Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings In Whitematter Diseases.

Abstract

Background:- The white matter of the brain is located in the central and subcortical regions of the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres and accounts for about 60 % of the total brain volume. The white matter includes the major commissural tracts, the cortical association fibers, and all the cortical afferent and efferent fibers. The white matter contains nerve fibers, supporting cells, interstitial space, and vascular structures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method of mapping the internal structure of the body which completely avoids the use of ionizing radiation. It employs radiofrequency (RF) radiation in the presence of carefully controlled magnetic fields in order to produce high quality cross-sectional images of the body in any plane. Several MRI sequences are deployed to further characterise lesions. Objective:- The objective of the study is to determine MRI findings in white matter diseases. Study Design:-A prospective cross sectional study was carried out at the Kenyatta National Hospital and plaza imaging solutions. Method: - A total of 136 patients with white matter lesions were enrolled in the study from September 2008 to April 2009.Data were filled into questionnaires, which were later transferred into a data master sheet.Data analysis was done using a statistical software (SPSS version 17.0). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results 99.2% and 99.3% of the studied patients had high signal intensities with T2WI and FLAIR sequences respectively in the white matter of the brain. The commonest clinical presentations were limb weakness and seizures 53 and 23 patients respectively. The periventricular location was the commonest site for the lesion (66%) of the all studied locations in the brain. Conclusion MRI of the brain especially with T2WI and FLAIR sequences plays a critical role towards the diagnosis of white matter disease and hence contributing to the total patient management.