[Brain atrophy: radiological-neurological correlations]

Computerized tomography of the head was done in 5021 patients aged 21 to 81 years from various neurological, neurosurgical and neurotraumatological indications. Brain atrophy as an only finding (primary) was noted in 11.5%- and in 5.4% of cases it was associated with other changes. The neurological-radiological correlations were established in 200 cases of primary strophy. History data included: headaches in 54.5%, dizziness in 15.0%, epilepsy in 24.5%. Objective examination showed: slight hemiparesis in 37.5%, spastic-atactic gait disturbances in 31.5%, isolated damage to the corticospinal tracts with signs limited to one side of the body was more frequent in cortical atrophy, and these signs associated with ataxia were more frequent in subcortional atrophy. The authors explain this as a loss of cortical cells or damage to the paraventricularly coursing nerve fibres. A probable aetiology of "primary" atrophy was established in 405% of cases (hypertension, atherosclerosis, minor craniocerebral trauma). No signs or neurological syndromes were observed which could be regarded as more or less characteristic of brain atrophy.