The CT findings in a patient with tuberous sclerosis are described with special emphasis upon the differential diagnosis. The presence of multiple bilateral subependymal nodular nonenhancing hyperdense calcified lesions is relatively characteristic of tuberous sclerosis when combined with the appropriate clinical findings. In some cases, cerebral cortical heterotopias are visualized as hypodense nonenhancing subependymal lesions. The finding of a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma is sometimes seen in patients with tuberous sclerosis, and the finding of a subependymal hyperdense enhancing lesion is consistent with this diagnosis.

Calcinosis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomographic findings in brain swelling.

Vasogenic edema is due to a breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. This is the most common type of brain edema encountered in clinical medicine. In vasogenic edema, CT shows hypodense frond-like regions located within the white matter. This edema surrounds the underlying pathological lesion. The edema may be quite extensive in relation to the size of the lesion. Cytotoxic edema is due to impaired brain metabolism with swelling of neurons, glial, and endothelial cells. In cytotoxic edema, CT shows diffuse hypodense subcortical regions. Ischemic edema is due to impaired tissue perfusion. The CT appearance is that of a hypodense region with a specific arterial vascular distribution. Interstitial edema is due to hydrocephalus, CT shows hypodense regions directly capping the ventricles or the mass lesion. Based upon the CT findings, it is frequently possible to determine the type of edema present and to predict with greater accuracy the nature of the underlying pathological process.

Brain Edema↗