Study: Zheng J, Frankovich J, McKenna ES, et al. Association of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome With Microstructural Differences in Brain Regions Detected via Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging. JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(5):e204063. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.4063
For a more in-depth examination of this study see – Association of PANS With Microstructural Brain Differences on Diffusion MRI Blog
- Sample: 34 patients with PANS vs 64 controls.
- Main finding: Higher diffusivity (ADC) across all examined brain regions in PANS, most pronounced in deep gray matter (thalamus, basal ganglia, amygdala).
- What did not differ: No significant group differences in brain volume; cerebral blood flow differences were limited.
- Clinical takeaway (authors): DWI may provide quantitative information that could assist the diagnostic workup; further prospective study needed.
Gabriella True
