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DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-972134
Assessment of cerebral metabolism using magnetic resonance spectroscopy in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy
Purpose: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) has been established for prevention of stroke recurrence. However, it is still unknown if CEA is associated with patient's cerebral metabolism or not. We evaluated cerebral metabolism using magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in patients before and after CEA.
Methods: Twenty patients underwent MR spectroscopy before and after CEA. Single voxel MR spectroscopy was scanned with PRESS method using GE SIGNA 3.0 T Excite HD. We calculated the area under peaks of Cholin (Cho), Creatine (Cre) and N-acetyl Aspartate (NAA) on a console. WAIS-R as higher brain function was evaluated before and after CEA in each patient.
Results: NAA/Cr of the affected side was significantly lower than that of non affected side before surgery (p=0.0072). NAA/Cr in the patients who had elevated WAIS-R after CEA improved after CEA. NAA/Cr in the patients who had reduced WAIS-R after CEA aggravated after CEA.
Conclusion: Cerebral metabolism could improve after CEA. MR spectroscopy could evaluate higher brain function impairment after CEA.