Magnetic resonance imaging in tuberous sclerosis

Two patients with tuberous sclerosis, who had the typical computed tomographic (CT) sign (calcified subependymal nodules), underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using inversion-recovery (IR) and spin-echo (SE) techniques. Subependymal nodules were discriminated from parenchymal nodules on IR and SE images and on T1-weighted images in one patient. Subependymal nodules were visualized as well in another patient. However, either IR or SE images failed to show nodules in the frontal lobe or caudate nucleus. Nor was nodules in the cerebellar odontoid nucleus detected on IR images. These results suggest the difficulty in uniformity of MRI findings. On the contrary, pathological difference in nudules may reflect relaxation times, probably causing the differences in IR and SE images. (Namekawa, K.)