title: T2-weighted hyperintensities (unidentified bright objects) in children with neurofibromatosis 1: their impact on cognitive function.
abstract: The impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-identified T2-weighted hyperintensities (unidentified bright objects) on the cognitive function of children with neurofibromatosis 1 is controversial. We recruited 32 right-handed children with neurofibromatosis 1 (22 boys, 10 girls) aged between 5 and 16 years (mean age 10.2 years) for magnetic resonance imaging examinations and neuropsychologic evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the significance of the hyperintensities. Twenty-four children had unidentified bright objects, whereas eight children did not. Using the t-test, thalamic lesions were associated with lower intellectual function (P = .031). Left globus pallidus hyperintensities were associated with a lower attention score (P = .04), and right middle cerebellar peduncle hyperintensities were associated with a lower sensorimotor score (P = .05). The size of the thalamic lesions correlated with cognitive function (P < .05). Among the group with unidentified bright objects, there was a significant association between more involved sites on the dominant hemisphere and impaired verbal function (r = -.55; P = .005). Unidentified bright objects in the thalamus, globus pallidus, and middle cerebellar peduncles and the laterality of the lesions had an impact on cognitive function.
authors.affiliation: The Duchess of Kent Children's Habilitation Institute, Hong Kong. gohhs@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: Winnie H S
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Pek-Lan
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Khong
authors.forename: Connie S Y
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Virginia C N
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology; D014888:Wechsler Scales