To evaluate diffusion imaging characteristics of parenchymal changes in patients with
tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) compared with those in control subjects. We reviewed
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) findings in
six patients diagnosed with TSC. MRI examinations were performed in a 1.5 Tesla MRI
unit using a transmit/receive coil with T1-weighted and T2-weighted spin-echo and
fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences. DWI MRI was obtained using an echo-planar
imaging sequence. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured. In addition,
five normal children were studied for comparison. ADC was higher in cortical tubers
than in the corresponding cortical location of controls (p < 0.05). ADC values were higher in white-matter lesions and perilesional white matter
than in the contralateral normal-appearing white matter of both patients and controls
(p < 0.05). There were no differences for ADC values between the normal-appearing white
matter of patients with TSC and control subjects. It appears that DWI MRI can be useful
in the evaluation of parenchymal changes associated with TSC.
Keywords
Tuberous sclerosis complex - brain - MRI - diffusion-weighted imaging - apparent diffusion
coefficient values
