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Semi-automatic volumetry of cortical tubers in tuberous sclerosis complex

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the volume and number of tubers and the age at seizure onset in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. We also examined the relationship between the volume and number of cyst-like tubers and the age at seizure onset.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively studied 23 patients with TSC (16 males and 7 females, mean age 12.4 ± 9.5 years). Routine structural MR-imaging data analysis was performed using QBrain. Total brain volume, total tuber volume, and the number of tubers were measured semi-automatically. Additionally, the total volume and the number of only cyst-like tubers were measured. The tuber/brain proportion (TBP) and the cyst-like tuber/brain proportion (cTBP) were calculated, and these were compared with the age at seizure onset. The numbers of tubers and cyst-like tubers were also compared with the age at seizure onset.

Results

For both TBP and the number of tubers, a significant negative correlation with age at seizure onset was identified (ρ = −0.69, p < 0.01 and ρ = −0.56, p < 0.01). No significant correlation of cTBP or the number of cyst-like tubers with age at seizure onset was identified (ρ = −0.26, p = 0.37 and ρ = −0.048, p = 0.87).

Conclusion

TBP may be associated with age at seizure onset.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by an Intramural Research Grant (21B-5) for Neurological and Psychiatry Disorder of National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry. The authors thank Dr. Naohiro Yonemoto (Section of Biostatistics, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan) for his assistance with statistical analysis.

Conflict of interest

We declare that the authors have no conflict of interest concerning this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8551, Japan

    Yasuhiro Nakata, Noriko Sato, Kimiteru Ito, Yukio Kimura, Kouhei Kamiya & Yoko Shigemoto

  2. Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan

    Ayako Hattori, Eiji Nakagawa & Masayuki Sasaki

  3. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Kuni Ohtomo

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  1. Yasuhiro Nakata
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Correspondence to Noriko Sato.

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Nakata, Y., Sato, N., Hattori, A. et al. Semi-automatic volumetry of cortical tubers in tuberous sclerosis complex. Jpn J Radiol 31, 253–261 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-012-0178-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-012-0178-0

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