LEIGH-DISEASE (SUBACUTE NECROTIZING ENCEPHALOMYELOPATHY) - MR DOCUMENTATION OF THE EVOLUTION OF AN ACUTE ATTACK

The radiologic evolution of Leigh disease is documented with sequentia l brain MR in the acute phase of the illness, at 3 weeks, and at 3 mon ths. High-signal-intensity lesions seen on T2-weighted images in the f irst week resolved by 3 months, whereas new lesions appear during the chronic stage. Putamenal involvement is not a pathognomonic radiologic finding. Brain stem tegmentum, particularly the mesencephalon, is cha racteristically involved on MR in the early and late phases of the ill ness.