title: Sequential 3-D MRI frontal volume changes in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
abstract: In patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, clinical stages defined according to Jabbour correlate strongly with frontal lobe dysfunctions. Non-quantitative radiologic investigations in these patients have confirmed cerebral atrophy without identifying predominantly affected regions. We addressed this issue over an 8-year-old boy's course using volumetry based on three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging. Seven normal 6-12-year-old subjects served as controls. Whole-brain volume declined as Jabbour stage advanced from I to III. Frontal lobe volume and frontal-to-whole-brain volume ratios fell significantly as clinical stage progressed. Thus, cerebral atrophy in this SSPE patient was predominantly frontal, and paralleled clinical progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Tamaho, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanemura
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aihara
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Shinpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D013344:Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology