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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images
Published on: November 20, 2015
MRI of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
A Kong1, T Kleinig, A Van der Vliet
1Regional Imaging Border, Albury Wodonga Private Hospital, Albury, New South Wales, Australia. andrew_kong@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The key MRI findings in five cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) are illustrated with four 'definite' and one 'probable' according to World Health Organization criteria. Close attention to fluid-attenuation inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging sequences are important for diagnosis, noting especially restricted diffusion in cortical and deep grey matter. Our study and those of others show predominant cortical, caudate and thalamic involvement. This pattern is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis. Fluid-attenuation inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging signal abnormality becomes progressively more extensive and bilateral as disease progresses, but may become less pronounced in end-stage disease because of atrophy.
Insights
MRI scans reveal key indicators for diagnosing sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Restricted diffusion in grey matter, particularly the cortex, caudate, and thalamus, is a highly sensitive diagnostic marker.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a fatal neurodegenerative prion disease.
- Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for patient management and research.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a vital role in identifying characteristic brain changes.
Observation:
- This study examines MRI findings in five confirmed/probable sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease cases.
- Focus is placed on fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences.
- Key observations include restricted diffusion in cortical and deep grey matter.
Findings:
- Restricted diffusion in the cerebral cortex, caudate nucleus, and thalamus is a predominant pattern.
- This pattern demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease diagnosis.
- MRI signal abnormalities on FLAIR and DWI generally increase with disease progression but may decrease in end-stage due to atrophy.
Implications:
- Enhanced MRI sequences like FLAIR and DWI are essential for diagnosing sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- Recognizing the specific pattern of grey matter involvement aids in early and accurate diagnosis.
- These neuroimaging findings contribute to understanding the disease's progression and pathological changes.
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