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MRI and clinical features of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-antibody disease may overlap with those of other inflammatory demyelinating conditions posing diagnostic challenges, especially in non-acute phases and when serologic testing for MOG antibodies is unavailable or shows uncertain results. We aimed to identify MRI and clinical markers that differentiate non-acute MOG-antibody disease from aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-antibody neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, guiding in the identification of patients with MOG-antibody disease in clinical practice. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, data from 16 MAGNIMS centres were included. Data collection and analyses were conducted from 2019 to 2021. Inclusion criteria were: diagnosis of MOG-antibody disease; AQP4-neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder and multiple sclerosis; brain and cord MRI at least 6 months from relapse; and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score on the day of MRI. Brain white matter T2 lesions, T1-hypointense lesions, cortical and cord lesions were identified. Random forest models were constructed to classify patients as MOG-antibody disease/AQP4-neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder/multiple sclerosis; a leave one out cross-validation procedure assessed the performance of the models. Based on the best discriminators between diseases, we proposed a guide to target investigations for MOG-antibody disease. One hundred and sixty-two patients with MOG-antibody disease [99 females, mean age: 41 (±14) years, median EDSS: 2 (0–7.5)], 162 with AQP4-neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder [132 females, mean age: 51 (±14) years, median EDSS: 3.5 (0–8)], 189 with multiple sclerosis (132 females, mean age: 40 (±10) years, median EDSS: 2 (0–8)] and 152 healthy controls (91 females) were studied. In young patients (

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare and severe inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). It is strongly associated with anti-aquaporin 4 antibodies (AQP4-IgG), and it mainly affects young women from non-white ethnicities. However, ~ 5 to 10% of all cases have onset during childhood. Children and adolescents share the same clinical, radiologic, and laboratory presentation as adults. Thus, the same NMOSD diagnostic criteria are also applied to pediatric-onset patients, but data on NMOSD in this population is still scarce. In seronegative pediatric patients, there is a high frequency of the antibody against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) indicating another disease group, but the clinical distinction between these two diseases may be challenging. Three drugs (eculizumab, satralizumab, and inebilizumab) have been recently approved for the treatment of adult patients with AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD. Only satralizumab has recruited adolescents in one of the two pivotal clinical trials. Additional clinical trials in pediatric NMOSD are urgently required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of these drugs in this population. Resumo O espectro da neuromielite óptica (ENMO) é uma rara e grave doença inflamatória do sistema nervoso central (SNC), fortemente associada ao anticorpo anti-aquaporina 4 (AQP4-IgG) e que afeta preferencialmente mulheres jovens de etnias não-caucasianas. No entanto, aproximadamente de 5 a 10% de todos os casos se iniciam na infância. Crianças e adolescentes compartilham as mesmas características clínicas, radiológicas e laboratoriais dos adultos. Além disso, o mesmo critério diagnóstico de ENMO é aplicado para pacientes com início na infância. No entanto, dados da população pediátrica são escassos. Em pacientes pediátricos soronegativos, existe uma alta frequência de positividade ao anticorpo contra a glicoproteína na mielina do oligodendrócito (MOG-IgG), indicando outra patologia; porém, a distinção clínica entre as duas doenças é desafiadora. Três medicações (eculizumabe, inebilizumabe e satralizumabe) foram recentemente aprovadas para pacientes adultos com AQP4-IgG. Apenas um dos ensaios pivotais do satralizumabe recrutou adolescentes. Novos ensaios clínicos em pacientes pediátricos com ENMO são necessários para avaliar a segurança e eficácia destas drogas nesta população.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system is a rare inflammatory vasculopathy and it is a difficult diagnosis to make because of its kaleidoscopic presentation and its multiple mimics, including multiple sclerosis.A 21-year-old men presented a four-year history of progressive gait deterioration. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and spine showed hyperintense round-shaped lesions on T2 images, many with contrast enhancement, in supra/infratentorial and spinal segments. He received treatment for multiple sclerosis but presented clinical worsening, and follow-up neuroimaging showed persistent contrast enhancement lesions and a cerebellar hematoma. Brain biopsy was performed and demonstrated inflammatory infiltrations in blood vessels. The patient received 6 monthly schedules of 5 g methylprednisolone and 1 g cyclophosphamide with clinical stabilization.Our patient presented a primary angiitis central nervous system according to the Birnbaum and Hellmann proposed criteria. This case reinforces the importance of advancing the differential diagnosis of patients that present red flags in brain neuroimaging.The presence of the micro/macrobleeds and persistent contrast enhancing lesions should raise the suspicion of vasculitis in the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Sussanne Reyes,1 Carolina de Medeiros Rimkus,2 Betsy Lozoff,3 Cecilia Algarin,1 Patricio Peirano1 1Laboratory of Sleep and Functional Neurobiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; 2Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM-44), Department of Radiology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 3Department of Pediatrics and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USACorrespondence: Patricio Peirano, Laboratory of Sleep and Functional Neurobiology, Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul 7830490, Región Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile, Tel +56 2 29781447, Email ppeirano@inta.uchile.clPurpose: Sleep is essential for life and plays a key role for optimal physiology, brain functioning, and health. Evidence suggests a relation between sleep and cerebral white matter integrity. Human studies report that sleep duration shows a U-shaped association with brain functioning. We hypothesized that participants with longer or shorter sleep time in the nighttime period show altered microstructural white matter integrity.Participants and Methods: Seventy-three young adult participants were evaluated. Sleep-wake cycle parameters were assessed objectively using actigraphy. Diffusion tensor imaging studies were performed to assess white matter integrity using fractional anisotropy and mean, axial, and radial diffusivities. Relations between white matter microstructure indexes and sleep parameters were investigated through tract-based spatial statistics. Participants were grouped according to their nocturnal total sleep time: 27 in the Reference sleep group (6.5– 8.0 h), 23 in the Short sleep group (< 6.5 h) and 23 in the Long sleep group (> 8.0 h).Results: Compared with the Reference sleep group, participants in the Long sleep group showed lower fractional anisotropy (p < 0.05) and higher radial diffusivity (p < 0.05) values in white matter tracts linked to sleep regulation (corona radiata, body of the corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and anterior thalamic radiation).Conclusion: This pattern of reduced fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity in the Long sleep group indicates an association between sleep duration and lower integrity of myelin sheaths. Because myelin is continuously remodeled in the brain, nighttime sleep characteristics appear to be a key player for its quality and maintenance.Keywords: long sleep, brain, myelin, fractional anisotropy

