The MRI characteristics of Hashimoto encephalopathy / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the MRI findings of HE and the pathological mechanism and to improve the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of HE. Methods Five patients of HE diagnosed by clinical and laboratory examination were examined with conventional MRI scan. Additional DWI, MRA and enhancement MRI scan were performed on 3 patients in which abnormal findings was detected on the conventional MRI. The distribution of lesions and signal characteristics were analyzed. The ADC values of the lesions and of the contralateral non-lesion area were measured. Moreover, the possible pathological mechanisms of HE were discussed on the basis of changes of clinical and imaging manifestations in the two cases with serial clinical and MRI data. Results Of 5 patients, brain abnormalities were found in 3 cases,which showed scattered spotted supratentorial white matter lesions of isointensity on T1 WI and DWI, and high signal intensity on T2WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). Meanwhile, multiple plaque-like lesions involving both white matter and gray matter were found, mainly located at the basal ganglia nuclei, hippocampus and cingulate cortex. The lesions demonstrated iso-or hypo-intensity on T1 WI,and iso-or hyper-intensity on T2 WI, FIAIR and DWI at the initial stage. No enhancement was found in these lesions and MRA disclosed no remarkable findings. The ADC value of the lesions [ (0. 449 ± 0. 092) ×10-3 mm2/s] was decreased significantly compared with the contralateral noninvolved area [ (0. 838 ±0. 062) × 10-3 mm2/s] at the early onset. In 2 cases with glucocorticoid therapy, together with symptom relief, MRI follow-up scan demonstrated the reduction of lesion volume, the signal change to hyperintensity on T1 WI and hypo-intensity on DWL The ADC of the lesions increased significantly. Conclusion The MRI could be one of the effective tools for diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and judging the prognosis and therapeutic results of HE. Meanwhile, it may be a non-invasive method to study the pathological mechanism of HE.