Summary
Ten patients with clinical tuberous sclerosis were examined with CT and MR imaging, before and after IV contrast in order to determine the role of Gd-DTPA. Gd-DTPA enhancement occured in eleven subependymal nodules which did not enhance on CT after IV contrast. As illustrated by previous CT and pathologic observations and related to the histologic similarity of the subependymal nodules and giant-cell astrocytomas, these hyperintense nodules could represent active lesions with the potential to evolve. Four giant-cell astrocytomas were detected both with CT and Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI; tumor conspicuity and size assessment were improved by postcontrast MRI in two cases. No cortical tuber or heterotopic cluster enhanced; T2-weighted sequences therefore remain necessary for their detection. If pre and post-Gd-DTPA T1-and T2-weighted imaging is negative, CT is clearly the most sensitive modality in the detection of the small calcified subependymal nodules.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Morimoto K, Mogami H (1986) Sequential CT study of subependymal giant-cell astrocytoma associated with tuberous sclerosis. J Neurosurg 65: 874–877
Reagan TJ (1988) Neuropathology. In: Gomez MR (ed) Tuberous sclerosis, 2nd edn. Raven Press, New York, pp 63–74
Painter MJ, Pang D, Ahdab-Barmada M, Bergman I (1984) Connatal brain tumors in patients with tuberous sclerosis. Neurosurgery 14: 570–573
Inoue Y, Nakajima S, Fukuda T, Nemoto Y, Shakudo M, Murata R, Matsuoka O, Takemoto K, Matsumura Y, Onoyama Y (1988) Magnetic resonance images of tuberous sclerosis. Further observations and clinical correlations. Neuroradiology 30: 379–384
Nixon JR, Houser OW, Gomez MR, Okazaki H (1989) Cerebral tuberous selerosis: MR imaging. Radiology 170: 869–873
McMurdo SK, Moore SG, Brant-Zawadzki M, Berg BO, Koch T, Newton TH, Edwards MSB (1987) MR imaging of intracranial tuberous sclerosis. AJNR 8: 77–82
Roach ES, Williams DP, Laster DW (1987) Magnetic resonance imaging in tuberous sclerosis. Arch Neurol 44: 301–303
Martin N, De Broucker T, Cambier J, Marsault C, Nahum H (1987) MRI evaluation of tuberous sclerosis. Neuroradiology 29: 437–443
Altman NR, Purser RK, Donovan MJ (1988) Tuberous sclerosis: characteristics at CT and MR imaging. Radiology 167: 527–532
Houser OW, Nixon JR (1988) Central nervous system imaging. In: Gomez MR (ed) Tuberous sclerosis, 2nd edn. Raven Press, New York, pp 51–62
Kingsley DPE, Kendall BE, Fitz CR (1986) Tuberous sclerosis: a clinicoradiological evaluation of 110 cases with particular reference to atypical presentation. Neuroradiology 28: 38–46
Stack JP, Antoun NM, Jenkins JPR, Metcalfe R, Isherwood I (1988) Gadolinium-DTPA as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. Neuroradiology 30: 145–154
Legge M, Sauerbrei E, Macdonald A (1984) Intracranial tuberous sclerosis in infancy. Radiology 153:667–668
Olsen WL, Brant-Zawadzki M, Hodes J, Norman D, Newton TH (1987) Giant intracranial aneurysms: MR imaging. Radiology 163: 431–435
Blumenkopf B, Huggins M (1985) Tuberous sclerosis and multiple intracranial aneurysms: case report. Neurosurgery 17: 797–800
Brill CB, Peyster RG, Hoover ED, Keller MS (1985) Giant intracranial aneurysm in a child with tuberous sclerosis: CT demonstration. J Comput Assist Tomogr 9: 377–380
Beall S, Delaney P (1983) Tuberous sclerosis with intracranial aneurysm. Arch Neurol 40: 826–827
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martin, N., Debussche, C., De Broucker, T. et al. Gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MR imaging in tuberous sclerosis. Neuroradiology 31, 492–497 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340129
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340129