[The place of radiology in tuberous sclerosis (author's transl)]

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare disease in which hamartomas may be found in the brain, the retina, the skin and in other internal organs. The classic form of the disease showing mental retardation, epilepsy and adenoma sebaceum is easily recognised. Incomplete forms, however, can provide considerable diagnostic difficulties. Angiographically, appearances are found which cannot be differentiated with certainty from those of malignant tumours. Malignant tumours are very rare in this condition. Nephrectomy can be avoided if the diagnosis is made at an early stage. Two female patients are reported, in one of whom the diagnosis was made by renal angiography. Despite the presence of large tumours in both kidneys, these organs could be preserved by surgery. In the second patient there were also bilateral renal hamartomas, but surgery was not carried out. Both cases showed typical changes in the fingers and toes as well as intracerebral calcification, and in one the lungs were affected.