Unidentified bright objects in neurofibromatosis type 1: Results of diffusion tensor imaging in children and adolescents

Abstract

To evaluate by means of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) if changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and diffusion tensor fraction anisotropy (FA) in unidentified bright objects (UBOs) and perilesional normal appearing brain regions of children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) can be observed. Ten children with NF1 underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging and DTI. The ADC and FA in UBOs and perilesional normal appearing brain of NF1 patients were compared with the same regions of the brain of controls. The ADC increased significantly for UBOs and surrounding normal appearing brain tissue of the brain in children with NF1. We observed no significant differences in FA between the UBOs and perilesional areas or that of controls. Although there is limited neuropathologic information about UBOs, detection of diffusion properties of UBOs can be used to understand tissue characteristics of UBOs, noninvasively.