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Hwang: Incidental MRI Findings in Patients with Impaired Cognitive Function
Neuroradiology
Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology

Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology 2013; 68(1): 17-20.

Published online: 29 January 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2013.68.1.17

Incidental MRI Findings in Patients with Impaired Cognitive Function

Yoon Joon Hwang, MD

Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.

Corresponding author: Yoon Joon Hwang, MD. Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Ilsan Paik Hospital, 170 Juhwa-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang 411-706, Korea. Tel. 82-31-910-7396, Fax. 82-31-910-7369, hyj@paik.ac.kr

Received 24 October 2012       Accepted 3 December 2012

Copyright © 2013 The Korean Society of Radiology

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the incidental findings on brain MRI of patients with cognitive function impairments.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed magnetic resonance (MR) findings of 236 patients with decreased cognitive function. MR protocols include conventional T2 weighted axial images, fluid attenuated inversion recovery axial images, T1 weighted coronal 3-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of gradient echo and diffusion tensor images. We retrospectively evaluated the signal changes that suggest acute/subacute infarction and space occupying lesions which show mass effect.

Results

Incidental MR findings were seen in 16 patients. Nine patients (3.8%) showed increased signal intensity on trace map of diffusion tensor images suggesting acute/subacute infarctions. Space occupying lesions were detected in 7 patients, and 3 lesions (1.27%) had mass effect and edema and were considered clinically significant lesions that diminish cognitive functions.

Conclusion

Several incidental MR findings were detected in patients with decreased cognitive function, and the incidence of aucte/subacute infarctions were higher. Proper evaluations of MRI in patients with impaired cognitive functions will be helpful in early detection and management of ischemic lesions and space occupying lesions.

Keywords: Dementia, MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
A 78-year-old male with mild cognitive impairment. Focal increased signal intensity (A) is noted in right deep white matter on trace map of diffusion tensor images (arrow). Signal drop (arrow) is seen in ADC map (B).
Note.-ADC = apparent diffusion coefficient
jksr-68-17-g001
Fig. 2
A 70-year-old female with decreased cognitive function. Well defined mass lesion is seen in right frontal skull base on T2 weighted images (A) and strong contrast enhancement is noted on follow-up contrast enhanced T1 axial images (B). This lesion was surgically confirmed as meningioma.
jksr-68-17-g002

Notes

This work was supported by Dongkook Pharmaceutical Co.

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