[Aspects and behavior of x-ray computed tomographic studies in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis]

The authors reports cerebral Computerized Axial Tomography findings examined, in association with other diagnostic tests, in 5 cases of Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis in the acute phase and repeated in 2 of these patients later, during the state and terminal phases of the disease. Hypodensity of the white matter was the main sign of initial cerebral parenchymal involvement and an atrophic aspect was most indicative of the terminal phase. Moreover, it has been shown that associated with clinical symptomatology, immunologic data and EEG signs, cerebral Computerized Axial Tomography may offer the possibility for evaluating the nature and the evolutive stage of the disease and facilitate differential diagnosis from other degenerative encephalopathies.