Skip to main content
Log in

Diffusion tensor imaging of the cerebellum in patients after heat stroke

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Acta Neurologica Belgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To explore the application value of cerebellar diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients after heat stroke (HS). Eleven patients after HS with a score of 3–9 in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and seven age-matched healthy volunteers were selected to undergo MR examinations during the same hot summer. The MR studies including DTI were performed with a 1.5 T scanner. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values of normal-appearing cerebellar white and gray matter were measured and the differences between the two groups were evaluated with Mann–Whitney U test. The FA value of normal-appearing cerebellar white matter in patients after HS was found to be decreased compared to normal control subjects (652.5 ± 86.1 vs 769.5 ± 58.4, p = 0.025). The FA value of normal-appearing cerebellar gray matter in patients after HS was found to be decreased compared to normal control subjects (158.8 ± 27.9 vs 187.5 ± 15.8, p = 0.040). Neural damage of the cerebellum induced by HS may be effectively evaluated by DTI with the decrease of FA value in normal-appearing cerebellum structures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bouchama A, Knochel JP (2002) Heat stroke. N Engl J Med 346:1978–1988

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Yeo TP (2004) Heat stroke: a comprehensive review. AACN Clin Issues 15:280–293

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lee JS, Choi JC, Kang SY, Kang JH, Park JK (2009) Heat stroke: increased signal intensity in the bilateral cerebellar dentate nuclei and splenium on diffusion-weighted MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 30:E58

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bazille C, Megarbane B, Bensimhon D, Lavergne-Slove A, Baglin AC, Loirat P, Woimant F, Mikol J, Gray F (2005) Brain damage after heat stroke. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 64:970–975

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Murcia-Gubianas C, Valls-Masot L, Rognoni-Amrein G (2012) Brain magnetic resonance in heat stroke. Med Intensiva 36:526

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Mahajan S, Schucany WG (2008) Symmetric bilateral caudate, hippocampal, cerebellar, and subcortical white matter MRI abnormalities in an adult patient with heat stroke. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 21:433–436

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ookura R, Shiro Y, Takai T, Okamoto M, Ogata M (2009) Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of a severe heat stroke patient complicated with severe cerebellar ataxia. Intern Med 48:1105–1108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Prasun P, Karmarkar SA, Agarwal A, Stockton DW (2012) Unusual physical features and heat stroke presentation for hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Clin Dysmorphol 21:24–26

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Muccio CF, De Blasio E, Venditto M, Esposito G, Tassi R, Cerase A (2013) Heat-stroke in an epileptic patient treated by topiramate: follow-up by magnetic resonance imaging including diffusion-weighted imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient measure. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 115:1558–1560

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Leon LR, Helwig BG (2010) Heat stroke: role of the systemic inflammatory response. J Appl Physiol 109:1980–1988

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Fushimi Y, Taki H, Kawai H, Togashi K (2012) Abnormal hyperintensity in cerebellar efferent pathways on diffusion-weighted imaging in a patient with heat stroke. Clin Radiol 67:389–392

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

We have no conflict of interest to declare.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jun Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, J., Zhang, Xy., Wang, B. et al. Diffusion tensor imaging of the cerebellum in patients after heat stroke. Acta Neurol Belg 115, 147–150 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-014-0343-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-014-0343-6

Keywords

Navigation