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Licchetta L, Bruschi G, Stipa C, Belotti LMB, Ferri L, Mostacci B, Vignatelli L, Minardi R, Di Vito L, Muccioli L, Boni A, Tinuper P, Bisulli F. Tuberous sclerosis complex in adulthood: focus on epilepsy prognosis. Epilepsy Behav 2024; 153:109688. [PMID: 38428171 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Typically diagnosed in early childhood or adolescence, TSC is a chronic, multisystemic disorder with age-dependent manifestations posing a challenge for transition and for specific surveillance throughout the lifetime. Data on the clinical features and severity of TSC in adults and on the prognosis of epilepsy are scarce. We analyzed the clinical and genetic features of a cohort of adult patients with TSC, to identify the prognostic predictors of seizure remission after a long follow-up. METHOD We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with TSC according to the updated international diagnostic criteria. Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact test and Mann Whitney U test were used to compare variables among the Remission (R) and Non-Remission (NR) group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS We selected 43 patients with TSC and neurological involvement in terms of epilepsy and/or brain lesions, attending the Epilepsy Center of our Institute: of them, 16 (37.2%) were transitioning from the pediatric care and 6 (13.9%) were referred by other specialists. Multiorgan involvement includes cutaneous (86.0%), nephrological (70.7%), hepatic (40.0%), ocular (34.3%), pneumological (28.6%) and cardiac (26.3%) manifestations. Thirty-nine patients (90.7 %) had epilepsy. The mean age at seizure onset was 4 ± 7.3 years: most patients (29, 76.3 %) presented with focal seizures or spasms by age 3 years; only 2 (5.3 %) had seizure onset in adulthood. Twenty-seven patients (69.2 %) experienced multiple seizure types overtime, 23 (59.0 %) had intellectual disability (ID). At last assessment, 14 (35.9 %) were seizure free (R group) and 25 (64.1 %) had drug-resistant seizures (NR group). At logistic regression univariate analysis, ID (OR 7.9, 95 % CI 1.8--34.7), multiple seizure types lifelong (OR 13.2, 95 % CI 2.6- 67.2), spasms/tonic seizures at presentation (OR 6.5, 95 % CI 1.2--35.2), a higher seizure frequency at onset (OR 5.4, 95 % CI 1.2--24.3), abnormal neurological examination (OR 9.8, 95 % CI 1.1--90.6) and pathogenic variants in TSC2 (OR 5.4, 95 % CI 1.2--24.5) were significantly associated with non-remission. In the multivariate analysis, both ID and multiple seizure types lifelong were confirmed as independent predictors of poor seizure outcome. CONCLUSIONS In our cohort of adult patients with TSC, epilepsy remains one of the main neurological challenges with only 5.3% of cases manifesting in adulthood. Approximately 64% of these patients failed to achieve seizure remission. ID and multiple seizure types were the main predictors of poor outcome. Nephrological manifestations require continuous specific follow-up in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Licchetta
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Bruschi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy; Unit of Neurology and Unit of Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Carlotta Stipa
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Maria Beatrice Belotti
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ferri
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna Italy.
| | - Barbara Mostacci
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Vignatelli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy
| | - Raffaella Minardi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy
| | - Lidia Di Vito
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Muccioli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna Italy
| | - Antonella Boni
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOC Neuropsichiatria Dell'età Pediatrica, via Altura 3, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Paolo Tinuper
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna Italy
| | - Francesca Bisulli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE), Bologna, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna Italy
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Tuberöse-Sklerose-Komplex. DIE RADIOLOGIE 2022; 62:1058-1066. [PMID: 35945379 DOI: 10.1007/s00117-022-01053-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
CLINICAL BACKGROUND Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a phakomatosis and is a tumor predisposition syndrome. As a genetic multisystem disease, patients present with a broad range of changes in the brain, heart, skin, kidneys, and lungs. OBJECTIVES Which imaging modalities are required to monitor TSC patients according to current international recommendations? MATERIALS AND METHODS Common findings in TSC are cortical tubers, subependymal nodules, and giant cell astrocytomas in the central nervous system (CNS), rhabdomyomas in the heart, and cysts and angiomyolipomas in the kidneys. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and kidneys and abdominal ultrasound are the imaging modalities of choice, due to the very good soft tissue contrast and lack of X‑ray radiation. RESULTS Using standard and functional MRI sequences in a multimodal approach, the type, malignancy, size, and morphology of changes in TSC can be reliably determined. Abdominal ultrasound using high-resolution transducers can be used to rapidly and reliably detect even the smallest changes in the kidneys. CONCLUSION Regular follow-up of patients with TSC using MRI and ultrasound is necessary for early detection of complications, for planning individualized therapy, and for optimal lifelong care.
