T2 relaxometry of ring lesions of the brain.
OBJECTIVE
To differentiate two common aetiologies of "ring lesions," tuberculomas and cysticercal cysts, using T2 relaxometry.


METHODS
Fifty-five ring-enhancing lesions of the brain (32 cysticercal cysts; 23 tuberculomas) in 27 patients with focal seizures were studied for T2 relaxation times.


RESULTS
The mean T2 relaxation times of cysticercal cysts was 617 ms (range 305-1365 ms; SD 272.2) and that of tuberculomas 161 ms (range 83-290 ms; SD 60.3; 95% confidence).


CONCLUSIONS
T2 relaxometry is a simple, reliable and valuable non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to differentiate between intracranial cysticercal cysts and tuberculomas, and may be incorporated in routine diagnostic protocols.
Jayakumar
P N
PN
Department of Neuroimaging and Interventional Radiology, National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences, Bangalore, India. jayakumarpn@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Srikanth
S G
SG
Chandrashekar
H S
HS
Subbakrishna
D K
DK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016862:Tuberculoma, Intracranial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology