Article

Structural and neurochemical evaluation of the brain and pons in patients with Wilson’s disease

Department of Radiology, Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; National Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Ankara, Turkey
Japanese journal of radiology (impact factor: 0.65). 04/2012; 28(9):663-671. DOI:10.1007/s11604-010-0491-4 pp.663-671

ABSTRACT PurposeThe aim of this study was to examine the structural-neurochemical abnormalities of the frontal white matter (FWM), deep gray
matter nuclei, and pons in patients with Wilson’s disease (WD) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion-weighted
imaging (DWI).

Materials and methodsNine patients with WD and 14 age-matched controls were examined with MRS. N-Acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cr) peaks were calculated. DWI scans from six WD patients and six controls
were also obtained. The relative metabolite ratios and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the WD patients were
compared to those of the control subjects by using statistical measures.

ResultsMeasurements in the thalamus and pons showed significantly lower NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr ratios in the WD group than in the control
group (P < 0.05). Thalamic and pontine Cho/Cr ratios in the patient group were significantly higher than those of the control group
(P < 0.05). No statistically significant relation was found between the patient and control groups as a result of the MRS examinations
of FWM and all ADC measurements (P > 0.05).

ConclusionMRS is a noninvasive, valuable modality for detecting structural-neurochemical changes of the brain stem and deep gray matter
in patients with WD. The contribution of DWI in these patients is limited.

Key wordsWilson’s disease-Proton MR spectroscopy-Neuroimaging-Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging-Neuronal loss

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Keywords

14 age-matched controls
 
ADC measurements
 
apparent diffusion coefficient
 
control groups
 
control subjects
 
frontal white matter
 
gray matter
 
Key wordsWilson’s disease-Proton MR spectroscopy-Neuroimaging-Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging-Neuronal loss
 
lower NAA/Cho
 
methodsNine patients
 
MRS examinations
 
NAA/Cr ratios
 
pontine Cho/Cr ratios
 
proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy
 
statistical measures
 
statistically significant relation
 
structural-neurochemical abnormalities
 
valuable modality
 
WD patients
 
Wilson’s disease