CEREBRAL PROTON MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPIC IMAGING IN A NEONATEWITH TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS

On the basis of detection of cardiac tumours and an intracerebral sube pendymal mass, the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis was made in a fullt erm neonate. To evaluate cerebral metabolism cerebral mass proton magn etic resonance spectroscopic imaging (H-1-MRSI) was performed. A local decrease in N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), and an increase in choline sign als were found. Lactate could neither be demonstrated in the subependy mal nodule, nor in the surrounding tissue, thereby rendering the possi bility of a high-grade malignant tumour less likely. No major changes were found at 3 and 6 months of age. The present study demonstrates, t hat H-1-MRSI may be helpful in metabolic evaluation of cerebral masses in patients with tuberous sclerosis.