Relationship of acute brain lesions on MRI after cardiac arrest treated with hypothermia to neurological outcome 6 months later

• Relationship of acute brain lesions on MRI after cardiac arrest treated with hypothermia to neurological outcome 6 months later,Purpose: To document the acute MRI findings in the brain of post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia and their relationship to patient outcome after 6 months.Methods and Materials: MRI was performed prospectively 3-13 days (median 4) after CA in 56 patients regardless of the level of consciousness in three hospitals. The images were interpreted visually by two neuroradiologists. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was measured in predetermined areas in cerebral white matter, deep grey matter,  cerebellar grey and white matter and the brainstem. Outcome was assessed using the Cerebral Performance Categories Scale (CPC ) and dichotomized into good and poor outcome.Results: Acute hypoxic lesions on diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) were more common in patients with poor outcome (p=0.006) and affected mostly grey matter, deep or cortical, with or without involvement of underlying white matter. Pure white matter lesions were very few. Lesions in the occipital and temporal lobes, deep white matter and cerebellum were most associated with poor outcome. Reductions in the ADC, particularly in the occipital lobes, were more common in patients with poor outcome. None of the patients with an ADC below 604-678 x10-6 mm2/s (variation depending on the equipment and technique) in any region survived to 6 months.Conclusion: Extensive acute lesions in cortical regions and deep grey matter in visual analysis and regions with an ADC under the level 600-680 x10-6 mm2/s are associated with poor outcome. Lesions are fewer and mainly situated in the frontal and parietal lobes in patients with good outcome.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

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