Diffusion MRI and spectroscopy in Rasmussen's encephalitis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diffusion MRI and proton MR spectroscopy findings in a rare disorder, Rasmussen's encephalitis. Diffusion MRI studies of 3 cases of Rasmussen's encephalitis were performed using the echo-planar trace sequence (TR=5700 ms, TE=139.03 ms). The gradient-echo diffusion sequence, PSIF (TR=21.6 ms, TE=5 ms), which is a reverse FISP sequence, and proton MR spectroscopy (TR=1500 ms, TE=40 ms) were applied in two patients. The trace sequence revealed high apparent diffusion coefficient values at the diseased regions (1.21+/-0.13 x 10(-3) mm2/s), compared with normal parenchymal values in 12 control cases (0.84+/-0.09 x 10(-3) mm2/s), indicating increased motion of water molecules (disintegration of the tissue) in these regions. The PSIF sequence revealed pixel value differences between the two hemispheres. Proton MR spectroscopy revealed decreased N-acetyl aspartate peaks, compared with five control cases.