Magnetization transfer ratio measurements of the brain in children with tuberous sclerosis complex.
BACKGROUND: Magnetization transfer contrast and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in brain are mainly related to the presence of myelin. Neuropathological studies of brain lesions in tuberous sclerosis complex ( TSC) have demonstrated disordered myelin sheaths. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the MTR of the brain in children with TSC and to compare with that in controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four patients (aged 0.41-8.4 years, mean 2.5 years) with TSC and four age- and sex-matched controls were evaluated with classic MR sequences and with a three-dimensional gradient-echo sequence without and with magnetization transfer pre-pulse. The MTR was calculated as: (SI(0)-SI(m))/SI(0)x100%, where SI(m) refers to signal intensity from an image acquired with a magnetization transfer pre-pulse and SI(0) the signal intensity from the image acquired without a magnetization transfer pre-pulse. RESULTS: The MTR values of cortical tubers (44.1+/-4.1), of subependymal nodules (51.6+/-4.8) and of white matter lesions (52.4+/-1.8) were significantly lower than those of cortex (58.7+/-3.53), of basal ganglia (caudate nucleus 58.2+/-2.8, putamen 59.6+/-2.5, thalamus 61.3+/-2.4) and of white matter (64.2+/-2.5) in controls (P<0.001). The MTR of normal-appearing white matter (61.2+/-3.0) in patients was lower than that of white matter in controls (P<0.01). The MTR of cortex and basal ganglia in patients was not significantly different from that in controls. CONCLUSIONS: MTR measurements not only provide semiquantitative information for TSC lesions but also reveal more extensive disease.[1]References
- Magnetization transfer ratio measurements of the brain in children with tuberous sclerosis complex. Zikou, A., Ioannidou, M.C., Tzoufi, M., Astrakas, L., Argyropoulou, M.I. Pediatric radiology. (2005) [Pubmed]
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