Brain ischemia affects the integrity of local white matter and regions that are distant to the primary lesion location. In this study, we analyzed the patterns of white matter microstructural damage and the cognitive performance of 22 patients with left hemisphere stroke. Patients were divided in two groups: one with target lesion affecting the left inferior frontal gyrus (left inferior frontal gyrus, LIFG, n = 11) and the other without ischemic lesion in this region (non-left inferior frontal gyrus, NLIFG, n = 11). Each group was compared with 11 matched healthy controls. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to assess differences in diffusion tensor indices between the groups and for the association of white matter structure with cognitive performance. When compared to Controls, the LIFG showed extensive intra- and interhemispheric disconnection, with surrogate markers for tissue loss with demyelination in the corpus callosum, and microstructural changes that are independent of gross tissue loss in the contralateral hemisphere. The NLIFG group presented discrete alterations in white matter from the ipsilateral hemisphere, with surrogate markers for tissue loss with axonal injury. When LIFG is compared to NLIFG, white matter abnormalities with no gross tissue loss were observed in the corpus callosum and in the contralateral hemisphere. In addition LIFG had worse performance on cognitive functions. In conclusion, our results identify different diffusion profiles for LIFG and NLIFG groups, suggesting more extensive and pronounced white matter damage in the commissural and interhemispheric connections in the LIFG group, in addition to more pronounced cognitive impairment.

Around 5% of all Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) cases start before 18 years of age. Clinical and radiological manifestations of AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD were revised in 2015, and the importance of neuroimaging in the diagnosis is well recognized. Neuroimaging findings in pediatric-onset NMOSD were scarcely described, and longitudinal evaluation of NMOSD lesions was only accessed in a few adult-onset cohorts.This study evaluated brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve MRI of sixteen pediatric-onset AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD through a qualitative evaluation of lesion evolution. Lesions were classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic in acute or chronic phase (30 days from last attack) MRI.Seventy MRI scans and 54 subsequent exams were evaluated. Most NMOSD lesions (74.5%) reduced, remained stable, or developed atrophy/cavitation. New brain lesions or enlargement of existing brain lesions were found in two patients (12.5%) without any clinical symptom and in five patients (31.2%) in the course of an attack from other topography (optic neuritis or acute myelitis). One patient (6.3%) presented an asymptomatic spinal cord lesion irrespective of clinical manifestation. No asymptomatic lesion was described in optic nerve MRI. In acute phase exams, longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (13/19 vs 8/24; p = 0.033), cervical myelitis (15/19 vs 10/24, p = 0.028), lumbar myelitis (5/19 vs 0/24; p = 0.012), and a higher number of segments [median 8 (range 4-17) vs 3.5 (range 1-14); p = 0.003] were affected.Asymptomatic brain and spinal cord lesions can occur in pediatric-onset NMOSD, especially in the course of acute optic neuritis or myelitis. More longitudinal studies are necessary to guide recommendations on neuroimaging frequency in pediatric patients with AQP4-IgG NMOSD.

Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) is a severe condition associated with high disability and low quality of life (QoL) in adults. Since this evaluation had been rarely perfomed in children, this study aimed to describe QoL in pediatric-onset NMOSD with positive aquaporin4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) patients. Methods This was a cross-section evaluation of patients and parents’ proxy QoL from individuals enrolled in a longitudinal cohort of AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD with onset ≤ 18 years of age. Results Eighteen patients were included, sixteen girls. The mean (SD) age at disease onset was 11.5 (3.6) years. Eleven of patients experienced disability during a mean (SD) of 8.3 (5.3) years of follow-up. NMOSD had impact in QoL in 10 patients, being associated with higher EDSS and poor academic performance at last follow-up. Results from the PEDsQL inventory for 13 patients and 10 parents disclosed low QoL specially in emotional functioning. Conclusion This study indicates impaired quality of life, high disability and high impact of the disease in daily life of adolescents and young adults with pediatric onset NMOSD.

A 29-year-old woman with a history of neurotuberculosis at the age of 18 months presented with seizures, abnormal gait, and fluctuations of consciousness level, recovering after anti-tuberculosis treatment. She remained asymptomatic for the next years, except for moderate cognitive impairment. Years later, a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan () revealed calcified lobulated masses in the brain parenchyma and basal cisterns. Intracranial tuberculomas occur in 5–24% of pediatric neurotuberculosis and can be secondary to pial vessel inflammation, perivascular abscesses, or [...]

Background: Coordinated patterns of gray matter morphology can be represented as networks, and network disruptions may explain cognitive dysfunction related to multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: To investigate whether single-subject gray matter network properties are related to impaired cognition in MS. Methods: We studied 148 MS patients (99 female) and 33 healthy controls (HC, 21 female). Seven network parameters were computed and compared within MS between cognitively normal and impaired subjects, and associated with performance on neuropsychological tests in six cognitive domains with regression models. Analyses were controlled for age, gender, whole-brain gray matter volumes, and education level. Results: Compared to MS subjects with normal cognition, MS subjects with cognitive impairment showed a more random network organization as indicated by lower lambda values (all p Conclusion: Our findings indicate that MS subjects with a more randomly organized gray matter network show worse cognitive functioning, suggesting that single-subject gray matter graphs may capture neurological dysfunction due to MS.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The remyelination process requires the activation, migration and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) in demyelinated areas. The metabolic dysfunction in chronic demyelinating lesions impairs the activation of OPCs, the myelin debris clearance by microglia decreases with age, along with diminished secretion of factors promoting OPC differentiation. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences have limited ability to differentiate unmyelinated and remyelinated lesions. Advanced MRI sequences based on magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), myelin water fraction (MWF) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) have been used to evaluate remyelination in clinical trials. More recently, the q-space myelin map (qMM) has been used on experimental and exploratory clinical studies. The improvement of myelin-specific MRI sequences with high reliability and standardization among centers will allow a more accurate evaluation of new therapies to improve remyelination. These new remyelination promoting treatments alone or in combination with current options may reduce the risk of long-term disability in MS.

