Tag: ventricular enlargement

Quantitative assessment of cerebral ventricular volumes in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Previous qualitative volumetric assessment of lateral ventricular enlargement in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has provided evidence for subtle structural changes in the brains of some individuals with CFS. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether a more sensitive quantitative assessment of the lateral ventricular system would support the previous qualitative findings.

In this study, we compared the total lateral ventricular volume, as well as the right and left hemisphere subcomponents in 28 participants with CFS and 15 controls. Ventricular volumes in the CFS group were larger than in control groups, a difference that approached statistical significance. Group differences in ventricular asymmetry were not observed. The results of this study provide further evidence of subtle pathophysiological changes in the brains of participants with CFS.

 

Source: Lange G, Holodny AI, DeLuca J, Lee HJ, Yan XH, Steffener J, Natelson BH. Quantitative assessment of cerebral ventricular volumes in chronic fatigue syndrome. Appl Neuropsychol. 2001;8(1):23-30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11388120

 

A controlled study of brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Two neuroradiologists compared the brain MR scans of 52 patients with the CDC criteria for the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with those of 52 age and sex matched controls who had undergone imaging because of histories of head trauma or headache.

CFS patients had significantly more abnormal scans than controls–27% vs 2%. Abnormalities seen were foci of increased white matter T2 signal in 9 CFS patients and one control and ventricular or sulcal enlargement in 5 CFS patients. Follow up of patients with subcortical signal hyperintensities revealed 3 who had symptoms suggestive of other known medical causes of what appeared to be CFS.

The data indicate that some CFS patients have some organic problem manifesting itself on neuroimaging. But, finding MR abnormalities should warn the physician that the patient’s symptoms may be secondary to some other medical illness and not simply primary CFS.

 

Source: Natelson BH, Cohen JM, Brassloff I, Lee HJ. A controlled study of brain magnetic resonance imaging in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome. J Neurol Sci. 1993 Dec 15;120(2):213-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8138812