Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Gunzer, F.
Radiological-anatomical distribution patterns of Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease in relation to cortical systems
Involvement of the cortex with regard to phylogenesis
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Medical University of Graz; 2021. pp. 67
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Hassler Eva Maria
- Simbrunner Josef
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- Abstract:
- Prion diseases are a group of diseases that affect humans and animals, usually present with rapidly progressive symptoms and are always fatal. Diseases triggered by prions occur very rarely but are currently reported more frequently than ever. This study investigates the radiological distribution patterns of cortical lesions on MRI in patients with Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease. These distribution patterns will be related to functional cortical systems based on the dual-origin concept and the cortex’s phylogenesis. This should lead to a better understanding of Jakob-Creutzfeldt disease and the formation of new hypotheses. Ten patients with the diagnosis Jakob-Creutzfeldt were retrospectively selected, and the corresponding MRI images were extracted. The MRI scans were normalised using SPM12 and registered in MNI space. The brain lesions were segmented and then automatically assigned to neuroanatomical areas using a self-written program code. The Talairach atlas and the AAL atlas were used to assign the respective MRI voxels and were taken into account in following statistical analyses. As results, hypotheses on the axonal transport of prions, the connection between clinical symptoms and functional cortical systems, and the involvement of mainly neocortical structures could be consolidated. The assumption that Jakob-Creutzfeldt spares the primary motor cortex should be reconsidered based on this thesis’ results.