Background Cognitive impairment is one of the concerns of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and has been related to myelin loss. Different neuroimaging methods have been used to quantify myelin and relate it to cognitive dysfunctions, among them Magnetization Transfer Ratio (MTR), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), and, more recently, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with 11C-PIB. Objective To investigate different myelin imaging modalities as predictors of cognitive dysfunction. Methods Fifty-one MS patients and 24 healthy controls underwent clinical and neuropsychological assessment and MTR, DTI (Axial Diffusion-AD and Fractional Anisotropy-FA maps), and 11C-PIB PET images in a PET/MR hybrid system. Results MTR and DTI(FA) differed in patients with or without cognitive impairment. There was an association of DTI(FA) and DTI(AD) with cognition and psychomotor speed for progressive MS, and of 11C-PIB uptake and MTR for relapsing-remitting MS. MTR in the Thalamus (β= -0.51, p = 0.021) and Corpus Callosum (β= -0.24, p = 0.033) were predictive of cognitive impairment. DTI-FA in the Caudate (β= -26.93, p = 0.006) presented abnormal predictive result. Conclusion Lower myelin content by 11C-PIB uptake was associated with worse cognitive status. MTR was predictive of cognitive impairment in MS.

Some drugs and medications can precipitate immune system deregulations, which might be confused with recurrent demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMO), exacerbations of an existing disease, neoplastic lesions or other conditions. In this narrative review we describe some of the most relevant drugs and medications associated with iatrogenic demyelination. The anthelminthic agent levamisole is a frequent cocaine adulterant and can precipitate an exacerbated immune response attacking the central nervous system (CNS). High-efficacy multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs might induce a selective CNS immunosuppression, making it susceptible for opportunistic infections that course with demyelination, such as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Sometimes, the interruption of a high-efficacy drug to treat MS can induce a rapid CNS reentry of lymphocytes, exacerbating demyelinating processes and triggering rebound syndromes. Furthermore, selective cytokines inhibition, such as anti-TNFα agents, might induce an imbalance between cell death and proliferation inducing a paradoxical increase of CNS tumor necrosis factor (TNF), affecting the activity of lymphocytes, microglia and macrophages, triggering aberrant inflammation and demyelination. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a new class of antineoplastic drugs that enhance the immune response against tumor cells by an upregulation of T-cell activity. However, this hyperactivation of the immune system might be associated with induction of unwanted autoimmune responses. In this paper we review the risk factors, the possible pathological mechanisms and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of these drug-related demyelinating syndromes.

ObjectiveTo describe the clinical phenotypes, treatment response, and outcome of children with antibodies against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab) neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).MethodsRetrospective, multicenter, and multinational study of patients with AQP4-Ab NMOSD aged ResultsA total of 67 children were identified. At last follow-up (median 4 years, interquartile range 2–10 years), 37/67(57.8%) were found to have permanent disability. A more severe disease course was seen in the non-White ethnicity with both a shorter time to first relapse (p = 0.049) and a worse Expanded Disability Status Scale score at last follow-up (p = 0.008). The median ARR on treatment was 0.18 on azathioprine (n = 39, range 0–4), 0 on mycophenolate mofetil (n = 18, range 0–3), and 0 on rituximab (n = 29, range 0–2). No patient treated with rituximab as first-line therapy relapsed. Optic neuritis at onset was associated with a poor visual outcome below 20/200 (OR 8.669, 95% CI 1.764–42.616, p = 0.008), and a younger age at onset was associated with cognitive impairment (OR 0.786, 95% CI 0.644–0.959, p = 0.018).ConclusionsAQP4-Ab NMOSD in children is an aggressive disease with permanent disabilities observed in over half the cohort. All DMTs were associated with a reduction of ARR. First-line rituximab prevented further clinical relapses. International consensus on treatment protocols for children is required to reduce heterogeneity of treatment regimens used worldwide.Classification of evidenceThis study provides Class IV evidence that for children with AQP4-Ab NMOSD, all DMTs, particularly first-line rituximab, reduced the ARR and prevented further clinical relapses.

Background Low-education attainment is associated with worse cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, and possibly with a lower cognitive reserve and/or increased inflammatory activity. Cognitive reserve refers to the capability of a source of intellectual enrichment in attenuating a negative effect of a disease-related factor; while the inflammatory activity is often related to T2-lesion load (T2-LL) increase. Objective To disentangle the effects of cognitive reserve and an increased T2-LL in MS-patients with low-education levels. Methods The study included 136 MS patients and 65 healthy-controls, divided in low-education (12 years or less of school education without obtaining any technical superior degree) and high-education (more than 12 years of school education with technical or superior degree) groups. An extensive battery of neuropsychological tests was applied examining intelligence quotient and six cognitive domains. Test results were z-scored and subjects with z-scores ≤ −1.5 in two or more domains were considered cognitively impaired. To test the factors associated with worse cognitive performance, regression models were applied using average cognition as target; education level, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), T2-LL, disease duration, age of disease onset, age and gender as predictors. We also tested the correlation between T2-LL and cognition in the groups. To investigate the role of education level as a source of intellectual enrichment/cognitive reserve in different stages of MS, we sub-divided the MS patients in three groups according to the disease duration (less than 5 years, between 5 and 10 years and more than 10 years). Results Worse average cognition was associated with low-education level, higher T2-LL and male gender. A higher frequency of cognitively impaired patients was observed in MS patients with low-education level, in all stages of the disease. In patients with a disease duration shorter than five years, there was a lower correlation between worse average cognition and T2-LL in the high-education level group, compared to the patients with low-education level; in MS patients with longer disease duration, we observed a stronger correlation between lesion burden and cognitive impairment in both groups. Conclusion Education attainment is a source of intellectual enrichment and can enhance the cognitive reserve in MS patients. The protective effect of a high-education level was stronger in patients with less than five years of disease, suggesting a stronger role of cognitive reserve in short-term disease. In long-term disease we observed a greater impact of increased inflammatory activity on cognition.

