Radiological Appearance and Imaging Techniques in the Diagnosis of Advanced Central Pontine Myelinolysis

Abstract

Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are used to diagnose central pontine myelinolysis (CPM), which is seen in the setting of osmotic changes, typically with the rapid correction of hyponatremia. However, they typically follow clinical symptoms and fail to detect myelinolytic lesions within the first two weeks, limiting their efficacy in early diagnosis. CPM can mimic brainstem ischaemic changes on CT head and a glioma on MRI. This case reviews the relationship between radiological changes seen with clinical symptoms and serum sodium levels, combined with reviewing pioneering advances in radiomic analysis, including diffusion-weighted MRI, CT brain perfusion and MR spectroscopy.