title: Preliminary Investigation of Pain-Related Changes in Cerebral Blood Volume in Patients With Phantom Limb Pain.
abstract: To investigate changes in the pain network associated with phantom limb pain, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure cerebral blood volume (CBV) in patients who had undergone unilateral arm amputation after electrical injury.
  
  
  
  Case-controlled exploratory MRI study of CBV via MRI.
  
  
  
  University hospital.
  
  
  
  Participants (N=26) comprised patients with phantom limb pain after unilateral arm amputation (n=10) and healthy, age-matched persons (n=16).
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  The intensity of phantom limb pain was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). Depressive mood was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination. Voxel-wise comparisons of relative CBV maps were made between amputees and controls over the entire brain volume. The relationship between individual participant CBV (measured in voxels) and VAS score was also examined.
  
  
  
  Compared with control participants, amputees exhibited greater degrees of depression; significantly higher CBV in the bilateral medial frontal area (orbitofrontal cortex [OFC] and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex [pACC]); and significantly lower CBV in the right midcingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and primary somatosensory cortex. CBV increased in the contralateral and ipsilateral hemispheres of the amputated arm, regardless of the amputation side. This CBV increase in the OFC and pACC was strongly correlated with pain intensity in all amputees.
  
  
  
  We observed increased CBV in regions associated with emotion in the cerebral pain network of patients who had undergone unilateral arm amputation after electrical injury. This study suggests that CBV changes were related to neuroplasticity associated with phantom limb pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Cheong Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Hun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoonkyeong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ohneum@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Suk Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ohn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology*; D001132:Arm; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000071937:Cerebral Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Blood volume; Brain; Magnetic resonance imaging; Pain; Phantom limb; Rehabilitation