Objective: A 4.5-year follow-up study was conducted to characterize baseline verbal episodic memory (VEM) and its behavior and to assess the effects of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) on this domain. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with RRMS underwent two neuropsychological assessments performed an average of 4.5 years apart. Twenty-six control participants underwent a single neuropsychological assessment. A significance level of p < 0.005 was adopted to denote a significant difference between the groups on the Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon paired statistical analyses. Results: No statistical difference was found in the results of the VEM tests between the first and second neuropsychological assessments of the patients. However, a statistical difference was evident between the patient and control groups in the results of the VEM tests. Conclusion: The patient group showed changes in the VEM relative to the control group. After approximately 4.5 years of disease, the patient performance on the VEM stabilized or improved.

Clinical and radiographic evaluation of the shoulders of tetraplegic and paraplegic patients who attend rehabilitation program.The objective of this study is to establish the usefulness of radiography as a trial exam for shoulder pain in spinal cord injured patients.Hospital das Clinicas-UNICAMP. Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.Thirty-two shoulders of 16 patients were evaluated by clinical exam and radiography. Patients were divided into two groups: paraplegic and tetraplegic. A control group of 16 normal volunteer subjects was selected.Shoulder pain was reported in 88.89% of tetraplegic and 42.85% of paraplegic. The time of injury ranged from 1.5-22 years (mean 7.88 years); patients had a mean age of 34.68 years (range, 21-57 years). The acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) space ranged from 0.03-0.7 cm on the right side and 0.15-0.7 cm on the left side, with a mean of 0.37 and 0.41 cm, respectively. No correlation was found between shoulder pain and gender, age or time since injury. There was a trend to correlation between shoulder pain and type of injury with tetraplegic having a tendency to pain symptoms. On average, tetraplegic had smaller ACJ.The small number of patients in this study did not allow us to confirm the hypothesis that X-ray finding may indicate risk for shoulder pain in spinal cord injury patients. A work with a greater number of subjects could demonstrate association between shoulder pain and the reduced acromioclavicular distance, making plain radiography a trial exam for spinal cord-injured patients.

A 44-year-old man presented with severe right visual loss. The right fundus examination showed marked optic disc oedema associated with partial macular star. Serological blood tests for infectious agents were all negative. Serum aquaporin-4 antibody was negative but anti-MOG (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) was positive. Magnetic resonance revealed extensive lesion in right optic nerve. There was no visual improvement after intravenous therapy. Patient had no further attacks after follow-up. Optic disc oedema with macular star is found in several infectious and non-inflammatory disorders, but it has not been reported in optic neuritis (ON) associated with autoantibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (anti-MOG).

Background. Despite growing literature on posterior vascular disease, specific information about the cognitive and functional profiles of patients with basilar artery occlusion disease (BAOD) is scarce. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the cognitive statuses of BAOD survivors versus healthy controls and (2) to correlate the functional capacity outcomes with the cognitive profiles of BAOD patients.Methods. Comprehensive cognitive and functional assessments were carried out in 28 patients with BAOD and 27 age- and education level-matched healthy controls.Results. Compared to matched controls, patients presented impairments in selective, sustained, and set-shifting attention, processing speed, visuospatial skills, mental flexibility, and monitoring rules. There were significant deficits in verbal episodic memory (immediate and delayed recall) and visuospatial episodic memory (immediate and delayed recall and recognition). Functional capacity outcomes were significantly related to the cognitive test results. Seventy-five percent of patients had a Modified Rankin Scale score of 0 or 1.Conclusions. Our results indicate good functional outcomes in a selected group of BAOD survivors, despite the presence of subnormal performance on some cognitive tests, including tests of attention, executive function, and long-term memory.

Toxic leukoencephalopathies can be secondary to the exposure to a wide variety of exogenous agents, including cranial irradiation, chemotherapy, antiepileptic agents, drugs of abuse, and environmental toxins. There is no typical clinical picture, and patients can present with a wide array of signs and symptoms. Involvement of white matter is a key finding in this scenario, although in some circumstances other high metabolic areas of the central nervous system can also be affected. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging usually discloses bilateral and symmetric white matter areas of hyperintense signal on T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, and signs of restricted diffusion are associated in the acute stage. In most cases, the changes are reversible, especially with prompt recognition of the disease and discontinuation of the noxious agent. Either the MR or clinical features may be similar to several nontoxic entities, such as demyelinating diseases, leukodystrophies, hepatic encephalopathy, vascular disease, hypoxic-ischemic states, and others. A high index of suspicion should be maintained whenever a patient presents recent onset of neurologic deficit, searching the risk of exposure to a neurotoxic agent. Getting to know the most frequent MR appearances and mechanisms of action of causative agents may help to make an early diagnosis and begin therapy, improving outcome. In this review, some of the most important causes of leukoencephalopathies are presented; as well as other 2 related conditions: strokelike migraine attacks after radiation therapy syndrome and reversible splenial lesions.

