Neurology®
The most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed Neurology journal
Quick Search
Advanced Search
This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Correspondence:
Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Correspondence are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rovira, A.
Right arrow Articles by Alonso, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rovira, A.
Right arrow Articles by Alonso, J.
Related Collections
Right arrow All Imaging
Right arrow MRI
Right arrow Gastrointestinal

Neurology 2002;59:335-341
© 2002 American Academy of Neurology

Normalization of T2 signal abnormalities in hemispheric white matter with liver transplant

A. Rovira, MD, J. Córdoba, MD, F. Sanpedro, MD, E. Grivé, MD, A. Rovira-Gols, MD and J. Alonso, PhD

From the Magnetic Resonance Unit (IDI) (Department of Radiology) (Drs. Rovira, Rovira-Gols, Grivé, and Alonso) and Liver Unit (Department of Internal Medicine) (Drs. Córdoba and Sanpedro), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. A. Rovira-Cañellas, Magnetic Resonance Unit (Department of Radiology), Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Passeig Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; e-mail: alex.rovira{at}idi-cat.org

Objective: To determine whether edema can be assessed by MRI using T2-weighted signal intensity of hemispheric white matter in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Fast-FLAIR and magnetization transfer images were obtained before (24) and after (11) liver transplantation. T2-weighted abnormalities on baseline scans and their time-course changes were analyzed and compared with MT ratios (MTR).

Results: Fast-FLAIR baseline images showed faint to substantial, bilateral, symmetric increased signal intensity along the hemispheric white matter in or around the corticospinal tract in 23/24 patients. After liver transplantation the signal abnormalities gradually recovered. This gradual decrease in signal intensity correlated with an increase in MTR values.

Conclusion: Asymptomatic symmetric high-signal intensity in the hemispheric white matter on fast-FLAIR MR images is present in cirrhosis. Normalization of this finding after successful liver transplantation and its correlation with MTR values suggest that this signal abnormality reflects mild edema.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Neuroradiol.Home page
F. Miese, G. Kircheis, H.J. Wittsack, F. Wenserski, J. Hemker, U. Modder, D. Haussinger, and M. Cohnen
1H-MR Spectroscopy, Magnetization Transfer, and Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Alcoholic and Nonalcoholic Patients with Cirrhosis with Hepatic Encephalopathy.
AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., May 1, 2006; 27(5): 1019 - 1026.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Neuroradiol.Home page
E. Matsusue, T. Kinoshita, E. Ohama, and T. Ogawa
Cerebral Cortical and White Matter Lesions in Chronic Hepatic Encephalopathy: MR-Pathologic Correlations
AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., February 1, 2005; 26(2): 347 - 351.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
M. R. Turner, F. Bianco, F. Fattapposta, N. Locuratolo, A. Pierallini, F. Ruberto, M. Rossi, and L. Bozzao
Reversible diffusion MRI abnormalities and transient mutism after liver transplantation
Neurology, January 11, 2005; 64(1): 177 - 177.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
F. Bianco, F. Fattapposta, N. Locuratolo, A. Pierallini, M. Rossi, F. Ruberto, and L. Bozzao
Reversible diffusion MRI abnormalities and transient mutism after liver transplantation
Neurology, March 23, 2004; 62(6): 981 - 983.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
R. Lodi, C. Tonon, A. Stracciari, M. Weiger, V. Camaggi, S. Iotti, G. Donati, M. Guarino, L. Bolondi, and B. Barbiroli
Diffusion MRI shows increased water apparent diffusion coefficient in the brains of cirrhotics
Neurology, March 9, 2004; 62(5): 762 - 766.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
L. M. Shulman, A. Minagar, and W. J. Weiner
Reversal of parkinsonism following liver transplantation
Neurology, February 11, 2003; 60(3): 519 - 519.
[Full Text] [PDF]