[X-ray scanning in Marchiafava-Bignami disease].

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Marchiafava-Bignami disease is a rare neurological disorder typically associated with chronic alcoholism.
• The acute alcoholic form presents unique diagnostic challenges.
• Understanding the neuroimaging characteristics is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Observation:

• CT scans were performed on four patients with acute alcoholic Marchiafava-Bignami disease.
• Patients died between 12 and 50 days post-diagnosis.
• Autopsy confirmed neuropathological findings.

Findings:

• CT scans demonstrated widespread, symmetrical hypodense areas in the hemispheric white matter, predominantly in posterior regions.
• These lesions were often independent of the corpus callosum.
• Pathology revealed corresponding necrotic and demyelinating changes in the centrum ovale.
• In two cases, CT identified linear hypodensities near the frontal horns, correlating with corpus callosum necrosis.

Implications:

• CT imaging can reveal characteristic white matter abnormalities in Marchiafava-Bignami disease.
• Neuroimaging findings correlate significantly with post-mortem neuropathological examination.
• CT scans may aid in the early diagnosis of this rare condition, particularly in its acute alcoholic presentation.