User login
CHICAGO — Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy could represent a fundamental, noninvasive diagnostic and monitoring tool for patients with brain concussions, Dr. Andre Ludovici said at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Current imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging does not permit quantification of neural injury that occurs after a traumatic concussion. But proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic (1HMRS) imaging can be used to assess the neurochemical damage derived from a cerebral concussion by monitoring N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA) levels over time.
Current research indicates that NAA diminution appears to be linked to a general mitochondrial dysfunction, and therefore, NAA restoration can be considered a surrogate marker of metabolic recovery, said Dr. Ludovici of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
He presented data from a pilot study in which 1HMRS was used to measure the levels of NAA and choline (Cho) relative to creatine (Cr) in the brains of 32 male contact sport players. Of these, 14 had suffered concussions, and had Glasgow Coma Scale scores between 13 and 15. The 1HMRS signal was collected from a single voxel placed bilaterally in the subcortical frontal white matter. Scans were performed after a 3-month period of inactivity, until the third day following a match, and at the 10th and 30th day after the injury had occurred.
The patients were boxers and kick boxers, with a mean age of 21 years. Three patients did not complete the study, and one was excluded because of a cerebral bleed.
The average NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower at the first time point among concussive patients compared with healthy patients (1.83 vs. 2.11), he said. At 10 days, the NAA/Cr ratio showed a trend toward normalization, and at 30 days there was a complete recovery of baseline NAA values.
From baseline, there was a 35% reduction in NAA levels among concussive patients. There was no significant difference in the NAA/Cho ratio between groups at the three time points, he said. All patients were held back from sports until their NAA values normalized.
CHICAGO — Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy could represent a fundamental, noninvasive diagnostic and monitoring tool for patients with brain concussions, Dr. Andre Ludovici said at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Current imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging does not permit quantification of neural injury that occurs after a traumatic concussion. But proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic (1HMRS) imaging can be used to assess the neurochemical damage derived from a cerebral concussion by monitoring N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA) levels over time.
Current research indicates that NAA diminution appears to be linked to a general mitochondrial dysfunction, and therefore, NAA restoration can be considered a surrogate marker of metabolic recovery, said Dr. Ludovici of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
He presented data from a pilot study in which 1HMRS was used to measure the levels of NAA and choline (Cho) relative to creatine (Cr) in the brains of 32 male contact sport players. Of these, 14 had suffered concussions, and had Glasgow Coma Scale scores between 13 and 15. The 1HMRS signal was collected from a single voxel placed bilaterally in the subcortical frontal white matter. Scans were performed after a 3-month period of inactivity, until the third day following a match, and at the 10th and 30th day after the injury had occurred.
The patients were boxers and kick boxers, with a mean age of 21 years. Three patients did not complete the study, and one was excluded because of a cerebral bleed.
The average NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower at the first time point among concussive patients compared with healthy patients (1.83 vs. 2.11), he said. At 10 days, the NAA/Cr ratio showed a trend toward normalization, and at 30 days there was a complete recovery of baseline NAA values.
From baseline, there was a 35% reduction in NAA levels among concussive patients. There was no significant difference in the NAA/Cho ratio between groups at the three time points, he said. All patients were held back from sports until their NAA values normalized.
CHICAGO — Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy could represent a fundamental, noninvasive diagnostic and monitoring tool for patients with brain concussions, Dr. Andre Ludovici said at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
Current imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging does not permit quantification of neural injury that occurs after a traumatic concussion. But proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic (1HMRS) imaging can be used to assess the neurochemical damage derived from a cerebral concussion by monitoring N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA) levels over time.
Current research indicates that NAA diminution appears to be linked to a general mitochondrial dysfunction, and therefore, NAA restoration can be considered a surrogate marker of metabolic recovery, said Dr. Ludovici of the University of Rome Tor Vergata.
He presented data from a pilot study in which 1HMRS was used to measure the levels of NAA and choline (Cho) relative to creatine (Cr) in the brains of 32 male contact sport players. Of these, 14 had suffered concussions, and had Glasgow Coma Scale scores between 13 and 15. The 1HMRS signal was collected from a single voxel placed bilaterally in the subcortical frontal white matter. Scans were performed after a 3-month period of inactivity, until the third day following a match, and at the 10th and 30th day after the injury had occurred.
The patients were boxers and kick boxers, with a mean age of 21 years. Three patients did not complete the study, and one was excluded because of a cerebral bleed.
The average NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower at the first time point among concussive patients compared with healthy patients (1.83 vs. 2.11), he said. At 10 days, the NAA/Cr ratio showed a trend toward normalization, and at 30 days there was a complete recovery of baseline NAA values.
From baseline, there was a 35% reduction in NAA levels among concussive patients. There was no significant difference in the NAA/Cho ratio between groups at the three time points, he said. All patients were held back from sports until their NAA values normalized.