I write about the diagnosis of vegetative state and minimally conscious state.
In some hospitals, the diagnosis is mainly done on a radiological basis while in other places specialists mainly rely on evaluative scales.
I am interested in knowing if any "radiological criterion" exist on the basis that some remaining awareness/consciousness can be ruled out (or not excluded), as this is not clearly a simple matter of functional activation in the cortex.
Can anyone help me?
As a practicing Neurologist, I can assure you that there is no accepted clinical role of imaging in the diagnosis of VS and MCS. All correlational findings from either FDG-PET or fMRI are for research purposes only and at this time are not well-enough studied in a sufficiently large sample to be certain of their significance. Hence, no "radiologic criteria" are currently incorporated; the definitions of each are exclusively clinical. The American Academy of Neurology is currently asking for input on a "Practice Parameter" that will discuss these criteria, and is due out in several months. Although some discussion of imaging has been raised, to my knowledge there will be no radiologic components in the primary diagnosis, only as "supportive findings"that cannot be used to either diagnose OR EXCLUDE VS.
I am not aware of any such criteira on Imaging to diagnose VS or MCS definitely. In our hospital ,it is entirely based on clinical parameters.
Thank you for your answers.
Rajiv, your indication sounds interesting, as I need to attempt a classification of these patients for my research. I will keep track of this publication you mention.
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