PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Zamboni, S.L.
AU  - Loenneker, T.
AU  - Boltshauser, E.
AU  - Martin, E.
AU  - Il'yasov, K.A.
TI  - Contribution of Diffusion Tensor MR Imaging in Detecting Cerebral Microstructural Changes in Adults with Neurofibromatosis Type 1
DP  - 2007 Apr 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 773--776
VI  - 28
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/28/4/773.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/28/4/773.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2007 Apr 01; 28
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: After an early progression of signal intensity changes in T2-weighted MR images, also known as “neurofibromatosis bright objects,” in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1), there is a tendency toward regression or even disappearance in early adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether adult patients with NF-1 exhibit generalized microstructural alterations even in normal-appearing brain regions.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional and diffusion tensor MR imaging of the brain was obtained in 10 adult patients with NF-1 and 10 age-matched healthy volunteers. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in brain stem, basal ganglia, thalamus, corpus callosum, and frontal and parietooccipital white matter regions.RESULTS: Significantly increased ADC and decreased FA values were found in all regions of interest and in all patients with NF-1, irrespective of their scholastic achievement and subsequent professional performance, compared with control subjects (P < .001). There were no significant correlations with the age (P > .1) or with the lateralization between brain hemispheres (P > .05).CONCLUSION: Diffusion tensor imaging reveals globally elevated FA and decreased ADC values in the mature brains of patients with NF-1, which is most likely a consequence of diffuse and basic alterations in cerebral microstructure that result from the underlying gene mutation.