Yonsei Med J.  2007 Apr;48(2):321-324. 10.3349/ymj.2007.48.2.321.

Acute Marchiafava-Bignami Disease: Diffusion-Weighted MRI in Cortical and Callosal Involvement

• Ihn YK
• Hwang SS
• Park YH

• KMID: 1779538
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2007.48.2.321

Abstract

Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is a fatal disorder characterized by demyelination of the corpus callosum. MRI, suggestive of corpus callosum demyelination with associated white matter involvement in both cerebral hemispheres, indicates a diagnosis of MBD. In this case, MR diffusion-weighted findings taken at an acute stage of MBD revealed lesions not only in the corpus callosum but also in the cerebral cortex. Lower apparent diffusion coefficient values of the corpus callosum and cortical lesions were associated with poor clinical outcome.

Keyword

Marchiafava-Bignami disease; magnetic resonance (MR); diffusion

MeSH Terms

Middle Aged
Male
Humans
Demyelinating Diseases/*pathology
Corpus Callosum/*pathology
Brain/*pathology
Alcoholism/complications

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Axial T2-weighted images (TR 4,000/TE116) show hyperintense lesions in the corpus callosum (A) and along both frontal lobe cortices (D). Diffusion-weighted images (B and E, TR 6000/TE 85, b=1,000sec/mm2) show hypersignal intensity in these regions. At the same level as in image B and E, ADC maps (C and F) depict a decreased ADC value, consistent with restricted water diffusion.

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  Fig. 2 Comparision of signal intensities on diffusion-weighted images with ADC values on ADC maps. ADC values are markedly reduced in regions with high signal intensity on diffusion-weighted images (regions 1, 2, 7, 8).

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  Fig. 3 Axial T2-weighted image (A) and diffusion-weighted image (B) also show old lacunar infarction involving the right paramedian pons.

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