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Applied Sciences
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY
Data sources: Crossref
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Cortical Tuber Types in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Need for New MRI-Based Classification System Incorporating Changes in Susceptibility Weighted Imaging

Authors: Camilla Russo; Simone Coluccino; Maria Fulvia De Leva; Stefania Graziano; Adriana Cristofano; Carmela Russo; Domenico Cicala; +3 Authors

Cortical Tuber Types in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex: Need for New MRI-Based Classification System Incorporating Changes in Susceptibility Weighted Imaging

Abstract

Purpose: This study proposes a novel magnetic resonance (MRI)-based classification of cortical tubers (CTs) in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients that incorporates intralesional calcifications. We evaluated prevalence, temporal evolution, and genotype correlation of intra-tuberal calcifications in pediatric TSC patients, emphasizing susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) for detection. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed MRI scans of 57 unrelated pediatric TSC patients followed between 2014 and 2024 at a tertiary care center. Inclusion criteria included longitudinal imaging on the same 1.5T scanner, with T1w, T2w/FLAIR, and SWI sequences. CTs were classified into four MRI-based categories (A–D), with calcified tubers subdivided into micro-calcified and macro-calcified. Descriptive statistics, binomial tests, and Chi-square analyses were performed. Results: Calcified CTs were more prevalent than cystic ones. At baseline MRI, 63% of patients had calcified tubers (19% of all CTs), increasing to 77% at follow-up MRI (24% of all CTs). Micro-calcifications predominated at baseline MRI evaluation, though a significant proportion progressed to macro-calcifications over time. Calcified CTs always progressed from lower-grade lesions. Cystic tubers were rare (<1%). Longitudinal analysis showed significant variation in CTs with inner calcification count (p = 0.0000023), but not in CTs with cystic components (p = 0.42072). No significant genotype–radiological phenotype association emerged. Conclusions: Intralesional calcifications in CTs are dynamic and detectable with SWI. The inclusion of calcification patterns in CT classification could offer insights that may prove useful for future prognostic and risk-stratification frameworks in pediatric TSC.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
gold