New Axial T1-Weighted Visual Rating Scale For An Evaluation Of Medial Temporal Atrophy In Alzheimer’s Disease

Objective:To establish and investigate a new axial T1-weighted MR visual rating scale of medial temporal atrophy degree in Alzheimer’s Disease and to evaluate the compatibility and reliability of this new method with the coronal T1-weighted visual rating scale.Methods: A total of 100 AD patients and 100 elderly with normal cognition who were all underwent the hippocampus and head MR scan were collected.We use the coronal and axial T1-weighted MR images to finish visual rating scores,at the meanwhile,based on the Kim visual rating scale,line the width of medial temporal lobe(A)、the width of the crural cistern(C)and the width of the temporal horn(D)to grab the values of standard A/C and A/D.Compare the difference between the either two groups.Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the new axial T1-weighted MR visual rating scale in diagnosis of the severity degree in MTA was 79%、91%,respectively.The kappa value for comparability between the new and Scheltens、Kim T1-weighted visual rating scale was 0.800 and 0.950(P<0.05).A/C and A/D were significantly different in MTA stages(all P<0.05,except for A/C in 0 and1;2 and 3;3 and 4,P =0.741、0.905、0.312,except for A/D in 1 and 2;3 and 4,P =0.089、0.998,P >0.05,0 score>1 score>2 score>3score>4 score).Conclusion: As a new evaluation method,axial T1-weighted visual rating scale has a high diagnostic efficacy and compatibility,including the A/C and A/D values all play important roles in the assessment of medial temporal atropy in Alzheimer’s Disease.