Chuanting Li MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Chongxiao Zheng MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Bin Ai MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Wenxiu Sun MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lebin Wu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Susceptibility-weighted Imaging (SWI) consists of using both magnitude and phase images from a high resolution, three dimensional and fully velocity compensated gradient-echo sequence. Our goal is to evaluate the correlation of micro hemorrhage and enhanced degree in SWI and CE-SWI with seriousness of the clinical symptoms and in predicting prognosis of viral encephlalitis.

23 patients with viral encephlalitis were clinical diagnosed. They were divided into two groups: 13 with slight clinical symptoms and recovered with no sequela, 10 with severe clinical symptoms and recovered with some sequelae. All examinations were performed on Signa HD 3.0T MRI scanner (General Electric Medical Systems, USA). Conventional imaging techniques (T1, CE-T1, T2, FLAIR), SWI and CE-SWI were used. The parameters of SWI sequence were following: TR=35ms, TE=20ms, FA=15°, slice thickness=2mm. Minimum intensity projection (MinIP) of the SW images and Maximum intensity projection (MIP) after contrast SW images over the region were used to match the slice thickness of the relevant sequence. The micro hemorrhage and enhanced degree in the SW images were analyzed. The difference of micro hemorrhage and enhanced degree in SW images with seriousness of clinical symptoms and prognosis of the two groups were analyzed with statistics method.

SWI was more sensitive than conventional imaging techniques in showing micro hemorrhage in viral encephlalitis. The micro hemorrhage and enhanced degree of two groups of viral encephlalitis in SWI and CE SWI were different significantly (p<0.05). The micro hemorrhage and enhanced degree in SWI and CE SWI was correlated well with degree of clinical symptoms and the prognosis of viral encephlalitis, and the correlation coefficiencie is 0.694.

SWI and CE-SWI are useful in showing characteristics of viral encephlalitis. The micro hemorrhage and enhanced degree in SWI and CE SWI are useful in predicting prognosis of viral encephlalitis.

3T MRI SWI can demonstrate characteristics of viral encephlalitis, and it is recommended as part of a MR study in predicting prognosis of viral encephlalitis.

Li, C, Zheng, C, Ai, B, Sun, W, Wu, L, Micro Hemorrhage and Enhanced Degree of Susceptibility-weighted Imaging Used in Predicting Prognosis of Viral Encephalitis.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11001745.html