THE COMPUTED AXIAL-TOMOGRAPHY OF THE BRAIN IN PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION

Forty consecutive new cases of protein energy malnutrition were evalua ted clinically and biochemically; in addition, the brain morphology wa s assessed by computed tomography within 24 hours of admission. Cerebr al shrinkage was shown in six of 14 (42.9%) cases of marasmus, ten of 14 (71.4%) cases of kwashiorkor, and II of 12 (91.7%) cases of marasmi c-kwashiorkor. Ventricular dilatation was demonstrated in 57.1% of mar asmus cases, 71.4% of kwashiorkor cases and 91.7% of patients sufferin g from marasmic-kwashiorkor. However, none of the subjects studied sho wed any changes in the brain stem or cerebellum. Only ten returned 2 m onths after nutritional rehabilitation for repeat tomograms. None of t hese repeat tomograms showed any residual morphological changes. The s tudy demonstrated that the brain is affected in all types of malnutrit ion, albeit in different proportions, but these changes are completely reversible.