Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Pathology, Metabolic disorders, Congenital, Molecular imaging, Imaging sequences, Contrast agent-intravenous, MR-Spectroscopy, MR-Diffusion/Perfusion, MR, Paediatric, Neuroradiology brain, CNS
Authors:
S. P. Gowdar; Bangalore /IN
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2019/C-1083
Background
Disorders of white matter development comprise a number of genetically determined or acquired diseases affecting the growth and maturation of axons,
the formation and maintenance of myelin,
and all injuries occurring during maturation (1).
Leukodystrophies are hereditary disorders of white matter that impair brain that is initially normally formed and developed.
They can affect brain myelin throughout life.
The disorders are commonly progressive in nature and ultimately fatal.
First manifestations are often cognitive deterioration and neuropsychological problems.
Motor and balance difficulties occur,
as do visual abnormalities (2).
MRI is an important noninvasive imaging modality which has a very high sensitivity for detecting white matter lesions due to its excellent gray-white matter resolution. Multiplanar imaging is possible only with MRI,
which helps in the detection and localization of lesions. It is also found to be ideal in posterior fossa imaging and allows simultaneous imaging of extra cerebral sites like spinal cord and optic nerve.
MRI thus is very helpful in defining the pathogenesis and in the early diagnosis of disease and in monitoring the treatment.
Recent advances like MR spectroscopy,
diffusion imaging and magnetization transfer imaging have revolutionized the role of MRI in increasing the specificity of diagnosis in many of these conditions.