Thalamo-striatal T2-weighted hyperintensities (unidentified bright objects) correlate with cognitive impairments in neurofibromatosis type 1 during childhood.
Learning disabilities represent the main childhood complication in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Patients frequently exhibit T2-weighted hyperintensities called unidentified bright objects (UBOs) on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with unclear relationship to such cognitive disabilities. This study aimed to determine whether thalamo-striatal UBOs correlate with cognitive disturbances. Thirty-seven NF1 children were studied: 24 with UBOs (18 of which were thalamo-striatal UBOs), and 13 without UBOs. NF1 subjects carrying thalamo-striatal UBOs had significantly lower IQs and visuospatial performances than those without UBOs in this location. These results suggest that UBOs may contribute to NF1 cognitive impairments through thalamo-cortical dysfunction.
Chabernaud
Camille
C
Pediatric Neurology Unit, Clocheville Hospital, Tours, France.
Sirinelli
Dominique
D
Barbier
Charlotte
C
Cottier
Jean-Philippe
JP
Sembely
Catherine
C
Giraudeau
Bruno
B
Deseille-Turlotte
Geraldine
G
Lorette
Gerard
G
Barthez
Marie-Anne
MA
Castelnau
Pierre
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013028:Space Perception; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology*; D014796:Visual Perception