T2 relaxometry of ring lesions of the brain

AimTo differentiate two common aetiologies of “ring lesions,” tuberculomas and cysticercal cysts, using T2 relaxometry.Materials and methodsFifty-five ring-enhancing lesions of the brain (32 cysticercal cysts; 23 tuberculomas) in 27 patients with focal seizures were studied for T2 relaxation times.ResultsThe mean T2 relaxation times of cysticercal cysts was 617 ms (range 305–1365 ms; SD 272.2) and that of tuberculomas 161 ms (range 83–290 ms; SD 60.3; 95% confidence).ConclusionT2 relaxometry is a simple, reliable and valuable non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to differentiate between intracranial cysticercal cysts and tuberculomas, and may be incorporated in routine diagnostic protocols.