A case of Marchiafava-Bignami disease: MRI findings on spin-echo and fluidattenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images

Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) was diagnosed in a 56-year-old man. Spin- echo (SE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the acute phase showed normal signal areas in the central layer of the corpus callosum (CC), although th e intensity of these areas revealed abnormal hyperintensity on fluid attenu ated inversion recovery (FLAIR). On follow-up SE MRI at the late phase. the central layer of the CC showed fluid-like intensity. On FLAIR MRI, the les ions of the CC turned into hypointense cores surrounded by hyperintense rim s indicating central necrosis and peripheral demyelination. Degenerative ch anges of the CC in MBD were clearly demonstrated by FLAIR MRI. (C) 2000 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.