Functional imaging of a large demyelinating lesion

To determine the metabolic characterization of a large solitary demyelinating lesion. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) studies with 2-deoxy-2-[F-18]fluoro- d-glucose (FDG), carbon-11-methionine (methionine) and carbon-11-choline (choline) were done on the demyelinating lesion. The demyelinating lesion exhibited a low glucose uptake, prominent methionine uptake and a minimal choline uptake on the PET studies. MRS data revealed an increased choline to creatine (cho/cr) ratio and a decreased N-acetyl-aspartate to creatine (NAA/cr) ratio, which demonstrated a return to near normal ratios on follow-up study. The report summarizes the metabolic characteristics of a demyelinating plaque.