Introdução: Os processos degenerativos vêm sendo considerados determinantes da progressão do déficit neurológico na esclerose múltipla (EM) e são associados sobretudo à perda neuronal e axonal. A patologia na substância branca (SB) manifesta-se pela quebra de membranas e perda da complexidade microestrutural dos tratos cerebrais, o que pode ser estudado indiretamente pelas alterações nos índices de fração de anisotropia (FA) e difusividade média (DM), obtidos por meio das análises das imagens por tensores de difusão (diffusion tensor imaging - DTI). Essa técnica oferece outros dois índices mais específicos, a difusividade axial () e difusividade radial (), que são associados aos processos de perda axonal e desmielinização, respectivamente. A perda neuronal na substância cinzenta (SC) pode ser avaliada pelo grau de atrofia do córtex cerebral. Este estudo tem como objetivos mensurar os índices de DTI na maior comissura cerebral, o corpo caloso (CC), e o grau e distribuição da atrofia cortical em indivíduos com EM remitente-recorrente (EMRR) e baixos escores de incapacidade funcional, correlacionando essas alterações com o volume de lesões macroscópicas e os principais parâmetros clínicos. Método: 31 indivíduos (22 mulheres, idade média 30,5 anos ± 8,7) com EMRR e um grupo controle (GC) composto por 34 indivíduos saudáveis (27 mulheres, idade média 32,3 anos ± 7,8) realizaram exames de crânio em aparelho de ressonância magnética de 3 Tesla (3T), sendo adquiridas imagens de DTI com 32 direções de gradiente, obtendo-se os índices de FA, DM, e de cinco segmentos na secção sagital do corpo caloso (CC). Através da segmentação de imagens volumétricas ponderadas em T1 foram obtidas as espessuras corticais regionais nos grupos. Esses resultados foram correlacionados com os volumes lesionais de imagens ponderadas em T1 e T2/FLAIR e os escores da escala expandida do estado de incapacidade (Expanded Disability Status Scale - EDSS), considerando-se significativos resultados com p< 0,05. Resultados: Os índices de FA, DM e do CC estavam difusamente alterados no grupo EMRR e a , alterada significativamente no esplênio, tronco médio anterior e tronco médio posterior do CC. Observou-se atrofia cortical significativa no terço anterior dos lobos temporais, bilateralmente, e nas regiões parietal inferior, insular e fronto-orbitária direitas, com uma tendência à atrofia no giro frontal superior esquerdo. As FA, DM e correlacionaram-se com os volumes lesionais T1 e, mais significativamente, com os volumes lesionais T2/FLAIR, porém não houve correlação entre os volumes lesionais e a . A espessura cortical no grupo EMRR apresentou correlações com ambos os volumes lesionais, mais significativamente com as lesões em T1. O escore médio da EDSS era 1,1 ± 0,9 (variando de 0-3), apresentando correlações com a DM e a no esplênio, tronco médio anterior e posterior do CC, com uma correlação com a no tronco médio posterior. O EDSS correlacionou-se com a espessura cortical na topografia do giro frontal superior esquerdo. Discussão e conclusão: Houve alteração difusa nos índices de FA, DM e nos segmentos do CC, com acometimento mais localizado, predominantemente médio posterior, da , o que pode sugerir desmielinização difusa do CC, porém axonopatia ou degeneração mais acentuada em algumas regiões da SB. A atrofia cortical também apresentou uma distribuição regional característica, afetando sobretudo as regiões temporais, bilateralmente, parietal inferior, insular e fronto-orbitária direitas. As correlações encontradas entre os índices de DTI e a espessura cortical e os volumes lesionais demonstraram que, ao menos em parte, as degenerações das SB e SC podem ser relacionadas à degeneração Walleriana, secundária ao acúmulo de placas lesionais. As correlações entre a DM, de alguns segmentos do CC e a espessura cortical do giro frontal superior com os escores da EDSS favoreceram à hipótese de que a degeneração tecidual na EM foi um fator preponderante na progressão do déficit neurológico na EMRR Introduction: The degenerative processes are gaining attention as predictors of the neurological deficit in multiple sclerosis (MS), being reflected by the degree of axon loss and central nervous system atrophy. The white matter pathology (WM) is characterized by cellular membranes disruption and loss of the microstructural complexity, which can be accessed by the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). This imaging technique also offers two more specific indices: the axial diffusivity () and radial diffusivity (), which are useful to differentiate between axon loss and demyelination, respectively. The gray matter (GM) neuronal loss can be accessed by the degree of cortical atrophy. The aim of this study is to measure the DTI indices in the greatest WM commisure, the corpus callosum (CC), and the degree and distribution of cortical atrophy in patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) and low disability scores, correlating them to the macroscopic lesion load and the main clinical scores. Method: 31 RRMS patients (22 women, mean age 30.5 years ± 8.7) and 34 healthy control (HC) subjects (27 women, mean age 32.3 years ± 7.8) were submitted to brain examinations in a 3T magnetic resonance image scanner. From DTI with 32 gradient encoding directions were extracted the indices of FA, MD, and , which were measured in 5 segments of the mid-sagital section of the corpus callosum (CC). The cortical thickness was obtained from the segmentation of volumetric T1 images. These results were correlated with the macroscopic lesion loads in the T1 and T2/FLAIR images and the scores in the Expanded Disability Status Scale EDSS, considering significant the results with p< 0.05. Results: The FA, MD and were diffusively abnormal in all 5 segments of the CC in the RRMS group and the was abnormal only in the splenium, anterior midbody and posterior mid-body. The anterior area of the both temporal lobes and right inferior parietal, some orbital-frontal and insular regions showed significant atrophy, with a tendency of atrophy in the superior frontal gyrus. The FA, MD and correlated with the T1 lesion load and, more significantly, with the T2/FLAIR lesion load. The cortical thickness correlated with T1 and T2/FLAIR lesion loads, more significantly with the T1 lesion load. The mean EDSS in the RRMS group was 1.1 ± 0.9 (range 0-3), correlating with the MD and of the splenium, anterior and posterior mid-body of the CC. The EDSS correlated to cortical thickness in the topography of the superior frontal gyrus. Discussion and conclusion: The FA, MD and are diffusively abnormal in the CC, with abnormalities in the , restricted to the medial and posterior segments. These results can be interpreted as signs of diffuse demyelination in the CC and a predominance of axonopathy or more advanced degeneration in some segments. The cortical atrophy also followed a characteristic regional distribution, affecting predominantly the bilateral temporal lobes, and inferior parietal, orbital-frontal and insular regions, in the right hemisphere. The correlations found between the DTI indices and the cortical thickness and the macroscopic lesion loads show that, at least partially, the WM and GM degeneration can be related to Wallerian degeneration secondary to macroscopic lesion accumulation. The correlations between the DM, , in some of the CC segments, and cortical thickness, in the superior frontal gyrus, and the EDSS scores reinforces the hypothesis that the degenerative processes in MS can play a role in the disability status of the patients

