Evidence-based evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging as a diagnostic tool in dementia workup
Författare
Summary, in English
BACKGROUND: The diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging in dementia workups has increased recently. The basic use is to exclude space-occupying processes in the brain. However, magnetic resonance imaging offers major opportunities for studying atrophy of specific brain areas. A great interest has been put in whether atrophy in the medial temporal lobe can serve as an early diagnostic marker for Alzheimer disease.
METHODS AND RESULTS: In this evaluation, we used evidence-based techniques and reviewed more than 400 articles that address this issue. Our main finding is that a variety of methods in studying brain areas were used, and this made it difficult to extract conclusive information in a systematic way.
CONCLUSION: However, we were able to conclude that atrophy of the hippocampus can distinguish patients with Alzheimer disease from healthy subjects, but there was a lack of evidence because of insufficient studies concerning the usefulness of medial temporal lobe atrophy as a diagnostic marker in a more general setting.
METHODS AND RESULTS: In this evaluation, we used evidence-based techniques and reviewed more than 400 articles that address this issue. Our main finding is that a variety of methods in studying brain areas were used, and this made it difficult to extract conclusive information in a systematic way.
CONCLUSION: However, we were able to conclude that atrophy of the hippocampus can distinguish patients with Alzheimer disease from healthy subjects, but there was a lack of evidence because of insufficient studies concerning the usefulness of medial temporal lobe atrophy as a diagnostic marker in a more general setting.
Avdelning/ar
Publiceringsår
2005
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
427-437
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Topics in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Volym
16
Issue
6
Länkar
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Ämne
- Psychology
Nyckelord
- Dementia workup
- medial temporal lobe
- Alzheimer disease
- specificity
- sensitivity
- likelihood ratios
- evidence-based medicine
- magnetic resonance imaging
- diagnosis
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 0899-3459