Study on the application of three-dimensional arterial spin labeling in diagnosis of viral encephalitis

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the role of three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (3D-ASL) in the diagnosis of viral encephalitis. Methods MRI [T1WI, T2WI, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and 3D-ASL] was performed in 41 patients with clinically diagnosed viral encephalitis, including 28 cases in acute phase and subacute phase with duration 0.05). There was no significant difference for both CBF and ADC values in late subacute phase and chronic phase (≥ 10 d) between ipsilateral side and contralateral side (P > 0.05, for all). There was no significant difference for both CBF and ADC values between normal brain regions of ipsilateral side and contralateral side (P > 0.05, for all). Conclusions The main manifestation of viral encephalitis in 3D-ASL imaging was hyperperfusion in the early stage. 3D-ASL is superior to conventional MRI sequences in detection of encephalitis lesion and may contribute to the diagnosis of early viral encephalitis in clinical practice. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2018.03.006

Keywords

• Encephalitis, viral
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• Electron spin resonance spectroscopy