title: Diffusion-weighted imaging findings in brain death.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and to investigate the use of DWI in the diagnosis of brain death (BD).
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively evaluated 22 patients diagnosed with clinical BD (9 women, 13 men; mean age, 39.63 ± 15.1 years; age range, 9-66 years). All clinical criteria for BD were present in all 22 patients before magnetic resonance imaging, including a positive apnea test. For all cases, DW images, T2-weighted images, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery were obtained. Thirteen distinct neuroanatomical structures were selected for analysis in all the cases. For each region of interest, the mean, standard deviation, and range of the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCav) values were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For BD patients, ADC values in all neuroanatomical structures were significantly lower than those for control subjects. We determined how ADC values in all structures were related to the diagnostic condition as well as the appropriate threshold ADC values to classify a subject as BD or control. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and correct classification rate of ADC cutoff values to distinguish BD from control groups were 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DWI might be used as a noninvasive confirmatory test for the diagnosis of BD in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Bakirkoy State Hospital, KMP Istanbul 34300, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Selcuk
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albayram
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tureci
authors.forename: Zehra Isik
authors.initials: ZI
authors.lastname: Hasiloglu
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kizilkilic
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cagil
authors.forename: Naci
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kocer
authors.forename: Civan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Islak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001926:Brain Death / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult