Effects of intravascular photobiomodulation on cognitive impairment and crossed cerebellar diaschisis in patients with traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study.

The association between intravascular photobiomodulation (iPBM) and crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) and cognitive dysfunction in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains unknown. We postulate that iPBM might enable greater neurologic improvements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical impact of iPBM on the prognosis of patients with TBI. In this longitudinal study, patients who were diagnosed with TBI were recruited. CCD was identified from brain perfusion images when the uptake difference of both cerebella was > 20%. Thus, two groups were identified: CCD( +) and CCD( -). All patients received general traditional physical therapy and three courses of iPBM (helium-neon laser illuminator, 632.8 nm). Treatment assemblies were conducted on weekdays for 2 consecutive weeks as a solitary treatment course. Three courses of iPBM were performed over 2-3 months, with 1-3 weeks of rest between each course. The outcomes were measured using the Rancho Los Amigos Levels of Cognitive Functioning (LCF) tool. The chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. Generalized estimating equations were used to verify the associations of various effects between the two groups. p < 0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference. Thirty patients were included and classified into the CCD( +) and CCD( -) groups (n = 15, each group). Statistics showed that before iPBM, CCD in the CCD( +) group was 2.74 (exp 1.0081) times higher than that of CCD( -) group (p = 0.1632). After iPBM, the CCD was 0.64 (exp-0.4436) times lower in the CCD( +) group than in the CCD( -) group (p < 0.0001). Cognitive assessment revealed that, before iPBM, the CCD( +) group had a non-significantly 0.1030 lower LCF score than that of CCD( -) group (p = 0.1632). Similarly, the CCD( +) group had a non-significantly 0.0013 higher score than that of CCD( -) after iPBM treatment (p = 0.7041), indicating no significant differences between the CCD( +) or CCD( -) following iPBM and general physical therapy. CCD was less likely to appear in iPBM-treated patients. Additionally, iPBM was not associated with LCF score. Administration of iPBM could be applied in TBI patients to reduce the occurrence of CCD. The study failed to show differences in cognitive function after iPBM, which still serves as an alternative non-pharmacological intervention.

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis-related supratentorial hemodynamic and metabolic status measured by PET/MR in assessing postoperative prognosis in chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease patients with bypass surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral ischemic status is an indicator of bypass surgery. Both hemodynamics and glucose metabolism are significant factors for evaluating cerebral ischemic status. The occurrence of crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) is influenced by the degree of supra-tentorial perfusion and glucose metabolism reduction. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the CCD-related supra-tentorial blood flow and metabolic status before bypass surgery in patients with chronic and symptomatic ischemic cerebrovascular disease and the prognosis of surgery. METHODS: Twenty-four participants with chronic ischemic cerebrovascular disease who underwent hybrid positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) before bypass surgery were included. Arterial spin labeling (ASL)-MR and FDG-PET were used to measure blood flow and metabolism, respectively. The PET images were able to distinguish CCD. The supratentorial asymmetry index (AI) and volume in the decreased blood flow region, decreased metabolism region and co-decreased region on the affected side, except for the infarct area, were respectively obtained before bypass surgery. The neurological status was determined using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores. Differences between CCD-positive (CCD +) and CCD-negative (CCD-) groups were investigated. RESULTS: Fourteen (58%) of the 24 patients were diagnosed as CCD +. Before surgery, the NIHSS and mRS scores of the CCD + were significantly higher than those of the CCD- (1.0(1.0) vs. 0.0(1.0), P = 0.013; 1.0(1.5) vs. 0.0(1.5), P = 0.048). After the surgery, the NIHSS and mRS scores of the CCD + showed a significant decrease (0.0(1.0) to 0.0(0.0), P = 0.011; 0.0(0.5) to 0.0(0.0), P = 0.008). Significant differences were observed in the supra-tentorial decreased metabolism region (all Ps ≤ 0.05) between the CCD + and CCD- groups, but no differences were observed in the preprocedural decreased supratentorial blood flow region (P > 0.05). The preprocedural NIHSS score was strongly correlated with the metabolism AI value in the decreased metabolism region (r = 0.621, P = 0.001) and the co-decreased region (r = 0.571, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Supratentorial blood flow and metabolism are important indicators of CCD. This study showed that CCD + patients benefited more from bypass surgery than CCD- patients. Staging based on CCD-related supra-tentorial blood flow and metabolic status by hybrid PET/MR may help to personalize treatment.

18F-FDG PET/CT Demonstrating Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis Due to Germ Cell Tumor of the Basal Ganglia: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: Germ cell tumors of the basal ganglia are rare neoplasms that usually present with hemiparesis or other neurological symptoms. MR and PET/CT with different tracers have demonstrated their usefulness for the correct assessment of disease. Crossed cerebellar diaschisis refers to a depression in metabolism of a cerebellar hemisphere as a result of contralateral supratentorial lesions. We present a case in which MR and PET/CT were crucial for the assessment of left basal ganglia germ cell tumors with the presence of crossed cerebellar diaschisis.