Description

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a systemic disease with autosomal dominant inheritance, characterized by the development of hamartomas (benign tumors consisting of an abnormal mix of normal tissue elements) in various organs [1]. We present the case of an 11-year-old child with tuberous sclerosis complex who experienced status epilepticus. A brain CT scan was performed, revealing bilateral subependymal periventricular calcifications (Figure 1).

Subependymal nodules are common brain lesions in patients with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), representing hamartomatous growths. Although typically benign, these nodules can progress into subependymal giant cell astrocytomas Computed tomography is particularly useful for detecting subependymal nodules, as they are much more frequently associated with calcification (88%) than cortical tubers [2].

Figure 1: Axial section (a-b) with coronal (c) and sagittal (d) reconstruction of a brain scan without contrast medium injection showing subependymal calcifications related to subependymal nodules.

References

1. Yves Pirson, Thien-Anh Ho, Nathalie Demoulin, Nathalie Godefroid, Valérie Dekeuleneer, et al. Sclérose tubéreuse de Bourneville : Poser le diagnostic et traiter à bon escient, Mladies rares, janvier. 2017.
2. Felipe Mussi von Ranke, Igor Murad Faria, Gláucia Zanetti, Bruno Hochhegger, Arthur Soares Souza Jr. 4 and Edson Marchiori 2, Imaging of tuberous sclerosis complex: A pictorial review, Radiol Bras. 2017; 50(1): 48-54.