Brain perfusion MRI findings in patients with Behcet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To search brain perfusion MRI (pMRI) changes in Behcet's disease (BD) with or without neurological involvement.


METHODS
The pMRI were performed in 34 patients with BD and 16 healthy controls. Based on neurologic examination and post-contrast MRI, 12 patients were classified as Neuro-Behcet (group 1, NBD) and 22 patients as BD without neurological involvement (group 2). Mean transit time (MTT), time to peak (TTP), relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were obtained and compared to those of healthy control group (group 3).


RESULTS
There was a significant difference in the MTT and rCBF within the pons and parietal cortex in groups 1 and 2. rCBV increased in cerebral pedicle in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3. In the temporal lobe white matter, prolonged MTT and decreased rCBF were found in groups 1 and 2. In the corpus striatum, internal capsule, and periventricular white matter, rCBF increased in group 1 compared with group 3 and decreased in groups 1 and 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Brain pMRI is a very sensitive method to detect brain involvement in patients with BD and aids the clinical diagnosis of NBD, especially in patients with negative MRI findings.
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, İstanbul, Turkey. alpay alkan@hotmail.com
Alpay
A
Alkan
Asli
A
Goktan
Yelda
Y
Karincaoglu
Suat
S
Kamisli
Metin
M
Dogan
Namik
N
Oztanir
Nergiz
N
Turan
Ercan
E
Kocakoc
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged