Value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the diagnosis value of diffusion- weighted imaging (DWI) in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).Methods 8 cases of sporadic CJD who underwent MRI were reported. 4 cases were definite,3 cases were probable and 1 case was possible. The sensitivity of DWI and conventional MRI were compared. Results T_1WI and T_2WI revealed no abnormal signals except nonspecific diffuse brain atrophy in 4 cases, whereas DWI detected hyperintense abnormalities in all cases. 2 cases showed linear lesions only in the cerebral cortex, and 6 cases showed lesions in both the cerebral cortex and the striatum. The lesions were symmetric in 5 cases, but were asymmetric in the other 3 cases. Although fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging also showed cortical hyperintensity in 1 case, the high signal changes were more evident and extensive on DWI. Conclusions The hyperintense changes in the cerebral cortices and/or striata on DWI are considered characteristic of CJD. DWI is more sensitive than conventional MRI in depicting lesions of CJD and may be an essential tool for the early diagnosis of this disease.