title: Normalization of T2 signal abnormalities in hemispheric white matter with liver transplant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether edema can be assessed by MRI using T2-weighted signal intensity of hemispheric white matter in cirrhotic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fast-FLAIR and magnetization transfer images were obtained before (24) and after (11) liver transplantation. T2-weighted abnormalities on baseline scans and their time-course changes were analyzed and compared with MT ratios (MTR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fast-FLAIR baseline images showed faint to substantial, bilateral, symmetric increased signal intensity along the hemispheric white matter in or around the corticospinal tract in 23/24 patients. After liver transplantation the signal abnormalities gradually recovered. This gradual decrease in signal intensity correlated with an increase in MTR values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asymptomatic symmetric high-signal intensity in the hemispheric white matter on fast-FLAIR MR images is present in cirrhosis. Normalization of this finding after successful liver transplantation and its correlation with MTR values suggest that this signal abnormality reflects mild edema.
authors.affiliation: Magnetic Resonance Unit (IDI), Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Passeig Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain. alex.rovira@idi-cat.org
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Córdoba
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanpedro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grivé
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovira-Gols
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000473:pathology*