ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the features of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) in cortical tubers and white-matter lesions in patients with tuberous sclerosis (TS) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DTI were performed in 14 patients with clinically established TS. Based on these DT images, ADC and FA maps were generated. The ADC values in 32 cortical tubers, and the ADC and FA values in 18 white-matter lesions were measured and compared with those of the corresponding contralateral regions. RESULTS: Compared with the corresponding contralateral regions, cortical tubers of TS patients had significantly higher ADC values (P<0.001); white-matter lesions had significantly higher ADC values (P<0.001) and significantly lower FA values (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: DTI is a useful tool for demonstrating changes in cortical tubers and white-matter lesions resulting from TS.
Subject(s)
Brain/pathology , Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Nerve Fibers, Myelinated/pathology , Tuberous Sclerosis/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To review the recent development of functional MRI application in epilepsy. DATA SOURCES: Both Chinese and English language literatures were researched using MEDLINE/CD ROM (1996 - 2005) and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Disk (1996 - 2005). STUDY SELECTION: Published articles about functional MRI application and epilepsy were selected. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were mainly extracted from 38 articles which are listed in the reference section of this review. RESULTS: fMRI can be used to localize seizure foci through detecting these cerebral hemodynamic changes produced by epileptiform discharges. EEG-triggered fMRI, which has higher spatial and temporal resolution, helps to detect the spatiotemporal pattern of spike origin and propagation, and define localization of the epileptogenic focus. fMRI is also useful in language and memory cognitive function assessment and presurgical assessment of refractory epilepsy. Atypically distributed cognitive function areas can be detected by fMRI, because of cortical language and memory areas reorganization during long-term epileptic activity in patients with epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: fMRI technique plays a very important role in cognitive function and presurgical assessment of patients with epilepsy. It is meaningful for understanding pathogenesis of epilepsy.
