MR imaging identification of oligodendroglial hyperplasia

Abstract

We report a case of oligodendroglial hyperplasia detected by using high-resolution high-field MR imaging. This disorder is considered part of the spectrum of cortical migrational abnormalities and is found with increased incidence in patients with epilepsy. Surgery offers the best chance for cure in patients with medically refractory partial complex epilepsy. Accurate localization and detection of the full lesion extent by using a high-resolution imaging technique such as 3T MR imaging is important to surgical success. Detection of subtle dysplastic lesions such as oligodendroglial hyperplasia may be clinically relevant.

Fig 1.

Coronal 3D T1 echo-spoiled gradient-echo image demonstrates an area of cortical thickening and indistinctness involving the right frontal lobe (thin arrow). Compare with the normal left frontal cortex (wide arrow).

Fig 2.

Axial T2-weighted MR image reveals subtle cortical thickening and blurring of the gray-white matter junction (open arrow) in the right frontal lobe. Subtle gyral expansion is questioned. Note areas of normal thin-appearing cortex in the ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere for comparison (closed arrows).