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Sidira C, Vargiami E, Anastasiou A, Talimtzi P, Kyriazi M, Dragoumi P, Spanou M, Ntinopoulos A, Dalpa E, Evangeliou A, Zafeiriou DI. The Complex Interplay of Cortex, Cerebellum, and Age in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients With Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Pediatr Neurol 2021; 123:43-49. [PMID: 34399109 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2021.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neurodevelopmental impairment in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) has a multifactorial origin. Various factors have been proposed as predictors of neurological outcome such as tuber load, seizure onset, and TSC2 mutation. Cerebellar lesions have been associated with worse neuroradiological phenotype, but their contribution is not well understood. METHODS A partly retrospective and partly prospective pediatric cohort study was conducted at three hospitals in Greece between 2015 and 2020. Patients aged ≤ 18 years with a confirmed TSC daignosis were included and underwent brain imaging, a semistructured interview (authorized Greek version of the tuberous sclerosis-associated neuropsychiatric disorders, or TAND, checklist), and intellectual ability assessment. RESULTS The study populations consisted of 45 patients with TSC (22 females, 23 males; mean age 9.53 years). Twenty patients (44.4%) had cerebellar lesions. Cerebellar involvement was the most powerful predictor of tuber load (P = 0.03). Cerebellar lesions were associated with giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) (P = 0.01) and severe neurological outcome (P = 0.01). Even though in the univariate analysis early seizure onset, tuber load, and cerebellar involvement were associated with intellectual impairment and neurological severity, none of them was an independent predictor of cognitive outcome and neurological severity. CONCLUSIONS Cerebellar lesions are common among individuals with TSC. Cerebellar involvement correlates with supratentorial derangement and the development of SEGAs, which is suggestive of a more severe clinical and neuroradiological phenotype. Cerebellar involvement and early seizure onset were not independent predictors of either neurological severity or intellectual disability or neurobehavioral outcome; their role in TSC clinical phenotype should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Sidira
- 1st Paediatric Department, Developmental Centre "A. Fokas", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Hippokration" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efthymia Vargiami
- 1st Paediatric Department, Developmental Centre "A. Fokas", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Hippokration" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Persefoni Talimtzi
- Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventive Medicine & Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Kyriazi
- 1st Paediatric Department, Developmental Centre "A. Fokas", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Hippokration" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Pinelopi Dragoumi
- 1st Paediatric Department, Developmental Centre "A. Fokas", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Hippokration" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Spanou
- 3(rd)Pediatric Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Argirios Ntinopoulos
- 3(rd)Pediatric Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Efterpi Dalpa
- 4(th) Pediatric Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Papageorgiou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanasios Evangeliou
- 4(th) Pediatric Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Papageorgiou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitrios I Zafeiriou
- 1st Paediatric Department, Developmental Centre "A. Fokas", Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, "Hippokration" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Toldo I, Bugin S, Perissinotto E, Pelizza MF, Vignoli A, Parazzini C, Canevini MP, Nosadini M, Sartori S, Manara R. Cerebellar lesions as potential predictors of neurobehavioural phenotype in tuberous sclerosis complex. Dev Med Child Neurol 2019; 61:1221-1228. [PMID: 31313298 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM To improve the genetic, clinical, and neuroradiological characterization of cerebellar involvement in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and determine whether cerebellar lesions could be a reliable biomarker of neurological impairment. METHOD This retrospective cohort study, held at two tertiary paediatric university centres, was conducted on patients with a confirmed diagnosis of TSC who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging between October 2009 and May 2016. The study population consisted of 112 patients with TSC (median age 10y; range 5mo-38y; 61 females, 51 males). RESULTS The results from multivariable statistical analysis indicated that cerebellar involvement (34 out of 112 patients, none carrying a TSC1 mutation) was the most powerful predictor of supratentorial cortical tuber load; however, cerebellar involvement was not the best predictor of clinical phenotype when supratentorial tuber load and TSC2 mutations were taken into consideration. The association between cerebellar lesions and a more severe clinical and neuroradiological phenotype was statistically significant and may be due to its strong association with TSC2 mutations and higher cortical tuber load. INTERPRETATION Cerebellar involvement is not the best predictor of neurobehavioural outcome, including TSC-related autism, after adjusting for TSC2 and the number of cortical tubers. Its role in the TSC clinical phenotype needs to be investigated further. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS Cerebellar involvement is a powerful predictor of supratentorial cortical involvement and a potential biomarker of disease severity. Cerebellar lesions significantly correlate with a more severe clinical and neuroradiological phenotype. Cerebellar involvement is not the best predictor of neurobehavioural outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Toldo
- Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Samuela Bugin
- Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Egle Perissinotto
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Federica Pelizza
- Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Aglaia Vignoli
- Neuropsychiatric Unit, Health Sciences Department, Epilepsy Center, ASST Santi Paolo Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Parazzini
- Department of Pediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology, Children's Hospital "V. Buzzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Canevini
- Neuropsychiatric Unit, Health Sciences Department, Epilepsy Center, ASST Santi Paolo Carlo, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Nosadini
- Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Stefano Sartori
- Pediatric Neurology and Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Woman's and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Renzo Manara
- Neuroradiology Unit, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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Semi-automatic volumetry of cortical tubers in tuberous sclerosis complex. Jpn J Radiol 2013; 31:253-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s11604-012-0178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/25/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Malformations of cortical development of the human brain: A pictorial essay. J Neuroradiol 2012; 39:205-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2011.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2011] [Revised: 05/25/2011] [Accepted: 06/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Abstract
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder, characterized by the presence of hamartomatous lesions involving different organ systems, including the brain. Epilepsy is the most common presenting symptom, representing a major source of morbidity and mortality. Despite multiple antiepileptic drug combinations, in about two thirds of cases the patients present high-frequency drug-resistant epilepsy, and nonpharmacologic options may be considered. The aim of this work was to point out the current knowledge on epileptogenesis in TSC, the available medical therapies and diagnostic tools, and possible surgical strategies, with the intent to better understand the actual difficulties in controlling seizures and the results reported in the literature. There is also a section dedicated to the common association with cognitive impairment and the role of epilepsy control on its outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Novegno
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Catholic University Medical School, Rome, Italy.
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Pascual-Castroviejo I. Neurosurgical treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex lesions. Childs Nerv Syst 2011; 27:1211-9. [PMID: 21607641 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-011-1488-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominantly inherited syndrome. Renal disease is the main cause of death. Brain disorders are the origin of more frequent and severe problems, such as tumors, epilepsy, and mental retardation. Participation of neurosurgeons in the study and especially in the treatment of TSC patients is often required. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two types of pathological conditions mainly require neurosurgical interventions in TSC: subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SGCA) and cortical tubers. SGCA are located in the cerebral region close to the foramina of Monroe, uni- or bilaterally, and originate in hamartomas that can grow slowly as well as rapidly, even suddenly, especially in cases with intratumoral cyst, causing increased intracranial pressure (ICP) with severe risk for visual loss and life. Neurosurgeons have to participate in the follow-up of the patients as soon as the risk of ICP exists to remove the tumor when the criteria of SGCA growth are present. The other intracranial lesions that require neurosurgical intervention by are the cortical tubers. CONCLUSION These dysplastic lesions are associated with TSC in almost the 100% of affected persons and are the cause of epilepsy in most patients. The seizures can be resistant to antiepileptic medication in many cases in which a tuber is identified as the origin of the focal seizures after functional studies, such as EEG, MR, PET, etc. In these cases, only surgical removal of the tuber and the perituberal epileptogenic foci can cure the epilepsy. Large tubers are more epileptogenic than smaller ones.
