title: Perfusion Imaging of Focal Cortical Dysplasia Using Arterial Spin Labeling: Correlation With Histopathological Vascular Density.
abstract: Focal cortical dysplasia is the most common malformation of cortical development, causing intractable epilepsy. This study investigated the relationship between brain perfusion and microvessel density in 7 children with focal cortical dysplasia. The authors analyzed brain perfusion measurements obtained by magnetic resonance imaging of 2 of the children and the microvessel density of brain tissue specimens obtained by epilepsy surgery on all of the children. Brain perfusion was approximately 2 times higher in the area of focal cortical dysplasia compared to the contralateral side. The microvessel density was nearly double in the area of focal cortical dysplasia compared to the surrounding cortex that did not have morphological abnormalities. These findings suggest that hyperperfusion can be related to increased microvessel density in focal cortical dysplasia rather than only to seizures. Further investigations are needed to determine the relationship between brain perfusion, microvessel density, and seizure activity.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wintermark
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lechpammer
authors.forename: Simon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Warfield
authors.forename: Bela
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kosaras
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeoka
authors.forename: Annapurna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poduri
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whalen
authors.forename: Frances E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Jensen
keywords: arterial spin labeling; brain perfusion; cerebral blood flow; focal cortical dysplasia; magnetic resonance imaging