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Originalartikel

Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Neuromorphometry in Single Patients –

A Proposal for its Usefulness

Published Online:May 29, 2012https://doi.org/10.1024/1016-264X/a000065

Abstract

The usefulness of MRI-based neuromorphometry for the investigation of single patients is described. A longitudinal cortical thickness analysis in a patient revealed lateral temporal lobe atrophy, suggesting rather semantic than frontotemporal dementia. A boy with the diagnosis of ADHD and control boys were compared and showed cortical thickness increases in the patient in the orbitofrontal cortex contradicting ADHD and suggesting disturbed social behaviour. The multiple synaesthetes E. S. was compared with control groups and showed hyperconnectivity between auditory and gustatory brain regions suggesting that interval-taste synaesthesia is rooted in anatomical alterations. McLeod syndrome patients were investigated and revealed severe atrophy of the caudate nucleus bilateral across time. Additionally, statistical recommendations for the comparison of MRI data of single patients are provided.


Magnet-Resonanz-Tomographie-basierte Neuromorphometrie in einzelnen Patienten – ein Exposé für ihre Nützlichkeit

Die Nützlichkeit MRT-basierter Neuromorphometrie zur Untersuchung einzelner Patienten wird beschrieben. Eine longitudinale, kortikale Dickeanalyse in einem Patient zeigte Atrophie im lateralen Temporallappen, welche eher eine semantische als eine frontotemporale Demenz suggeriert. Ein Knabe mit der Diagnose ADHS und Kontrollknaben wurden verglichen und der Patient zeigte erhöhte kortikale Dicke im orbitofrontalen Kortex. Dieser Befund spricht gegen ADHS und legt eher ein gestörtes Sozialverhalten nahe. Die multiple Synästhetin E. S. wurde mit zwei Kontrollgruppen verglichen und zeigte Hyperkonnektivität zwischen auditorischen und gustatorischen Hirnregionen, was nahelegt, dass ihre Interval-Geschmacks-Synaesthesie in diesen anatomischen Veränderungen wurzelt. Patienten mit McLeod-Syndrom wurden untersucht und zeigten starke Atrophie im Nucleus caudatus bilateral über die Zeit. Statistische Empfehlungen zum Vergleich von MRT-Daten von einzelnen Patienten werden zusätzlich gegeben.

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