Analysis of High Signal Intensities of Nontumorous Conditions of Corpus Callosum on Magnetic Resonance T2-Weighted Images

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate high signal intensity of nontumorous conditions of corpus callosum on T2-weighted MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty nine patients with nontumorous high signal intensities involving corpus callosum on sagittal T2-weighted image were restrospectively analyzed. Nontumorous condition of corpus callosum were diffuse axonal injury(DAI, 19 cases), cerebral infarctions(16 cases), multiple sclerosis(MS, 5 cases), Wilson's disease(2 cases) and hydrocephalus(7 cases) that were diagnosed by clinical and MR findings. Numbers, configuration, involved thickness and sites of high signal intensities of corpus callosum were analyzed. RESULTS: DAI and infarctions showed either single or multiple lesions. MS and hydrocephalus showed multiple lesions, but Wilson's diseases showed single lesion. In DAI, infarctions and MS the lesions involved any part of corpus callosum, splenium in WIIson's disease, and all parts of corpus callosum in hydrocephalus. Wilson's disease showed only partial thickness involvement, and others involved partial or full thickness of corpus callosum. Configuration of high signal intensity was linear in most cases of hydrocephalus, and oval in Wilson's disease, and oval and confluent in MS, and variable in DAI and infarctions. CONCLUSION: High signal intensities of nontumorous conditions of corpus callosum revealed variable findings, and therefore, analysis of nontumorous high signal intensities of corpus callosum is not made by only MR findings but by conjuction with clinical aspects.