MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields and radio waves, without any X-rays, to produce images of the inside of your body. It is non-invasive and considered very safe, but some people with metal implants and cardiac pacemakers are unable to have MRI due to the interaction of the magnetic field and radio waves with these devices. Talk to your doctor or the imaging technician if you have any concerns about entering the magnet. Some people find lying in the scanner produces anxiety or claustrophobia because of the tube-like shape or the loud sounds during the scan. Sedation may be available to you if needed, but relaxation techniques like deep breathing, visualization and meditation can also help. Some MRI scanners allow you to listen to music or watch a movie. To get the best pictures, you need to be as still as possible while in the scanner. For people who cannot get a MRI because of a pacemaker, a CT may be performed, although this test cannot diagnose CJD.

We have found brain MRI to be the single most helpful tool for diagnosing CJD. Two types of MRI sequences, Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) and particularly diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), typically show abnormalities in the cerebral cortex, striatum and/or thalamus of the brain in people with CJD. The presence and pattern of these abnormalities can support a diagnosis of CJD and may eliminate the need for invasive tests, such as a brain biopsy. For people who might have CJD but can't get a MRI, a brain biopsy may be necessary to make the proper diagnosis.