OBJETIVO: Estudar o ombro destes indivíduos através de ressonância magnética para detectar lesões clínicas ou subclínicas para instituir programas específicos de reabilitação. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados nove pacientes lesados medulares, com seguimento no Laboratório de Biomecânica e Reabilitação do Aparelho Locomotor HC/UNICAMP. Foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com a presença de paraplegia ou tetraplegia e avaliados através de anamnese e exame físico para correlação com o exame de imagem. RESULTADOS: 41% dos ombros avaliados com imagens de ressonância apresentaram resultado normal. Dentre os resultados alterados, a tendinopatia do supra-espinhal e a degeneração acrômio-clavicular foram às alterações mais encontradas e 80% dos ombros com exame alterado possuiam mais de uma lesão associada. CONCLUSÃO: Pela amostra do estudo é possível identificar uma etiologia multivariada da omalgia, com particularidades para indivíduos paraplégicos e tetraplégicos. A inclusão rotineira da avaliação clínica e radiológica do ombro nos indivíduos lesados medulares pode contribuir para a evolução das técnicas de reabilitação e redução tanto das lesões músculo-articulares quanto dos sintomas álgicos. Nível de Evidência II, Desenvolvimento de critérios diagnósticos em pacientes consecutivos com padrão de referência "ouro" aplicado. OBJECTIVE: To study the shoulder of this group of patients using magnetic resonance imaging to detect clinical and subclinical disorders and establish a rehabilitation program. METHODS: Nine patients with spinal cord injury followed in the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Rehabilitation of the Locomotive System at HC/UNICAMP were divided into two groups according to the presence of paraplegia and tetraplegia and were clinically assessed for correlation with the imaging exams. RESULTS: Normal results were found in 41% of the shoulders. Most common injuries were tendinopathy of the supraspinatus and acromioclavicular joint degeneration. Eighty percent of injured shoulders had combined lesions. CONCLUSION: A great variety of causes of shoulder pain was identified in paraplegic and tetraplegic subjects. Routine clinical assessment and imaging studies of the shoulder may contribute to the evolution of rehabilitation and reduction of pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Level of Evidence II, Development of Diagnostic Criteria on Consecutive Patients, With Universally Applied Reference "Gold" Standard.

The corpus callosum is the largest fiber bundle in the central nervous system and it takes part in several cognitive pathways. It can be affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) early in the disease. DTI is capable of infering the microstructural organization of the white matter. The vectorial analysis of the DTI offers the more specific indices of axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD), which have shown to be useful to discriminate myelin damage from axon loss, respectively. This study presents DTI results (mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), RD, and AD) of 23 relapsing-remitting MS patients and its correlation with cognitive performance. There were 47.8% of cognitive impaired patients (MS CI). We found signs of demyelination, reflected by increased RD, and incipient axon loss, reflected by AD increase, which was slightly higher in the MS CI. The cognitive changes correlated with the DTI parameters, suggesting that loss of complexity in CC connections can impair neural conduction. Thus, cognitive impairment can be related to callosal disconnection, and DTI can be a promising tool to evaluate those changes.

Objective: The spinal cord-injured patients begin to present a new configuration of forces on the joints. The hip joint is one of the most affected, because these patients generally use a wheelchair as a means of locomotion. Osteoarticular changes, such as heterotopic ossification, can be found in these patients, as evidenced by radiographic studies. This study aims to identify radiographic changes in hips of spinal cord-injured patients. Methods 15 patients (30 hips) were evaluated and followed up at the Laboratory of Biomechanical Rehabilitation of the Musculoskeletal System of HC-Unicamp, through the analysis of radiographs of the pelvis in anterior-posterior and Lowenstein lateral positions. Results Of the total hips, only seven (23%) had no evidence of articular damage. The prevalence of heterotopic ossification found (16.6%) was similar to the literature. Conclusion The radiographic assessment of these patient's hips is justified by the prevalence of joint changes found. Level of Evidence II, Development of diagnostic criteria in consecutive patients (with universally applied reference "gold" standard).

Objective To study the shoulder of this group of patients using magnetic resonance imaging to detect clinical and subclinical disorders and establish a rehabilitation program. Methods Nine patients with spinal cord injury followed in the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Rehabilitation of the Locomotive System at HC/UNICAMP were divided into two groups according to the presence of paraplegia and tetraplegia and were clinically assessed for correlation with the imaging exams. Results Normal results were found in 41% of the shoulders. Most common injuries were tendinopathy of the supraspinatus and acromioclavicular joint degeneration. Eighty percent of injured shoulders had combined lesions. Conclusion A great variety of causes of shoulder pain was identified in paraplegic and tetraplegic subjects. Routine clinical assessment and imaging studies of the shoulder may contribute to the evolution of rehabilitation and reduction of pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Level of Evidence II, Development of Diagnostic Criteria on Consecutive Patients, With Universally Applied Reference "Gold" Standard.

The craniocervical junction (CCJ) comprehends the brainstem, proximal cervical spinal cord and cerebelar structures and is subjected to several congenital anomalies and anatomic variations. Although the morphological abnormalities are present at birth, many patients develop symptoms after third and fourth decades.

O aumento da incidência de traumas de alta energia esta relacionado com o crescimento da prevalência de lesões raquimedulares ocasionando seqüelas motoras nos membros. O programa de reabilitação proporciona perspectiva de melhora da qualidade de vida, colaborando para a reintegração social desses indivíduos. As síndromes dolorosas dos ombros são freqüentes nos pacientes lesados medulares, independentemente do programa de reabilitação adotado. No presente estudo, avaliou-se por meio da ultrassonografia, 32 ombros de 16 pacientes com lesão medular com localização anatômica entre C4 e T12, em reabilitação no DOT/HC-UNICAMP, constatando-se alterações nos tendões dos músculos do manguito rotador em 46,88% e nas tuberosidades umerais em 12,50% dos pacientes estudados. As alterações foram mais prevalentes entre os tetraplégicos. A execução de medidas analgésicas, fortalecimento dos músculos do manguito rotador quando possível e alterações posturais podem significar diminuição na ocorrência das síndromes dolorosas dos ombros, melhorando o aproveitamento do programa de reabilitação e com ganhos na qualidade de vida. The increasing incidence of high energy traumas is associated to a growing prevalence of spinal cord injuries causing motor sequels on limbs. Rehabilitation programs provide an opportunity for improvement of quality of life, helping on integrating those individuals back into social activities. Shoulder pain is more frequent in individuals with spinal cord injury, regardless of the rehabilitation program adopted. In the current study, 32 shoulders of 16 patients with spinal cord injury levels between C4 and T12 submitted to a rehabilitation program at DOT/UNICAMP were evaluated by using ultrasound. Changes on rotator cuff tendons were detected in 56.25%, and 12.50% of the patients presented changes in humeral tuberosities. These changes were more prevalent in quadriplegic patients. Analgesic therapies, rotator cuff muscles' strengthening whenever possible, and postural rehabilitation may provide shoulder pain reduction, enhancing the advantages of rehabilitation programs and providing a better quality of life.

