Objective        To compare the magnetic resonance (MR) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the white matter of children suffered from tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with those of healthy controls

and to explore the association of ADC values with the severity of neurological symptoms.       Methods        Fifty-two patients with clinically confirmed TSC who underwent MR diffusion-weighted imaging our hospital during December 2007 to June 2012 were enrolled. The ADC values were measured in the frontal

parietal

occipital

temporal and cerebellar white matter

and were compared with those in age-matched healthy controls. According to the presence of epilepsy

mental retardation and autism

the neurological severity scoring was conducted

and the correlation of neurological severity with ADC values was analyzed.       Results        ADC values of the white matter were higher in the TSC patients compared with the healthy controls

and the increase of ADC values reached statistical significance in all regions and all age groups (P0.05) except for the temporal and cerebellar white matter in the age group between 1 and 3 years old and the cerebellar white matter in the age group between 12.1 and 18 years old(P0.05). There was significantly positive correlation between the ADC values and the neurological severity of the TSC patients (P0.05).       Conclusion        The increase of ADC values in the white matter of TSC children indicates white matter myelination impairment or development disorder

which may be the basis of cognitive disorder in clinic.