Computed tomography in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: report of 15 cases

Computerized tomographic (CT) study of the brain was performed in 15 cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Most patients in Stage II (6/8) had cerebral edema and diffuse white matter low attenuation, and patients in Stages III and IV (5/7) had atrophy of cerebral cortex, brainstem and cerebellum. Low density areas in deep grey matter nuclei (5 cases), large focal areas of white matter hypodensity (3/15) and evidence of brainstem atrophy without cerebral atrophy (2/15) were features not hitherto described. One patient in Stage III had normal scan. Correlation of scan findings was better with the stage of the disease than with the duration of SSPE.