Infantile tuberous sclerosis changes in the brain: proton MR spectroscopy findings

Comput Med Imaging Graph. 2000 Jan-Feb;24(1):19-24. doi: 10.1016/s0895-6111(99)00032-4.

Abstract

A parietal hamartoma of a three-month-old boy with tuberous sclerosis was studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and proton MR spectroscopy. MR spectra were obtained with the single-voxel PRESS (point resolved spectroscopy; TR = 1500 ms, TE = 135 ms) sequence, in a 8 cc region of interest. Apparently low NAA/Cho (0.28), and NAA/Cr (0.37) ratios were noted in the hamartoma, that could suggest a neoplasm. The lesion and the surrounding brain tissue were studied again after seven months with spectroscopic imaging using the chemical shift sequence (TR = 1500 ms. TE = 40 ms). This study revealed apparently improved NAA/Cho (2.63), NAA/Cr (2.13) ratios in the hamartoma compared to the initial examination at three months of age, excluding the possibility of a neoplasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Protons
  • Tuberous Sclerosis / pathology*

Substances

  • Protons