BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of structural brain imaging [computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] and the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers are included in the guidelines for the diagnosis of dementia. The influence of variables such as age, gender and disease severity on the use of MRI, CT and lumbar puncture (LP) for the differential diagnosis of dementia and the consonance with the recommendations of the Swedish national guidelines were investigated. METHODS: From the National Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem), 17,057 newly diagnosed dementia patients were included in our study, with the majority from specialist care units (90%). RESULTS: In the diagnostic workup, a CT was performed in 87%, MRI in 16% and LP in 40% of the cases. Age (p < 0.001) and cognitive status (p < 0.001) significantly influenced the use of MRI, CT or LP. Older patients with severe dementia were often investigated with CT. LP and MRI were used more often when less common dementia disorders were suspected. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that age, severity of cognitive impairment and the type of dementia disorder suspected are determinants for the choice of CT, MRI or LP. The majority of the dementia workups in specialist care units follow the recommendations of the Swedish national guidelines where CT is performed as a basic workup, and MRI and LP are chosen when extended workup is needed. .
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The use of structural brain imaging [computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] and the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers are included in the guidelines for the diagnosis of dementia. The influence of variables such as age, gender and disease severity on the use of MRI, CT and lumbar puncture (LP) for the differential diagnosis of dementia and the consonance with the recommendations of the Swedish national guidelines were investigated. METHODS: From the National Swedish Dementia Registry (SveDem), 17,057 newly diagnosed dementiapatients were included in our study, with the majority from specialist care units (90%). RESULTS: In the diagnostic workup, a CT was performed in 87%, MRI in 16% and LP in 40% of the cases. Age (p < 0.001) and cognitive status (p < 0.001) significantly influenced the use of MRI, CT or LP. Older patients with severe dementia were often investigated with CT. LP and MRI were used more often when less common dementia disorders were suspected. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that age, severity of cognitive impairment and the type of dementia disorder suspected are determinants for the choice of CT, MRI or LP. The majority of the dementia workups in specialist care units follow the recommendations of the Swedish national guidelines where CT is performed as a basic workup, and MRI and LP are chosen when extended workup is needed. .
Authors: Dorota Religa; Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad; Pavla Cermakova; Ann-Katrin Edlund; Sara Garcia-Ptacek; Nicklas Granqvist; Anne Hallbäck; Kerstin Kåwe; Bahman Farahmand; Lena Kilander; Ulla-Britt Mattsson; Katarina Nägga; Peter Nordström; Helle Wijk; Anders Wimo; Bengt Winblad; Maria Eriksdotter Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-02-19 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Manuel Menéndez González; Esther Suárez-Sanmartin; Ciara García; Pablo Martínez-Camblor; Eric Westman; Andy Simmons Journal: Cureus Date: 2016-03-26
Authors: Malin Degerman Gunnarsson; Martin Ingelsson; Kaj Blennow; Hans Basun; Lars Lannfelt; Lena Kilander Journal: Alzheimers Res Ther Date: 2016-06-06 Impact factor: 6.982