Cognitive decline is a frequent but undervalued aspect of multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, it remains unclear what the strongest determinants of cognitive dysfunction are, with grey matter damage most directly related to cognitive impairment. Multi-parametric studies seem to indicate that individual factors of MS-pathology are highly interdependent causes of grey matter atrophy and permanent brain damage. They are associated with intermediate functional effects (e.g. in functional MRI) representing a balance between disconnection and (mal) adaptive connectivity changes. Therefore, a more comprehensive MRI approach is warranted, aiming to link structural changes with functional brain organization. To better understand the disconnection syndromes and cognitive decline in MS, this paper reviews the associations between MRI metrics and cognitive performance, by discussing the interactions between multiple facets of MS pathology as determinants of brain damage and how they affect network efficiency. Declínio cognitivo é uma situação frequente mas ainda pouco compreendida na esclerose múltipla (EM). Atualmente, não são totalmente conhecidos os principais determinantes da disfunção cognitiva na doença, tendo sido apontadas fortes associações entre danos à substância cinzenta e declínio cognitivo. Estudos multiparamétricos mostram que os diferentes fatores patológicos da EM participam como causas interdependentes de atrofia da substância cinzenta e dano cerebral permanente. Eles são associados a efeitos funcionais intermediários (detectados por RM funcional) representando um equilíbrio entre desconexão cerebral e alterações (mal) adaptativas. Portanto, uma abordagem de imagem mais abrangente é necessária, com o objetivo de encontrar associações entre alterações estruturais e a organização funcional cerebral. Para melhor compreender o declínio cognitivo na EM, esse artigo propões uma revisão dos principais métodos de imagem por RM e suas correlações com função cognitiva, discutindo as múltiplas faces patológicas da EM e seu impacto na eficiência das redes neurais.

As redes estruturais cerebrais modulares e hierárquicas são especialmente bem adaptadas à integração funcional de processos neuronais locais que sustentam a cognição. De fato, padrões alterados de conectividade anatômica ou funcional foram evidenciados em muitas doenças cognitivas e afetivas, que foram definidas como síndromes de \"desconexão\". A hipótese central no presente estudo é que a conectividade estrutural restringe, mas não determina a conectividade funcional, e essa relação é a base do desempenho cognitivo. Além disso, as rupturas nas redes estruturais e funcionais estão relacionadas a deficiências cognitivas. Portanto, ao estudar as redes estruturais e funcionais cerebrais, podemos entender melhor como o cérebro funciona e sua relação com a cognição. Procuramos, então, responder a essas perguntas avaliando como a conectividade estrutural está relacionada à conectividade funcional e à cognição em participantes saudáveis e como alterações de conectividade cerebral se relacionam com o desempenho cognitivo em participantes clínicos. Nesse contexto, avaliamos a localização e integração funcional em resposta à execução de uma tarefa cognitiva, o Teste de Modalidades de Símbolos-Dígitos (Symbol Digit Modalities Test, SDMT), que avalia a velocidade de processamento da informação (VPI), adaptada ao ambiente de ressonância magnética (RM). Mais especificamente, nosso objetivo foi investigar como as regiões dentro da rede cerebral de VPI interagem funcionalmente umas com as outras, estudando a conectividade efetiva, definida como a forma como uma região influencia ou causa atividade em outra durante um determinado processo neural e sua conectividade estrutural. Para fins de aplicação clínica, os pacientes com doença cerebral de pequenos vasos (DCPV) são de grande interesse, dado seu impacto na saúde pública global, sua classificação como Síndrome de desconectividade, e as questões em aberto sobre os danos estruturais e funcionais da conectividade que a doença causa, além da alta incidência de déficit de VPI. Nesse caso, avaliamos VPI com uma variação do SDMT: a Tarefa de Substituição de Letras-Dígitos (Letter-Digit Substitution Test, LDST). Foi possível constatar que a rede estrutural restringe, mas não determina a rede funcional de VPI nos participantes saudáveis jovens. Além disso, ao avaliarmos a rede funcional de VPI durante a execução do SDMT, a ativação e conectividade funcional de nós da rede de modo padrão (Default Mode Network, DMN), importante para a saúde cognitiva, foi suprimida durante a realização do teste de VPI. Além disso, o nó pré-cúneo esquerdo (BA 7) apresentou comportamento modulatório dependente do contexto experimental. Avaliando as associações entre conectividade estrutural e funcional com escores de LDST em pacientes com DCPV, os achados sugeriram que DCPV deve ser considerada uma síndrome global e não localizada. Os efeitos de mediação da conectividade funcional da rede sensório-motora entre a lesão e os escores do LDST apontam o papel desta rede como uma importante rede funcional afetada neste grupo clínico. Usando uma abordagem de mapeamento lesão-sintoma chamada \"Brain disconnectome mapping\", descobriu-se que as associações entre probabilidade de desconexão e escores de LDST envolveram áreas cerebrais amplas em pacientes com DCPV não dementes. Além disso, efeitos distintos foram observados conforme a carga de lesão e sua distribuição topográfica. Ambos os estudos com pacientes DCPV, embora com metodologias diferentes, apontam para o achado geral de que a DCPV é uma síndrome de desconectividade com amplo impacto pelo cérebro. Assim, com o desenvolvimento do presente trabalho, investigamos a dinâmica das redes funcionais, sua relação com redes estruturais e desempenho cognitivo em VPI em indivíduos saudáveis, com os achados sugerindo que a rede estrutural restringe mas não determina a rede funcional. Também avaliamos as alterações de conectividade relacionadas ao desempenho de tarefas de VPI em DCPV, cujos resultados apontam para a importância de avaliar os efeitos da lesões focais na conectividade cerebral para compreender a heterogeneidade de desfechos clínicos. Modular and hierarchical brain structural networks are especially well adapted to the functional integration of local neuronal processes that underpin cognition. Altered anatomical or functional connectivity patterns were evidenced in many cognitive and affective diseases, defined as \"disconnectivity\" syndromes. The central hypothesis in the present study is that structural connectivity constrains but does not determine functional connectivity, and this relationship is the basis of cognitive performance. Furthermore, disruptions in structural and functional networks are related to cognitive impairments. Therefore, by studying the brain structural and functional networks, we can better understand how the brain works and its relationship to cognition. We then sought to answer these questions by assessing how structural connectivity is related to functional connectivity and cognition in healthy participants and how changes in brain connectivity relate to cognitive performance in clinical participants. We evaluated the location and functional integration in response to executing a cognitive task, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), which evaluates the information processing speed (IPS), adapted to the MRI environment. More specifically, we aimed to investigate how regions within the IPS brain network interact functionally, studying effective connectivity, defined as how one region influences or causes activity in another during a given neural process and its related structural connectivity. For clinical application purposes, cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) patients are of great interest given their impact on global public health, their classification as Disconnectivity Syndrome, and the open questions about the structural and functional disruptions of connectivity that the disease causes and the high incidence of IPS deficit, here evaluated with a variation of the SDMT: the Letter-Digit Substitution Test (LDST). It was possible to verify that the structural network restricts but does not determine the functional network of IPS in young, healthy participants. In addition, when evaluating the IPS functional network during SDMT execution, activation and functional connectivity of nodes in the default mode network (DMN), essential for cognitive health, was suppressed during the performance of the IPS test. In contrast, the left precuneus (BA 7) node showed a modulatory behavior dependent on the experimental context. Assessing the associations between structural and functional connectivity with LDST scores in patients with cSVD, the findings suggested that cSVD should be considered a global rather than a localized syndrome. The mediation effects of the functional connectivity of the sensorimotor network between the lesion and the LDST scores point to the role of this network as another critical functional network affected in this clinical group. Using a lesion-symptom mapping approach called \"Brain disconnectome mapping, the associations between the probability of disconnection and LDST scores involved large brain areas in non-demented cSVD patients. Lesion load and its topographical distribution affected the cSVD patients differently. Both studies with cSVD patients, although with different methodologies, point to the general finding that cSVD is a syndrome of disconnection with a broad impact on the brain. Thus, with the development of the present work, we investigated the dynamics of functional networks, their relationship with structural networks, and cognitive performance in IPS in healthy individuals. The findings suggest that the structural network constrains but does not determine the functional network. We also evaluated connectivity alterations related to the performance of IPS tasks in cSVD, whose results point to the importance of assessing the effects of focal lesions on brain connectivity to understand the heterogeneity of clinical outcomes.

