Clinical Applications and Implications of Neuroimaging
摘要
Neuroimaging has revolutionized the field of clinical neuroscience by providing essential insights into the structure and function of the human brain. It has played a pivotal role in developing targeted treatment approaches. Brain imaging techniques have seen significant progress, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has added a whole new dimension to the traditional morphological images obtained from structural MRI and computed tomography (CT). The use of these tools has increased our understanding of central nervous system (CNS) pathology, and prognostication. In epilepsy, based on imaging findings, we can classify epilepsy as structural versus nonstructural etiology which aids further investigation of the underlying causes and its management. MRI of the brain is the most used modality in primary diagnosis, treatment planning like surgery or radiation therapy, and surveillance for recurrence in brain tumors. The Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) proposed a classification system with cerebral palsy based on MRI termed as MRI classification system (MRICS) primarily based on the pathogenic mechanisms according to the timing of injury to the developing brain. MRICS is a mainly qualitative classification system for cerebral palsy describing pathogenic neuroimaging patterns related to the timing of brain compromise that helps in selecting patients for genetic evaluation. Neuroimaging techniques like CT, MRI, and further magnetic resonance spectroscopy have helped delineate the pathophysiology and arrive at a specific diagnosis in more than half of the neurometabolic cases. In this chapter, we will explore the clinical applications and implications of neuroimaging, highlighting its profound impact on the field of neuroscience and patient care.