Computerized tomography in multiple sclerosis
T. Reisner and E. Maida
Forty-three patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were examined clinically
and with computerized tomography (CT). A total of 80 focal cerebral lesions
were predicted by clinical neurologic examination. The CT scans showed foci
corresponding to 31 (39%) of the clinically predicted 80 lesions. In
addition to these foci, CT scans revealed 17 plaques of atypical
periventricular localization as well as 18 focal lesions that produced no
clinical signs in the course of the disease. The relations between duration
of the disease and number of CT foci was significant; however, no
relationship could be established between number of foci and number of
previous bouts. Cerebral atrophic changes without any significant
relationship to the duration of the disease and the number of bouts were
found in 15 of the 43 patients. Use of CT may furnish additional
information in cases that present diagnostic problems or at the first
manifestations of MS.
