title: A pattern approach to focal white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Evaluation of focal white matter hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging in any age group is always challenging because the cause of these hyperintensities varies extensively. Understanding the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and associated imaging findings can allow the radiologist to limit the differential diagnosis. A specific imaging approach including age, pattern of distribution, signal characteristics on various sequences, enhancement pattern, and other ancillary findings helps to identify a correct cause for these hyperintensities. This article provides a pattern approach to differentiate various common and a few uncommon diseases presenting as focal white matter hyperintensities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Department of Neurology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. Electronic address: skanekar@hmc.psu.edu.
authors.forename: Sangam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Puneet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devgun
mesh_terms: D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; CNS vasculitis; Focal white matter hyperintensity; Lyme; Multiple sclerosis; Sarcoid