Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

MRI findings in CJD include high signal abnormalities in caudate nucleus and/or putamen on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) or fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR).^[1] Additional findings on diffusion weighted imaging include cortical, subcortical, and thalamic involvement. An abnormal signal in the poster thalami on T2 (pulvinar sign) and diffusion weighted images and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences on brain MRI, in the appropriate clinical context, is highly specific for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

MRI

MRI often shows high signal intensity in the caudate nucleus and putamen bilaterally on T2-weighted images.
Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) images may be remarkable for the following findings:^[2]

Cortical hyperintensity (25%-70% of cases)
Subcortical abnormalities (5% of cases)
Thalamic involvement, usually in posterior thalamus (more strongly associated with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease than with classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)^[3]

An abnormal signal in the poster thalami on T2 (pulvinar sign) and diffusion weighted images and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences on brain MRI, in the appropriate clinical context, is highly specific for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

References

↑ “http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/cjd/diagnostic_criteria.html”. Retrieved 17 February 2014. External link in |title= (help)
↑ Young, Geoffrey S. (June–July 2005). “Diffusion-Weighted and Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Imaging in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: High Sensitivity and Specificity for Diagnosis”. American Journal of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology. 26: 1551–1562. Retrieved 2007-10-30. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Date format (link)
↑ Tschampa, Henriette J. (May 2003). “Thalamic Involvement in Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: A Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging Study”. American Journal of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology. 24: 908–915. Retrieved 2007-10-30. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[www.cdc.gov-1] “http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/cjd/diagnostic_criteria.html”. Retrieved 17 February 2014. External link in |title= (help)

[2] Young, Geoffrey S. (June–July 2005). “Diffusion-Weighted and Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Imaging in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: High Sensitivity and Specificity for Diagnosis”. American Journal of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology. 26: 1551–1562. Retrieved 2007-10-30. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Date format (link)

[3] Tschampa, Henriette J. (May 2003). “Thalamic Involvement in Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: A Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging Study”. American Journal of Neuroradiology. American Society of Neuroradiology. 24: 908–915. Retrieved 2007-10-30. Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (help)

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