Limited value of diffusion and magnetization transfer imaging in children with neurofibromatosis, leukodystrophy and encephalopathy

Diffusion and magnetization transfer imaging was performed on 29 children with encephalopathy and 69 children in the normal control group. Neurofibromatosis lesions had significantly lower magnetization transfer ratios and lower apparent diffusion coefficients than normal. Apparent diffusion coefficients of leukodystrophy, hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy, and post-infectious encephalopathy were significantly higher than normal. Two radiologists independently detected more lesions and scored higher lesion contrast on T2- and FLAIR-weighted images than diffusion and magnetization transfer imaging. In conclusion, apparent diffusion coefficient and magnetization transfer ratio determination is not more sensitive than T2- and FLAIR-weighted imaging in assessing children with encephalopathy.