[Scanography in purulent meningitis in newborn infants]

Brain CT scans of 40 neonates with bacterial meningitis showed that the main lesions consisted of obstacles to CSF flow resulting in hydrocephalus during the second month; single or multiple foci of ischaemia of very early onset appearing as hypodense areas sometimes contrast-enhanced, and abscesses consecutive to haematogenous septic necrosis. The organisms responsible for these abscesses usually were Proteus spp., more rarely other enterobacteria. Attention is drawn to the usefulness of CT in detecting the nature and size of lesions which are often clinically silent, except for convulsions.