopy and DWI adds to the diagnostic power of MRI in the setting of post-infectious demyelinating disorders of the CNS or ADEM and may obviate the need for biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, University of Tübingen Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mader
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nägele
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niemann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grodd
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Küker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011522:Protons