Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease diagnostic study of choice
{Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease}} Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Biopsy of the brain tissue is the definitive diagnostic test for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD), but is not usually performed. EEG findings are not diagnostic of CJD, but may help in the diagnosis of CJD. Typical EEG findings in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease include periodic biphasic or triphasic sharp wave complexes (PSWCs). Periodic synchronous discharges (PSDs) occur either before or in synchronicity with myoclonus.
Other Diagnostic Studies
Biopsy
- Deposits of prion protein (scrapie), PrPSc, can be found in the skeletal muscle and/or the spleen (approximately 30% of cases).
- Diagnosis of vCJD can be supported by biopsy of the tonsils, which harbor significant amounts of PrpSc.
- Biopsy of the brain tissue is the definitive diagnostic test, but is not usually performed.
Gallery
-
![Micrograph of brain tissue reveals the cytoarchitectural histopathologic changes found in bovine spongiform encephalopathy. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/images/c/cd/Creutzfeldt_jakob04.jpeg)
Micrograph of brain tissue reveals the cytoarchitectural histopathologic changes found in bovine spongiform encephalopathy. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]
-
![Photomicrograph of brain tissue stained with H&E reveals the presence of prominent spongiotic changes in the cortex, and loss of neurons in a case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (100x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/images/9/90/Creutzfeldt_jakob03.jpeg)
Photomicrograph of brain tissue stained with H&E reveals the presence of prominent spongiotic changes in the cortex, and loss of neurons in a case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (100x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]
-
![Photomicrograph of brain tissue stained with H&E reveals the presence of prominent spongiotic changes in the cortex, and loss of neurons in a case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (100x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/images/4/44/Creutzfeldt_jakob02.jpeg)
Photomicrograph of brain tissue stained with H&E reveals the presence of prominent spongiotic changes in the cortex, and loss of neurons in a case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (100x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]
-
![Neural tissue specimen harvested from a scrapie-affected mouse, revealed the presence of prion protein stained in red. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/images/c/cc/Creutzfeldt_jakob01.jpeg)
Neural tissue specimen harvested from a scrapie-affected mouse, revealed the presence of prion protein stained in red. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]
![Micrograph of brain tissue reveals the cytoarchitectural histopathologic changes found in bovine spongiform encephalopathy. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/index.php/File:Creutzfeldt_jakob04.jpeg)
![Photomicrograph of brain tissue stained with H&E reveals the presence of prominent spongiotic changes in the cortex, and loss of neurons in a case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (100x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/index.php/File:Creutzfeldt_jakob03.jpeg)
![Photomicrograph of brain tissue stained with H&E reveals the presence of prominent spongiotic changes in the cortex, and loss of neurons in a case of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (100x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/index.php/File:Creutzfeldt_jakob02.jpeg)
![Neural tissue specimen harvested from a scrapie-affected mouse, revealed the presence of prion protein stained in red. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](/index.php/File:Creutzfeldt_jakob01.jpeg)