[A case of Marchiafava-Bignami disease demonstrated by MR diffusion-weighted image]

A Case of Marchiafava-Bignami disease demonstrated by MR diffusion-weighted image (DWI) was reported. A 55-year-old male with chronic alcoholism demonstrated dysarthria, disorientation and apraxia of left-hand. Sagittal view on MRI showed a swelling of the corpus callosum. The body and splenium of the corpus callosum showed symmetrically iso-intensity in T1 WI and hyperintensity in T2 WI, and remarkable hyperintensity in fluid attenuated inversion recovery images. DWI showed a definite hyperintensity area on the corpus callosum and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map presented the decreased water self-diffusion. These findings differed from the other demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. We considered these DWI findings were the initial changes on MBD which preceded the demyelination. To our knowledge, this is the first report of DWI that was used in a case of Marchiafava-Bignami disease.