Imaging central pain syndromes.
Anatomic, functional, and neurochemical imaging studies have provided new investigative tools in the study of central pain. High-resolution imaging studies allow for precise determination of lesion location, whereas functional neuroimaging studies measure pathophysiologic consequences of injury to the central nervous system. Additionally, magnetic resonance spectroscopy evaluates lesion-induced neurochemical changes in specific brain regions that may be related to central pain. The small number of studies to date precludes definitive conclusions, but the recent findings provide information that either supports or refutes current hypotheses and can serve to generate new ideas.
Veldhuijzen
Dieuwke S
DS
Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Meyer Building 8-181, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Greenspan
Joel D
JD
Kim
Jong H
JH
Coghill
Robert C
RC
Treede
Rolf-Detlef
RD
Ohara
Shinji
S
Lenz
Frederick A
FA
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology; D013133:Spinothalamic Tracts / Q000473:pathology; D013577:Syndrome