Bibliogr. s. 63-64

Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder with gene loci located on chromosomes 9q34 (TSC1) and 16p13 (TSC2). Brain is the most frequently affected organ. We retrospectively reviewed magnetic resonance features of the brain in 92 patients with tuberous sclerosis, examined in our Institute from 1997 to 2006. Material/Methods: We analyzed MR imaging of the spectrum of supra- and infratentorial brain lesions encountered in TSC. MR examinations were performed with a 1.5 T scanner. The basic imaging protocol included axial SE T1WI, FSE PD, T2WI, FSE FLAIR images, sagittal T1,T2WI and coronal FLAIR images. Axial T1-WI contrast-enhanced images were obtained in each patient. Results: Cortical tubers were found in 89 of the 92 patients (96.74%) and they have been located in frontal and parietal cerebral lobes predominantly. Cerebellar tubers were found in 12/92 (13.04%), cerebral white matter lesions in 34/92 patients (36.96%), subependymal nodules in 80/92 patients (86.96%) and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas in 11/92 of our patients (11.96%). Partial agenesis of corpus callosum, cortical dysplasia, cerebellar atrophy, intracranial arterial aneurysm, enlargement of ventricles and venous malformation were rare associated findings. Administration of gadolinium was useful in detecting and delineation subependymal giant cell astrocytomas - SGCAs. Conclusions: Our study presents a wide range of MR signs and variance of the cerebral manifestations with TSC patients.