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Diffusion-weighted imaging as an aid in the diagnosis of the etiology of medial longitudinal fasciculus syndrome

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Abstract

Purpose

Internuclear ophthalmoplegia is caused by a lesion; stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain metastases, or trauma may produce lesions of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF). Imaging techniques, such as DWI, can help identify the site of the lesion in order to speed diagnosis and lead to appropriate treatment.

Methods

Over an 8-month period, eight consecutive patients with suspected MLF syndrome (most secondary to ischemic stroke) underwent MRI examinations, including DWI sequencing, at an academic center in Taiwan.

Results

In all eight patients, abnormal high-signal lesions were found close to the floor of the fourth ventricle on the dorsal side of the pons. A neuroanatomical comparison showed that the location of the lesions was identical to the anatomical position of the MLF.

Conclusion

Using DWI, good clinico-radiological correlation was found in all eight ischemic stroke patients diagnosed with MLF syndrome. DWI may broaden the application of MRI in the diagnosis of MLF syndrome.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH-9902052).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, No. 138 Sheng-Li Rd, Tainan, 704, Taiwan

    Ming-Tsung Chuang, Ying-Chen Chen & Yi-Sheng Liu

  2. Department of Medical Imaging, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Ming-Tsung Chuang

  3. Department of Neurology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

    Chou-Ching Lin, Pi-Shan Sung & Hui-Chen Su

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  1. Ming-Tsung Chuang
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  2. Chou-Ching Lin
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Correspondence to Yi-Sheng Liu.

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Chuang, MT., Lin, CC., Sung, PS. et al. Diffusion-weighted imaging as an aid in the diagnosis of the etiology of medial longitudinal fasciculus syndrome. Surg Radiol Anat 36, 675–680 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-014-1256-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-014-1256-z

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