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Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 2002 Dec;73(6):753–755. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.73.6.753

Measurement of amygdala T2 relaxation time in temporal lobe epilepsy

P Bartlett 1, M Richardson 1, J Duncan 1
PMCID: PMC1757376  PMID: 12438484

Abstract

Methods: 20 healthy subjects and 25 patients with known hippocampal sclerosis (HS) were studied using a dual echo CSE sequence on a 1.5T MRI GE scanner. The T2 relaxation time of the amygdala was calculated and measured using a previously validated method.

Results: The mean control AT2 was 88.1 ms (SD 2 ms). The coefficient of reliability was good at 6.3% test-retest and 7.4% inter-rater. The upper limit of normal AT2 was 92 ms. AT2 was abnormal ipsilaterally in six, and bilaterally in three, of 20 patients with unilateral HS. Two of five patients with bilateral HS had unilateral abnormal AT2.

Conclusion: Reliable T2 measurements can be obtained in the amygdala, and may be useful in the detection of amygdala abnormality.

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