Abstract:
To investigate the relationship between clinical
stages and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes in
the brain of patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis
(SSPE).
Materials and Methods: A total of 18 patients with stage
II (N 11) and III (N 7) SSPE and 11 age-matched
controls underwent routine MRI and diffusion-weighted
imaging (DWI). The ADC values were automatically calculated.
Seven distinct neuroanatomic structures (frontal,
parieto-occipital, and cerebellar white matter; deep
white matter; thalamus; basal ganglia; and brainstem)
were selected for analysis in the patient and control
groups.
Results: Hyperintensities in the periventricular and subcortical
white matters on T2-weighted images and ADC
maps were detected in 63.6% of patients with stage II and
in all patients with stage III. There were significant differences
between stage II and III patients and also between
patients and control group in ADC values that
obtained from all locations. The highest mean ADC values
were calculated in stage III patients. Although MRI
and DWI findings were normal in four patients with stage
II disease, ADC values were significantly increased when
compared with controls.
Conclusion: The stage of disorder may be independent of
DWI appearance during the early stage (stages I and II),
even though the brain is affected. Therefore, DWI and ADC
values supplemental to routine MRI should also be utilized
for lesion detection and definition to enhance diagnostic
accuracy in patients with SSPE.
