Aberrant gray matter structure in neurosyphilis without conventional MRI abnormality: a pilot study with voxel and surface-based morphology.
Acta Radiol
; 64(5): 1985-1993, 2023 May.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36471581
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The underlying mechanism of neurosyphilis was not fully understood.PURPOSE:
To assess gray matter (GM) microstructure in patients with early-stage neurosyphilis without overt conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormality using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM) analyses. MATERIAL ANDMETHODS:
Three-dimensional high-resolution T1-weighted imaging data from 19 individuals with neurosyphilis and 19 healthy controls were analyzed. A battery of neuropsychological tests was performed before each MRI examination. The differences of GM volume and cerebral cortical morphological data between the two groups were compared. The correlations between MRI metrics and neuropsychology/laboratory tests in the patient group were investigated.RESULTS:
Regional decreased GM volumes in patients with neurosyphilis were found in the left frontal cortices (Rolandic operculum, middle frontal, and precentral) and bilateral temporal/occipital cortices (bilateral middle temporal, left lingual, and right middle occipital) (P < 0.05, FDR correction). SBM analysis showed significant cortical thickness reduction in the right medial orbitofrontal lobe, and reduced gyrification index in the left insula in patients with neurosyphilis (P < 0.05, FDR correction). Additionally, in the patient group, the GM volume in the middle frontal gyrus, the cortical thickness of right medial orbitofrontal lobe, and the gyrification index in the left insula were negatively correlated to the number connection test-A scores. The gyrification index was also negatively correlated to cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count.CONCLUSION:
Early-stage neurosyphilis without conventional MRI abnormality presented regional GM volume reduction and cortical morphological changes, which might be related to cognitive impairment and intra-cranial infection. VBM and SBM analyses might be useful for understanding the underlying neural trait of neurosyphilis.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Sustancia Gris
/
Lóbulo Frontal
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Acta Radiol
Año:
2023
Tipo del documento:
Article