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Taki MM, Harada M, Mori K, Kubo H, Nose A, Matsuda T, Nishitani H. High gamma-aminobutyric acid level in cortical tubers in epileptic infants with tuberous sclerosis complex measured with the MEGA-editing J-difference method and a three-Tesla clinical MRI Instrument. Neuroimage 2009; 47:1207-14. [PMID: 19481612 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.05.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2009] [Revised: 04/27/2009] [Accepted: 05/19/2009] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to estimate the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate plus glutamine (Glx) concentrations in the cortical tubers of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) using the MEGA-editing J-difference method and a stimulated echo-acquisition mode with a short echo time, and to determine which abnormality was more dominant between GABA and Glx in patients with TSC with epilepsy. This study included six patients with TSC (mean age, 4.3 years) and seven control subjects (mean age, 4.8 years). Measurements were obtained with a three-Tesla apparatus and postprocessing was conducted with an LCModel. The GABA level in the cortical gray matter (cgGABA) was calculated as a result of segmentation in voxels and from the literature values for gray and white matter ratios for GABA. Increased GABA and myo-inositol (mI) concentrations and a decreased N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) concentration were observed in the cortical tubers. The cgGABA level, and cgGABA/NAA and cgGABA/Glx ratios were also higher in patients with TSC than in control subjects. No significant difference was found in Glx concentration between patients with TSC and control subjects. Although the number of patients with TSC in this study was small, the increase in GABA and no significant change in Glx were consistent with previous neurochemical studies and support the hypothesis that brain GABA plays a key role in the pathophysiology of epilepsy during the process of neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masako Minato Taki
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Health Biosciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan
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Pollock JM, Whitlow CT, Tan H, Kraft RA, Burdette JH, Maldjian JA. Pulsed arterial spin-labeled MR imaging evaluation of tuberous sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009; 30:815-20. [PMID: 19147711 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a1428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Tuberous sclerosis presents with characteristic cortical hamartomas and subependymal nodules associated with seizures. The purpose of this study was to use pulsed arterial spin-labeling (PASL) to quantify the perfusion of the cortical hamartomas and correlate the perfusion values with seizure frequency. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective search yielded 16 MR imaging examinations including conventional MR imaging and PASL perfusion performed in 13 patients (age range, 7 months to 23 years) with a history of tuberous sclerosis. The mean perfusion of each cortical hamartoma greater than 5 mm in size localized with conventional MR imaging sequences was obtained with use of manually drawn regions of interest. Cortical hamartomas were classified as normal, hyperperfused, or hypoperfused on the basis of the mean and SD of the unaffected cortex. Correlation was made between perfusion imaging, conventional imaging, and clinical history. RESULTS Of the 245 cortical hamartomas, 227 (92.7%) were hypoperfused, 10 (4.1%) were hyperperfused, and 8 (3.3%) were unchanged relative to the mean gray matter. One patient had a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma with a mean perfusion of 93.5 mL/100 g tissue/min. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between seizure frequency and the number of hyperperfused cortical tubers (r = 0.51; n = 16; P = .04), with higher seizure frequency associated with a greater number of hyperperfused cortical tubers. There was no significant correlation, however, between seizure frequency and the overall number of cortical tubers (r = 0.20; n = 16; P = .47). CONCLUSIONS The PASL technique can assess and quantify the perfusion characteristics of a cortical hamartoma. Most lesions are hypoperfused; however, both normally perfused and hyperperfused lesions occur. The presence of hyperperfused cortical tubers was associated with increased seizure frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Pollock
- Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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