Neuroimaging

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We can separate neuroimaging into two types:

  • Structural neuroimaging – gives diagnosis of gross intracranial disease, like tumour or injuries
  • Functional neuroimaging – used to examine certain functions

Computer tomography (CT)

CT is usually used for neurological emergencies, especially to rule out haemorrhage as a cause of stroke. It’s also used for traumatic injuries of the brain and spine.

The advantages of CT include:

  • Fast (few minutes)
  • Cheap
  • No contraindications except pregnancy
  • Patient cooperation not as difficult as with MRI, as the scan is faster
  • Claustrophobia is not a problem as the machine is more of a donut than a cylinder

The disadvantages are that it exposes the patient to radiation and that it’s not especially good for soft tissue imaging and precise imaging of the CNS.

On native CT, blood is shown as a hyperdense lesion. Ischaemic lesions are hypodense but only visible after 24 hours.

CT with contrast can be used for cancer, as cancers show enhancement by contrast. CT angiography can be used to find occluded vessels and examine collateral blood supply. CT perfusion can differentiate salvageable ischaemic brain (penumbra) from infarcted brain in ischaemic stroke.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MR)

MR is widely used in neurology for all non-acute conditions, like:

Advantages:

  • No radiation
  • Good for soft tissue imaging

Disadvantages:

  • Patient cooperation is required, as they must lie still for some time – anxiolytic or anaesthetic may be required
    • The patient must lie in a closed space, which can be problematic for claustrophobics
  • Slow (20-30 minutes)
  • Expensive
  • Contraindicated for some metals and pacemakers

There are many MR modalities which each have individual purposes:

  • T1: good for anatomical structures (brain, spine, muscles)
  • T2: good for grey and white matter lesions
  • Contrast-enhanced T1: shows BBB damage
  • FLAIR: more sensitive for white matter lesion
  • DWI: very sensitive for recent lesions (ischaemia, oedema, inflammation)
  • SWI: visualization of deposition of metals
  • Tractography: visualizes main tracts before neurosurgery or in ALS
  • MR angiography: same as CT angiography, but doesn’t require contrast
  • MR spectroscopy: measure metabolites like NAA (marker of neuronal loss) or lactate (marker of metabolic disease)
  • Functional MRI: localizes certain functional areas (speech centre, motor centre) before neurosurgery

Ultrasound

In neurology ultrasonography is usually used to examine the extracranial (carotid) vessels for carotid stenosis. This is useful in patients with high risk for stroke, or in people who have had TIA or stroke, to look for atherosclerosis in the carotids. Transcranial doppler can be used to examine the intracranial vessels, usually for vasospasm in SAH or embolism in ischaemic stroke.

Advantages:

  • Fast
  • Cheap
  • No radiation

Disadvantages:

  • Result depends on operator experience

Digital subtraction angiography

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) uses fluoroscopy and interventional radiology for visualizing blood vessels. Interventional radiological procedures, like stenting, thrombectomy, and aneurysm coiling, can be performed during the same procedure.

DSA is the best modality for visualising intracranial arteries, mostly used for intracranial aneurysm.

Single photon emission computed tomography

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) measures the cerebral blood flow, which can be used in the diagnosis of epilepsy, Alzheimer, or Parkinson.

Positron emission tomography

Positron emission tomography (PET) measures metabolic activity, which can be used in the diagnosis of epilepsy, Alzheimer, or tumours.

Myelography

Myelography is a rarely used modality for evaluation of the subarachnoid space. Contrast material is injected into the subarachnoid space, after which the spine is imaged by fluoroscopy.