Elevated taurine and glutamate in cerebral juvenile xanthogranuloma on MR spectroscopy

Abstract

MRI in a 2-year-old female presenting afebrile seizures and left blepharoptosis revealed multiple well-marginated round-shaped lesions, isointensity to gray matter on T1- and T2-weighted images with homogenously reduced diffusion and diffuse contrast enhancement. MRS revealed elevation of taurine, choline and glutamate, and reduction of N-acetylaspartate. A brain biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG). JXG should be considered when MR spectroscopy shows elevated taurine and glutamate, which has only previously been reported in medulloblastomas.

Keywords: Glutamate; Juvenile xanthogranuloma; MR spectroscopy; Taurine.