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Magnetization transfer ratio in neuro-Behçet disease
Yonca Anik1, Zekiye Kural, Ali Demirci
1Department of Radiology, University of Kocaeli, School of Medicine, 41900, Derince, Kocaeli, Turkey. yoncaakgoz@hotmail.com
Neuroradiology
|January 22, 2005
Summary
Magnetization transfer ratios (MTRs) can detect neuro-Behçet (NB) disease in normal-appearing brain regions. While lesions show decreased MTR, NB patients exhibit higher MTR in normal brain areas, suggesting early pathological changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Neuro-Behçet (NB) disease is a complex neurological disorder.
- Detecting subclinical disease in normal-appearing brain regions is crucial for understanding NB pathophysiology.
- Magnetization transfer (MT) imaging offers a sensitive method for probing tissue microstructure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of magnetization transfer ratios (MTRs) in identifying disease-related changes in normal-appearing brain regions of patients with NB disease.
- To compare MTR values between NB patients and healthy controls in various brain anatomical regions.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with and without MT contrast was performed on 32 NB patients and 15 healthy controls.
- Signal intensity and MTR were measured in ten anatomical regions and in parenchymal lesions within the NB group.
- Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney U and independent t-tests.
Main Results:
- Parenchymal lesions in NB patients showed significantly lower MTR compared to normal-appearing brain tissue.
- Mean MTR in normal-appearing brain parenchyma was higher in NB patients than in controls, with statistical significance noted in the thalamus.
- The corona radiata was the only region where NB patients did not show a higher MTR than controls.
Conclusions:
- MRI-visible parenchymal involvement in Behçet's disease is associated with decreased MTR.
- Elevated MTR in normal-appearing brain regions of NB patients, despite limited statistical significance, suggests potential early microstructural alterations and offers insight into disease pathophysiology.