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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Skeletal Muscle Disease
Published on: December 18, 2016
Sclerotic bone lesions at abdominal magnetic resonance imaging in children with tuberous sclerosis complex
Susana Boronat1,2, Ignasi Barber3, Vivek Pargaonkar4
1Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 175 Cambridge Street, Suite 340, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
Sclerotic bone lesions are common in children with tuberous sclerosis complex, often found on abdominal MRI. These lesions, primarily in the spine, tend to increase with age.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pediatric Imaging
- Oncology
Background:
- Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder.
- Sclerotic bone lesions are a known manifestation in adults with TSC.
- Characterization of these lesions in children is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize bone lesions using abdominal MRI in pediatric TSC patients.
- To compare MRI findings with CT and radiographs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 70 children with TSC undergoing abdominal MRI.
- Longitudinal analysis of 50 children with multiple MRI scans.
- Comparison with CT and radiographic data.
Main Results:
- 173 sclerotic bone lesions identified in 73% of children.
- Lesions predominantly affected vertebral pedicles.
- New lesions and growth were observed, more frequent in girls and with renal involvement.
Conclusions:
- Abdominal MRI frequently detects sclerotic bone lesions in pediatric TSC.
- Posterior vertebral elements are commonly affected.
- Lesion prevalence and size increase with age, aiding diagnosis during routine surveillance.
Background:
Sclerotic bone lesions are often seen on chest CT in adults with tuberous sclerosis complex.
Objective:
To characterize bone lesions at abdominal MRI in children with tuberous sclerosis complex.
Materials And Methods:
This retrospective review included 70 children with tuberous sclerosis complex who had undergone abdominal MRI for renal imaging. An additional longitudinal study was performed in 50 children who had had two or more MRI scans. Abdominal CT (eight children) and radiographs (three children) were reviewed and compared with MRI.
Results:
A total of 173 sclerotic bone lesions were detected in 51/70 children (73%; 95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.82) chiefly affecting vertebral pedicles. New lesions appeared in 20 children and growth of previous sclerotic bone lesions was documented in 14 children. Sclerotic bone lesions were more frequent in girls and in children with more extensive renal involvement.
Conclusion:
Sclerotic bone lesions are commonly detected by abdominal MRI in children with tuberous sclerosis complex. They usually affect posterior vertebral elements and their number and size increase with age. As current recommendations for tuberous sclerosis complex surveillance include renal MR performed in childhood, recognition of these lesions is useful.
