Open AccessNeuroimaging in human prion disease: Searching in the mist
Author(s) -
Panayotis Ioannides,
Dimitris Karacostas
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
world journal of radiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1949-8470
DOI - 10.4329/wjr.v1.i1.45
Subject(s) - medicine , positron emission tomography , magnetic resonance imaging , neuroimaging , disease , cerebrospinal fluid , pathology , single photon emission computed tomography , diagnostic test , human brain , radiology , psychiatry , emergency medicine
Human prion disease is a rare, uniformly fatal neurodegenerative disorder.Its precise pathogenesis is obscure. The clinical profile of the disease differs among its various forms. There are no definitive diagnostic tests (except for brain biopsy) or proven treatment. To increase the clinical diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, three laboratory tests, including electroencephalogram, cerebrospinal fluid testing for 14-3-3 protein, and magnetic resonance imaging, are currently used. Additionally, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography can provide interesting and novel results in the research of human prion disease.