MRI and planimetric CT follow-up study of patients with severe tick-borne encephalitis

Infect Dis (Lond). 2016;48(1):74-81. doi: 10.3109/23744235.2015.1083119.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: MRI; brain atrophy; encephalitis; neuroimaging; planimetric CT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Atrophy
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / pathology
  • Child
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / diagnosis*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / diagnostic imaging*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / physiopathology
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / virology
  • Encephalomyelitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Young Adult