Conference paper

NEUROSYPHILIS - THE WHITE MATTER DISINTEGRATION? - TWO CASE REPORTS

Monika Czarnowska-Cubala ; 1st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gda􀄔sk, Poland
Adam Wlodarczyk ; Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Gda􀄔sk, Poland
Joanna Szarmach ; Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Gda􀄔sk, Poland
Katarzyna Gwozdziewicz ; 1st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gda􀄔sk, Poland
Joanna Pienkowska ; 1st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gda􀄔sk, Poland
Mariusz S. Wiglusz ; Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Gda􀄔sk, Poland
Wieslaw Jerzy Cubala ; 1st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Gda􀄔sk, Poland
Krzysztof Krysta ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

Abstract

Background: There is evidence for neurosyphilis being associated with the central nervous system vasculitis involving medium
and small vessels. As the hemispheric white matter is the major target of these vascular alterations the white matter axonal and
myelination disruption may be observed employing measure for the rate of water molecule diffusion. High apparent diffusion
coefficient (ADC) correspond to unimpeded water diffusion and indicating white matter disintegration.
Case reports: In a retrospective study exploringcentral nervous system magnetic resonance (MR) images of two subjects
presenting with neurosyphilis the ADC values were found to be increased as related to normal values being accompanied with
normal appearing white matter of hemispheres
Conclusions: Applying ADC analysis to evaluate the brain in patients with neurosyphilis may reveal undetectable changes and
explain the scale of abnormalities that occur in CNS. The increased mean ADC valuesin the normal appearing white matter of the hemispheres may correlate with neuropsychoatric symptomatology in syphilis.

Keywords

DWI; neurosyphilis; neuroimaging

Hrčak ID:

263721

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/263721

Publication date:

15.6.2017.

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