MRI IN SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a progressive, slow viru s infection of the brain, caused by the measles virus, attacking child ren and young adults, We investigated 15 patients with SSPE by MRI, wi th 5 normal and 10 pathological results. In the early period, lesions were in the grey matter and subcortical white matter. They were asymme trical and had a predilection for the posterior parts of the hemispher es. Later, high-signal changes in deep white matter and severe cerebra l atrophy were observed, Parenchymal lesions significantly correlated with the duration of disease. A significant relationship between MRI f indings and clinical stage was observed in the 1st year of the disease .