Magnetic resonance methods for automated, non-invasive diagnosis of focal brain infections

Funded Activity Summary

Brain lesions caused by infections, tumours and some other diseases, often cannot be distinguished from each other clinically or by neuro-radiology examinations. A brain biopsy is usually needed to make a definite diagnosis and may cause sequelae or not be possible if the lesion is in certain areas of the brain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increased our ability to detect brain lesions but cannot unequivocally diagnose the disease process. Magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) methods report on the chemical composition of lesions and can provide a simultaneous picture of the location of the lesion and the pathology of the disease process. Brain biopsies may therefore be avoided in a significant number of cases where drainage or decompression of lesions are not needed as part of therapy. Identification of specific fingerprints for the different diseases will provide a rapid, robust, automated diagnosis, which will expedite management decisions and improve patient outcomes. It should also be possible to monitor the efficacy of drug treatments using MRS methods. Each of these outcomes would constitute a major medical advance.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $483,564.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Radiology And Organ Imaging

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Advances in diagnosis using radiological methods | Brain abscesses distinguished from other lesions | Clinical Microbiology | Diagnostic algorithms | Infectious Diseases | Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy | Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for diagnosis | Neuroradiology | Neurosurgery and Neurology | Non-invasive, pathological diagnosis

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