Dataset Information

Standard Diffusion-weighted MRI for the Diagnosis of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion : A Case-Control Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To evaluate diffusion abnormalities of the retina and optic nerve in patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) using standard stroke diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI).

Methods

In this case-control study, DWI scans of patients with nonarteritic CRAO were retrospectively assessed for acute ischemia of the retina and optic nerve. Two neuroradiologists, blinded for patient diagnosis, randomly evaluated DWI of CRAO patients and controls (a collective of stroke and transient ischemic attack [TIA] patients) for restrictions of the retina and optic nerve. We calculated statistical quality criteria and analyzed inter-rater reliability using unweighted Kappa statistics.

Results

20 CRAO patients (60,6 ± 17 years) and 20 controls (60,7 ± 17 years) were included in the study. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for retinal DWI restrictions were 75%/80%/79%/76% (reader 1) and 75%/100%/100%/80% (reader 2), respectively. Unweighted Kappa was κ = 0,70 (95% CI 0,48‑0,92), indicating "substantial" interrater reliability. In comparison, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV (positive and negative predictive values) for restrictions of the optic nerve in CRAO were 55%/70%/65%/61% (reader 1) and 25%/100%/100%/57% (reader 2). Inter-rater reliability was "fair" with unweighted Kappa κ = 0,32 (95% CI 0,09‑0,56).

Conclusions

Retinal diffusion restrictions were present in a majority of CRAO patients and detectable with reasonable sensitivity, high specificity and substantial inter-rater reliability. Further studies are necessary to study time dependency of retinal diffusion restrictions, improve image quality and investigate the reliability of retinal DWI to discern CRAO from other causes of acute loss of vision.

SUBMITTER: Danyel LA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8463394 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundCentral retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an acute eye disease that seriously damages vision. Patients with CRAO often have a combination of various cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs), and CRAO patients often ignore their cardio-cerebrovascular disorders because of their ocular symptoms. In addition, there are few reports about CRAO patients with CCVDs received effective interventions implemented. We report the diagnosis and treatment of a Chinese CRAO patient with CCVD who received timely multidisciplinary interventional therapy to provide ideas for clinical ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and treatment of similar diseases.Case descriptionA 76-year-old male patient, who had previously been diagnosed with hypertension, was admitted to hospital due to a sudden decrease in vision in his right eye for >2 days with a severe headache. After fundus photography, he was diagnosed with CRAO in the right eye. His cerebral angiography revealed multiple stenoses at arteries of his neck and brain included the right ophthalmic artery. Neurosurgery was attempted to perform a thrombolysis of the right ophthalmic artery while performing the angiography, but failed to find the opening of the right ophthalmic artery. However, through electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring during the operation, we found that the patient had frequent ventricular premature beats, so the Department of Cardiology performed coronary arteriography for him which revealed severe stenosis of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. The cardiologists performed a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) at the same time as the coronary angiography. Some 2 months later, the patient was admitted to the Neurosurgery Department to implant stent at the left vertebral artery. After stent implantation, his headache symptom improved significantly and his right eye vision improved.ConclusionsThrough timely cerebral angiography and ophthalmic examinations, the patient was diagnosed with CRAO combined with CCVD, and after received multidisciplinary interventional therapy, the patient's right eye vision and headache symptom improved and more severe cardio-cerebrovascular adverse events were avoided. In treating CRAO patients, in addition to aggressive eye treatment, the systemic cardio-cerebrovascular situation of each patient should also be assessed, a timely diagnosis made, and effective interventions implemented to reduce morbidity- and mortality-related cardio-cerebrovascular events.