Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy: Early Predictor for Demyelination?

severe demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by a JC papovavirus infection. Prognosis is poor with fatal outcome within 1 year in 90 % of patients. Our case report shows that diffusion tensor imaging can give early and specific information about disease status and extent in a 15-year-old girl with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy associated with congenital human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a se-vere, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system due to JC papovavirus infection of the myelin-producing oligodendrocytes (1, 2). The name JC virus is derived from the initials of the index patient. Pro-gressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy typically oc-curs in immunocompromised individuals, such as pa