A encefalopatia traumática crônica (ETC) representa a consequência a longo prazo de traumatismos cranioencefálicos (TCE), podendo estar relacionada a uma tauopatia progressiva. Ela tem sido reconhecida como uma causa importante de declínio cognitivo em pacientes submetidos a TCEs leves repetitivos por longos períodos, como no contexto esportivo do boxe e futebol americano. Dada a possibilidade de ocorrência desta doença neurodegenerativa em jogadores profissionais de futebol, foi realizado um estudo com o objetivo de avaliar se um dos parâmetros de ressonância magnética (RM), a tratografia, pode ser utilizada como biomarcador de imagem para avaliação de pacientes com suspeita de ETC. Foram avaliados 20 ex-jogadores profissionais e 20 voluntários saudáveis pareados por idade, os quais foram submetidos a avaliação clínica, testes neuropsicológicos e estudo de Ressonância Magnética do encéfalo. As imagens da sequência de tensor de difusão foram processadas e analisadas através das ferramentas encontradas no programa FSL (FMRIB Software Library), o qual possui a ferramenta TBSS (Tract-Based Spacial Statistics) na qual foi realizada a análise estatística, sendo adotado o nível de significância de 5% (alfa = 0,05). Foram analisados dados dos mapas de anisotropia fracionada (FA) e difusividade média (MD), bem como difusividade axial (AD) e difusividade radial (RD). Através de análise baseada em voxel comparando os mapas de FA, MD, AD e RD dos jogadores e controles, observamos o aumento de MD no esplênio do corpo caloso, coroa radiada e na substância branca subcortical parietal direita. Os demais mapas não apresentaram alterações estatisticamente significativas. Ao compararmos jogadores com MEEM alterado (abaixo de 1,5 desvios padrões), não encontramos resultados estatisticamente significativos, contudo foi observada uma tendência a redução da FA nas regiões frontobasais, rostro do corpo caloso à direita e centro semioval à esquerda. Tais achados podem estar relacionados a alterações na integridade e estrutura da substância branca nos jogadores de futebol aposentados Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) represents the long-term consequence of head trauma and may be secondary to a progressive tauopathy. It has been recognized as an important cause of cognitive decline in patients who have undergone repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) for long periods of time, such as football and boxing players, in the sports context. Given the importance of soccer practice in our environment and its potential predisposition to CTE, a study was carried out with the objective of determining whether one of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters, tractography, can be used as an imaging biomarker for evaluation of patients with suspected CTE. Twenty former professional players and 20 age-matched healthy volunteers underwent a clinical evaluation, neuropsychological testing and a brain PET-MRI. The diffusion tensor images were processed and analyzed using the tools found in the FSL program (FMRIB Software Library), which has the TBSS (Tract-Based Spatial Statistics) tool where we performed the statistical analysis, with a 5% significance level adopted (alpha = 0.05). Data from fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) maps, as well as axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) were analyzed. Through voxel-based analysis comparing the FA, MD, AD and RD maps of soccer players and controls groups, we observed an increased MD in the splenium of the corpus callosum, corona radiata and right parietal subcortical white matter in the players group. The other maps showed no statistically significant alterations. When comparing the soccer players group with altered MEEM (below 1.5 standard deviations), we did not find statistically significant results, however, a tendency for reduced FA was observed in the frontobasal regions, right aspect of the corpus callosum rostrum and left centrum semiovale. Such findings may be related to changes in the integrity and structure of the white matter in retired soccer players