Can Assessment of the Tongue on Brain MRI Aid Differentiation of Seizure from Alternative Causes of Transient Loss of Consciousness?
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol
; 42(9): 1671-1675, 2021 09.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34117021
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Transient loss of consciousness is commonly evaluated in the emergency department. Although typically caused by epileptic seizure, syncope, or psychogenic nonepileptic seizure, the underlying etiology is frequently misdiagnosed. Lateral tongue bites are reportedly a specific clinical finding of seizure. We have observed tongue signal abnormality suggesting bite injury on brain MR imaging after seizures. We hypothesized an association between tongue signal abnormality and seizure diagnosis among patients in the emergency department imaged for transient loss of consciousness. Our purposes were to determine the prevalence of tongue signal abnormality among this population and the predictive performance for seizure diagnosis. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
For this retrospective study including 82 brain MR imaging examinations, 2 readers independently assessed tongue signal abnormality on T2-weighted and T2-weighted FLAIR images. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus, and interrater reliability (Cohen κ) was calculated. The final diagnosis was recorded. Proportions were compared using the Fisher exact test.RESULTS:
Tongue signal abnormality was present on 19/82 (23%) MR imaging examinations. Interrater reliability was "substantial" (κ = 0.77). Seizure was diagnosed among 18/19 (95%) patients with tongue signal abnormality and 29/63 (46%) patients without it (P < .001). In our cohort, tongue signal abnormality conveyed 97% specificity, 95% positive predictive value, and 63% accuracy for seizure diagnosis.CONCLUSIONS:
Tongue signal abnormality was observed in 23% of the study cohort and conveyed 97% specificity and 95% positive predictive value for seizure diagnosis. By assessing and reporting tongue signal abnormality, radiologists may facilitate a timely and accurate diagnosis of seizure among patients imaged for transient loss of consciousness.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Convulsões
/
Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article