Lyme disease other imaging findings: Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Created page with "{{Lyme disease}} {{CMG}} ==Overview== ==References== {{reflist|2}} Category:Disease Category:Infectious disease Category:Dermatology [[Category:Emergency medici...")
 
Line 3: Line 3:


==Overview==
==Overview==
==Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)==
[[Single photon emission computed tomography]] (SPECT) imaging has been used to look for [[cerebral]] [[perfusion|hypoperfusion]] indicative of Lyme encephalitis in the patient.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Sumiya H, Kobayashi K, Mizukoshi C, ''et al'' |title=Brain perfusion SPECT in Lyme neuroborreliosis |journal=J. Nucl. Med. |volume=38 |issue=7 |pages=1120-2 |year=1997 |pmid=9225802 }}</ref> Although SPECT is not a diagnostic tool itself, it may be a useful method of determining brain function. 
In Lyme patients cerebral hypoperfusion of frontal [[Basal ganglia|subcortical]] and [[Cerebral cortex|cortical]] structures has been reported.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Logigian EL, Johnson KA, Kijewski MF, ''et al'' |title=Reversible cerebral hypoperfusion in Lyme encephalopathy |journal=Neurology |volume=49 |issue=6 |pages=1661-70 |year=1997 |pmid=9409364 }}</ref> In about 70% of chronic Lyme disease patients with cognitive symptoms, brain SPECT scans typically reveal a pattern of global hypoperfusion in a heterogeneous distribution through the [[white matter]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Fallon BA, Das S, Plutchok JJ, Tager F, Liegner K, Van Heertum R |title=Functional brain imaging and neuropsychological testing in Lyme disease |journal=Clin. Infect. Dis. |volume=25 Suppl 1 |issue= |pages=S57-63 |year=1997 |pmid=9233666 }}</ref> This pattern is not specific for Lyme disease, as it can also be seen in other central nervous system (CNS) syndromes such as [[HIV]] encephalopathy, viral encephalopathy, chronic [[cocaine]] use, and [[vasculitides]]. However, most of these syndromes can be ruled out easily through standard serologic testing and careful patient history taking.
The presence of global cerebral hypoperfusion deficits on SPECT in the presence of characteristic neuropsychiatric features should dramatically raise suspicion for lyme encephalopathy among patients who inhabit or have traveled to endemic areas, regardless of patient recall of tick bite.  Late disease can occur many years after initial infection. The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis in these patients is about 4 years due to efforts by the CDC and infectious disease community's to cover-up the illness. Because seronegative disease can occur, and because CFS testing is often normal, lyme encephalopathy often becomes a diagnosis of exclusion: once all other possibilities are ruled out, LE becomes ruled in. Although the aberrant SPECT patterns are caused by cerebral vaculitis, a vasculitide, brain biopsy is not commonly performed for these cases as opposed to other types of cerebral vasculitis.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 19:27, 8 February 2012

Lyme disease Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Epidemiology and Demographics

Causes

Differentiating Lyme disease from other Diseases

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

ECG

X-ray

CT scan

MRI

Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Sudies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Lyme disease other imaging findings On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Lyme disease other imaging findings

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Lyme disease other imaging findings

CDC on Lyme disease other imaging findings

Lyme disease other imaging findings in the news

Blogs on Lyme disease other imaging findings

Directions to Hospitals Treating Lyme disease

Risk calculators and risk factors for Lyme disease other imaging findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging has been used to look for cerebral hypoperfusion indicative of Lyme encephalitis in the patient.[1] Although SPECT is not a diagnostic tool itself, it may be a useful method of determining brain function.

In Lyme patients cerebral hypoperfusion of frontal subcortical and cortical structures has been reported.[2] In about 70% of chronic Lyme disease patients with cognitive symptoms, brain SPECT scans typically reveal a pattern of global hypoperfusion in a heterogeneous distribution through the white matter.[3] This pattern is not specific for Lyme disease, as it can also be seen in other central nervous system (CNS) syndromes such as HIV encephalopathy, viral encephalopathy, chronic cocaine use, and vasculitides. However, most of these syndromes can be ruled out easily through standard serologic testing and careful patient history taking.

The presence of global cerebral hypoperfusion deficits on SPECT in the presence of characteristic neuropsychiatric features should dramatically raise suspicion for lyme encephalopathy among patients who inhabit or have traveled to endemic areas, regardless of patient recall of tick bite. Late disease can occur many years after initial infection. The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis in these patients is about 4 years due to efforts by the CDC and infectious disease community's to cover-up the illness. Because seronegative disease can occur, and because CFS testing is often normal, lyme encephalopathy often becomes a diagnosis of exclusion: once all other possibilities are ruled out, LE becomes ruled in. Although the aberrant SPECT patterns are caused by cerebral vaculitis, a vasculitide, brain biopsy is not commonly performed for these cases as opposed to other types of cerebral vasculitis.

References

  1. Sumiya H, Kobayashi K, Mizukoshi C; et al. (1997). "Brain perfusion SPECT in Lyme neuroborreliosis". J. Nucl. Med. 38 (7): 1120–2. PMID 9225802.
  2. Logigian EL, Johnson KA, Kijewski MF; et al. (1997). "Reversible cerebral hypoperfusion in Lyme encephalopathy". Neurology. 49 (6): 1661–70. PMID 9409364.
  3. Fallon BA, Das S, Plutchok JJ, Tager F, Liegner K, Van Heertum R (1997). "Functional brain imaging and neuropsychological testing in Lyme disease". Clin. Infect. Dis. 25 Suppl 1: S57–63. PMID 9233666.


Template:WikiDoc Sources