Invited article: an MRI-based approach to the diagnosis of white matter disorders.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There are many different white matter disorders, both inherited and acquired, and consequently the diagnostic process is difficult. Establishing a specific diagnosis is often delayed at great emotional and financial costs. The pattern of brain structures involved, as visualized by MRI, has proven to often have a high diagnostic specificity.

Methods

We developed a comprehensive practical algorithm that relies mainly on the characteristics of brain MRI.

Results

The initial decision point defines a hypomyelination pattern, in which the cerebral white matter is hyperintense (normal), isointense, or slightly hypointense relative to the cortex on T1-weighted images, vs other pathologies with more prominent hypointensity of the cerebral white matter on T1-weighted

SUBMITTER: Schiffmann R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2677542 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature