Cranial computed tomographic findings in tuberous sclerosis are not affected by sex.

Males with the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) have been shown to be more at risk of learning disorder than females. A retrospective population based study was undertaken to see if males with TSC have more cerebral lesions than females. 47 of 131 individuals with TSC identified in a prevalence study had a cranial CT scan available for review. No significant difference between the sexes was found in the number of subependymal nodules or the number, site or size of parenchymal lesions. However, males with five or fewer parenchymal lesions were at greater risk of learning disorder than females. The increased risk of learning disorder in males with tuberous sclerosis is not accounted for by an increase in number, site or size of cranial lesions as seen on CT scans. Therefore there must be an alternative mechanism to account for this difference between the sexes.