J Korean Radiol Soc.  1999 Mar;40(3):591-596. 10.3348/jkrs.1999.40.3.591.

MR Imaging with Fluid Attenuated Inve rsion Recovery Sequence of Childhood Adrenoleukodystrophy: Comparisonwith T2 Weighted Spin Echo Imaging

• Hwang A
• Seo JJ
• Jeong GW
• Chung TW
• Jeong YY
• Kang HK
• Kook H
• Woo YJ
• Hwang TJ

• KMID: 2201051
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1999.40.3.591

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of FLAIR(Fluid Attenuated InversionRecovery) MR imaging in childhood adrenoleukodystrophy by comparing with those of T2-weighted FSE imaging, and tocorrelate MRI finidings with clinical manifestations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Axial FLAIR images(TR/TE/TI=10004/123/2200) and T2-weighted FSE images(TR/TE=4000/104) of brain in six male patients(age range :6-17 years, mean age : 10.2 years) with biochemically confirmed adrenoleukodystrophy were compared visually by tworadiologists for detection, conspicuity, and the extent of lesion. Quantitatively, we compared lesion/CSFcontrast, lesion/CSF contrast to noise ratio(CNR), lesion/white matter(WM) contrast, and lesion/WM CNR betweenFLAIR and T2 weighted image. We correlated MR findings with clinical manifestations of neurologic symptoms andevaluated whether MRI could detect white matter lesions in neurologically asymptomatic patients.
RESULTS
Visualdetection of lesions was better with FLAIR images in 2 of the 6 cases and it was equal in the remainders. Visualconspicuity and detection of the extent of lesion were superior on FLAIR images than T2-weighted images in all 6cases. In the quantitative assessment of lesions, FLAIR was superior to T2-weighted image for lesion/CSF contrastand lesion/CSF CNR, but was inferior to T2 weighted image for lesion/WM contrast and lesion/WM CNR. In one case,FLAIR images distinguished the portion of encephalomalacic change from lesions. MR findings ofadrenoleukodystrophy were correlated with clinical manifestations in symptomatic 4 cases, and also detected whitematter lesions in asymptomatic 2 cases.
CONCLUSION
MR imaging with FLAIR sequence provided images that wereequal or superior to T2-weighted images in the evaluation of childhood adrenoleukodystrophy. MRI findings werewell correlated with clinical manifestations and could detect white matter lesions in neurologically asymptomaticadrenoleukodystrophy patients.

Keyword

Brain, MR; Brain, diseases; Brain, white matter

MeSH Terms

Adrenoleukodystrophy*
Brain
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Neurologic Manifestations
Noise