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The radial width of the temporal horn in mild cognitive impairment
Giovanni B Frisoni1, Roberta Rossi, Alberto Beltramello
1Laboratory of Epidemiology and Neuroimaging, IRCCS San Giovanni di Dio FBF-National Center for Research and Care of Alzheimer's Disease, via Pilastroni 4, 25125-Brescia, Italy. papers@centroalzheimer.it
Background And Purpose:
The diagnosis of preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) (or mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) is loaded with a high degree of uncertainty. The aim was to test the accuracy of a computed tomography-based (CT-based) marker of medial temporal lobe atrophy, the radial width of the temporal horn (rWTH), in MCI.
Methods:
Ten MCI and 42 AD patients and 29 nondemented controls underwent brain CT on the temporal lobe plane (slice thickness = 2 mm). The rWTH was taken on CT films with a precision caliper placed at the tip of the temporal horn radial to the curvature of the hippocampal head region.
Results:
When specificity was fixed at 95%, the sensitivity for the detection of AD was 39/42 (93%) and that for the detection of MCI was 8/10 (80%).
Conclusion:
The rWTH is a measure sensitive to the regional brain atrophy common in early AD.
Insights
The radial width of the temporal horn (rWTH) shows high accuracy in detecting early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using CT scans. This CT-based marker aids in diagnosing brain atrophy in preclinical AD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Diagnosing preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) presents significant diagnostic challenges.
- Medial temporal lobe atrophy is a key indicator of early AD.
- Existing diagnostic methods for MCI and early AD carry a degree of uncertainty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a computed tomography (CT)-based marker.
- To assess the radial width of the temporal horn (rWTH) as a measure of medial temporal lobe atrophy.
- To determine the effectiveness of rWTH in identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Main Methods:
- Brain CT scans were performed on 10 MCI patients, 42 AD patients, and 29 controls.
- The radial width of the temporal horn (rWTH) was measured using a precision caliper on CT films.
- Measurements were taken on the temporal lobe plane with a 2 mm slice thickness.
Main Results:
- With 95% specificity, the rWTH detected AD in 93% of cases (39/42).
- The sensitivity for detecting MCI using rWTH was 80% (8/10).
- The rWTH demonstrated significant sensitivity to regional brain atrophy characteristic of early AD.
Conclusions:
- The radial width of the temporal horn (rWTH) is a sensitive CT-based marker for detecting atrophy in early Alzheimer's disease.
- rWTH shows promise as a tool for improving the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
- This imaging marker can aid in the uncertain diagnosis of preclinical AD.