Cerebral diffusion tensor imaging in tuberous sclerosis.

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.