A review of the neuroimaging findings in human prion disease

Abstract

Imaging occupies an important role in the investigation of dementia and neurodegenerative disease. The role of imaging in prion disease used to be one of exclusion of other conditions. Over the last decade, the non-invasive nature of MRI, the improved range of MR sequences and availability of clinical and neuropathological correlation, have lead to a more prominent position of MRI and its inclusion in the diagnostic criteria for vCJD. As experience of imaging in human prion disease increases, patterns of change related to strain and genotype may improve the diagnostic potential of imaging in the future, may reduce the need for more invasive testing and prove useful in future therapeutic trials. This paper reviews the current knowledge of imaging appearances in human prion disease.