BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and planimetric computed tomography (CT) of brain lesions in patients with a history of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE); to assess the influence of steroid treatment on the brain and whether lesions were age-dependent. METHODS: A total of 19 patients with abnormal initial imaging in the acute stage of the disease had a follow-up MRI after 1 year; 34 patients hospitalized for TBE encephalitis/encephalomyelitis had planimetric CT after 10 years. RESULTS: On MRI cortico-subcortical atrophy with widening of anterior horns of the lateral ventricles and vascular changes was more marked on follow-up examination. Virchow-Robin spaces dilatation, widening of the lateral ventricles, periventricular lesions, and cortico-subcortical atrophy correlated with age. Results of planimetric CT study showed increased percentage of tracings, widened anterior horns, lateral ventricles, and III ventricle, which suggest new non-age-related atrophic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Radiological lesions in the acute phase of TBE and after recovery are non-specific. Cortico-subcortical atrophy with widening of the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles and vascular changes are most common. Long-term follow-up confirms the formation of new non-age-related cerebral atrophic lesions due to TBE. The logit model may serve as a background for the hypothesis concerning an accelerated local atrophy of the brain tissues in patients with a history of severe TBE.
BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and planimetric computed tomography (CT) of brain lesions in patients with a history of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE); to assess the influence of steroid treatment on the brain and whether lesions were age-dependent. METHODS: A total of 19 patients with abnormal initial imaging in the acute stage of the disease had a follow-up MRI after 1 year; 34 patients hospitalized for TBE encephalitis/encephalomyelitis had planimetric CT after 10 years. RESULTS: On MRI cortico-subcortical atrophy with widening of anterior horns of the lateral ventricles and vascular changes was more marked on follow-up examination. Virchow-Robin spaces dilatation, widening of the lateral ventricles, periventricular lesions, and cortico-subcortical atrophy correlated with age. Results of planimetric CT study showed increased percentage of tracings, widened anterior horns, lateral ventricles, and III ventricle, which suggest new non-age-related atrophic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Radiological lesions in the acute phase of TBE and after recovery are non-specific. Cortico-subcortical atrophy with widening of the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles and vascular changes are most common. Long-term follow-up confirms the formation of new non-age-related cerebral atrophic lesions due to TBE. The logit model may serve as a background for the hypothesis concerning an accelerated local atrophy of the brain tissues in patients with a history of severe TBE.
Authors: D Radzišauskienė; K Žagminas; L Ašoklienė; A Jasionis; R Mameniškienė; A Ambrozaitis; L Jančorienė; D Jatužis; I Petraitytė; E Mockienė Journal: Eur J Neurol Date: 2017-12-06 Impact factor: 6.089