title: Value of dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion MRI in the acute phase of transient global amnesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a transitory, short-lasting neurological disorder characterized by a sudden onset of antero- and retrograde amnesia. Perfusion abnormalities in TGA have been evaluated mainly by use of positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In the present study we explore the value of dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion-weighted MRI (PWI) in TGA in the acute phase.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a MRI report database we identified TGA patients who underwent MRI including PWI in the acute phase and compared these to control subjects. Quantitative perfusion maps (cerebral blood flow (CBF) and volume (CBV)) were generated and analyzed by use of Signal Processing In NMR-Software (SPIN). CBF and CBV values in subcortical brain regions were assessed by use of VOI created in FIRST, a model-based segmentation tool in the Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB) Software Library (FSL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five TGA patients were included (2 men, 3 women). On PWI, no relevant perfusion alterations were found by visual inspection in TGA patients. Group comparisons for possible differences between TGA patients and control subjects showed significant lower rCBF values bilaterally in the hippocampus, in the left thalamus and globus pallidus as well as bilaterally in the putamen and the left caudate nucleus. Correspondingly, significant lower rCBV values were observed bilaterally in the hippocampus and the putamen as well as in the left caudate nucleus. Group comparisons for possible side differences in rCBF and rCBV values in TGA patients revealed a significant lower rCBV value in the left caudate nucleus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mere visual inspection of PWI is not sufficient for the assessment of perfusion changes in TGA in the acute phase. Group comparisons with healthy control subjects might be useful to detect subtle perfusion changes on PWI in TGA patients. However, this should be confirmed in larger data sets and serial PWI examinations.
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Förster
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Mansour
authors: M
authors: Al-Zghloul
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Hans U
authors: HU
authors: Kerl
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Böhme
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Bettina
authors: B
authors: Mürle
authors: Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Christoph
authors: C
authors: Groden
mesh_terms: D020236:Amnesia, Transient Global / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012984:Software; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric