Actinomycotic brain infection: registered diffusion, perfusion MR imaging and MR spectroscopy.
BACKGROUND
Actinomycotic brain infection is caused by an organism of the Actinomyces genus. We report here one such case.


METHODS
The methods used included coregistered diffusion, perfusion and spectroscopic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.


RESULTS
Decreased apparent diffusion coefficient, markedly elevated fractional anisotropy (FA) and reduced cerebral blood flow were observed. MR spectroscopy demonstrated elevated amino acids, acetate and succinate.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated FA values may be due to the microstructure of this special brain infection.
Wang
Sumei
S
Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 219 Dulles Building, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. poptanih@uphs.upenn.edu
Wolf
Ronald L
RL
Woo
John H
JH
Wang
Jiongjiong
J
O'Rourke
Donald M
DM
Roy
Subhojit
S
Melhem
Elias R
ER
Poptani
Harish
H
D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D003287:Contrast Media