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MRI follow-up in a case of clinically diagnosed Creutzfeld-Jakob disease
1Department of Radiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Arnold Heller Strasse 9, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
Abstract:
We report the case of a 75-year-old woman suffering from Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD). As brain biopsy was refused, diagnosis had to be based on clinical examination, EEC and findings on cranial MRI. Over a 4-month period MRI examinations demonstrated progressive cortical atrophy and bilateral enhanced signal intensity on T2-weighted images of caudate nuclei and putamina indicating development of spongioform degeneration. As clinical course and the characteristic pattern of brain lesions corresponded to cases of neuropathologically confirmed CJD, we suggest that MRI should be considered a valuable diagnostic tool in clinical diagnosis of the disease.
Insights
This case study highlights a 75-year-old woman diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Cranial MRI revealed progressive brain atrophy and specific signal changes, supporting the diagnosis without biopsy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorder.
- Diagnosis often relies on clinical presentation and definitive neuropathological confirmation, typically post-mortem or via biopsy.
Observation:
- A 75-year-old female presented with symptoms suggestive of CJD.
- Brain biopsy was declined, necessitating alternative diagnostic methods.
- Serial cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examinations were performed over four months.
Findings:
- MRI revealed progressive cortical atrophy.
- T2-weighted imaging showed bilateral increased signal intensity in the caudate nuclei and putamina.
- These imaging findings indicated the development of spongiform degeneration, characteristic of CJD.
Implications:
- The observed clinical course and MRI findings strongly correlated with neuropathologically confirmed CJD cases.
- This case suggests that cranial MRI is a valuable non-invasive tool for the clinical diagnosis of CJD.
- Routine use of MRI could aid in earlier and more accessible diagnosis of CJD.