MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN BEHCETS-DISEASE

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 25 patients with Beh cet's disease, of whom 15 had clinical involvement of the central nerv ous system (CNS). Brain MRI was abnormal in 11/15 with and in 1/10 wit hout CNS involvement. The most common sites of MR lesions were the cer ebral white matter and brainstem. Lesions were also seen in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, optic nerves and spinal cord. The cerebral white matter lesions were always asymptomatic and usually small, whereas the brainstem lesions were often symptomatic and sometimes extensive. Fol low-up MRI in 2 patients presenting with brainstem syndromes and treat ed with immunosuppression showed resolution of a large lesion in 1 pat ient in whom there was clinical remission, and the development of mark ed brainstem atrophy in the other who became severely disabled. The pa ttern of MRI abnormalities may assist the diagnosis and suggests a rol e for MRI in monitoring the effect of treatment in patients with neuro logical Behcet's disease.