Imaging Bithalamic Pathology in the Pediatric Brain: Demystifying a Diagnostic Conundrum

OBJECTIVE. The thalami are subject to multiple insults including metabolic and toxic phenomena, acute demyelination, infection, infarction, hemorrhage and neoplastic involvement. The purpose of this article is to review the neuroimaging approach, classification, and imaging of bilateral thalamic lesions with histopathology correlation and application of advanced techniques. CONCLUSION. Neuroimaging of abnormal pediatric thalami uses conventional MRI sequences and advanced techniques to characterize lesions. Although there is considerable imaging overlap, a tailored approach can facilitate diagnosis and management.