title: The value of diffusion-weighted imaging in the diagnosis of Marchiafava-Bignami disease: apropos of a case.
abstract: Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD) is characterized by demyelination and necrosis of corpus callosum encountered in chronic alcoholic patients. Etiology is the deficiency of vitamin B complex. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in MBD typically reveals focal lesions of high T2 and FLAIR signal intensity in the corpus callosum. We here present a 42-year-old male alcoholic diagnosed as MBD on the basis of MRI and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) features. The patient totally recovered following appropriate vitamin B complex replacement therapy, despite reduced diffusion in the initial setting. This case report emphasizes on the important role played by MRI and DWI in the early diagnosis and follow-up of this potentially fatal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Gazi Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. laggunlu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aggunlu
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oner
authors.forename: Belgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kocer
authors.forename: Sergin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akpek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054319:Marchiafava-Bignami Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011736:Pyridoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013831:Thiamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011736:Pyridoxine; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D013831:Thiamine