Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
In vivo Macrophage Imaging Using MR Targeted Contrast Agent for Longitudinal Evaluation of Septic Arthritis
Published on: October 20, 2013
[Progress in MR imaging: differential diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory diseases with MR imaging]
1Department of Neuroradiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital.
Abstract:
MR imaging is useful for diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Diffusion weighted images (DWI) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images revealed hyperintense signal changes in the anterior striata and cortices in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which were characteristic. In patients with nonherpetic and non-paraneoplastic acute limbic encephalitis, DWI and FLAIR images showed hyperintense changes in the hippocampi, amygdales, cingulate gyri, and occasionally claustrum, but not in the anterior and lateral temporal cortices, which were often involved in herpes simplex encephalitis. In ventriculitis, DWI and FLAIR images showed high signal intensity changes with niveau formation in the lateral ventricle, which indicated the presence of pus in the ventricle. In Japanese encephalitis, T2-weighted images showed high signal intensity changes in the thalami and substantia nigra, which were most often involved by Japanese encephalitis. In idiopathic cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis, thallium-201 SPECT showed a remarkable accumulation in the abnormal dura matter. Furthermore, the abnormal uptake of thallium-201 returned to normal after treatment with corticosteroid. Thallium-201 SEPCT was useful for the evaluation of disease activity in patients with hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) aids in diagnosing infectious and inflammatory brain diseases. Specific MRI sequences like diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and FLAIR reveal characteristic patterns for conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and encephalitis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Infectious and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system present diagnostic challenges.
- Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques offer valuable insights into neuropathology.
- Differentiating various encephalitis and CNS infections requires precise imaging biomarkers.
Purpose:
- To highlight the utility of specific MRI sequences, including Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR), in diagnosing infectious and inflammatory neurological conditions.
- To detail characteristic imaging findings in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, limbic encephalitis, ventriculitis, and Japanese encephalitis.
- To assess the role of Thallium-201 SPECT in evaluating disease activity in idiopathic cranial hypertrophic pachymeningitis.
Summary:
- Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and FLAIR MRI show characteristic hyperintensities in the anterior striata and cortices for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- In nonherpetic acute limbic encephalitis, DWI/FLAIR reveal hippocampal and amygdalar hyperintensities, distinct from herpes simplex encephalitis.
- Ventriculitis presents with DWI/FLAIR hyperintensities and niveau formation, while Japanese encephalitis shows thalamic and substantia nigra changes on T2-weighted images.
- Thallium-201 SPECT demonstrates abnormal dural uptake in hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis, useful for monitoring corticosteroid treatment response.
Impact:
- Provides a concise overview of advanced MRI applications in diagnosing complex neurological infections and inflammatory disorders.
- Enhances understanding of specific imaging signatures for conditions like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and various encephalitis types.
- Demonstrates the value of Thallium-201 SPECT as a tool for assessing treatment efficacy in pachymeningitis.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Magnetic Resonance Imaging
01:21Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System IV: CMRI
01:27Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
01:30Radiological Investigation II: MRI and Ventilation Perfusion Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Ventilation Perfusion Scans are two radiological investigations that offer detailed diagnostic images of the body, particularly lung structures.
MRI
MRI uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency signals to distinguish between normal and abnormal tissues. This technology provides a more detailed diagnostic image than CT scans, enabling it to characterize pulmonary nodules, stage bronchogenic carcinoma, and evaluate inflammatory activity in...
01:14Imaging Studies I: CT and MRI
Description of the Procedures
Computed Tomography (CT) scan:
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use X-ray technology to generate detailed images of bones, organs, and tissues. During the scan, the patient lies on a moving table...
01:26Phase Contrast and Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy
In-phase-contrast microscopes, interference between light directly passing through a cell and light refracted by cellular components is used to create high-contrast, high-resolution images without staining. It is the oldest and simplest type of microscope that creates an image by altering the wavelengths of light rays passing through the specimen. Altered wavelength paths are created using an annular stop in the condenser. The annular stop produces a hollow cone of...