Sequential 3-D MRI frontal volume changes in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
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.
Kanemura
Hideaki
H
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Tamaho, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan.
Aihara
Masao
M
Okubo
Toshiyuki
T
Nakazawa
Shinpei
S
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