This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal

Keith A. Johnson, MD; Kenneth R. Davis, MD; Ferdinando S. Buonanno, MD; Thomas J. Brady, MD; T. John Rosen, PhD; John H. Growdon, MD

Arch Neurol. 1987;44(10):1075-1080.

Abstract
• To compare the merits of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and roentgen ray computed tomography (CT) in assessing patients with dementia, we examined pairs of MR and CT brain images obtained from 26 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), eight patients with vascular or mixed dementia, and two patients with Parkinson's disease plus dementia. Magnetic resonance and CT images were independently rated on a qualitative scale of 0 (normal) to 3 (severely abnormal) in 39 separate brain regions. Ratios of anterolateral and third ventricular linear spans to linear skull spans were measured. Abnormalities in subcortical white matter and in hippocampus, enlargement of basal and sylvian cisterns, and ventriculomegaly were more evident on MR than CT scans, but qualitative ratings in all other brain regions were similar. Linear ventricular span ratios based on MR images did not differ significantly from those measured on CT. White matter abnormalities on MR were high signal foci on T2-weighted images whose pathologic substrate was uncertain; in a single case studied pathologically, no abnormalities were detected in brain regions that contained high signal foci. Dementia severity correlated with periventricular white matter abnormalities on both MR and CT images.

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Neurology (Drs Johnson and Growdon), Radiology (Drs Davis, Buonanno, and Brady), and Medicine (Dr Brady), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (Dr Rosen), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 12, 1987.

Reprint requests to Department of Neurology, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, Baker 2, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114 (Dr Johnson).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Leukoaraiosis: From an Ancient Term to an Actual Marker of Poor Prognosis
Pantoni
Stroke 2008;39:1401-1403.
FULL TEXT  

MRI-Guided SPECT Perfusion Measures and Volumetric MRI in Prodromal Alzheimer Disease
El Fakhri et al.
Arch Neurol 2003;60:1066-1072.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Visual Rating Scales for Age-Related White Matter Changes (Leukoaraiosis): Can the Heterogeneity Be Reduced?
Pantoni et al.
Stroke 2002;33:2827-2833.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Impact of White Matter Changes on Clinical Manifestation of Alzheimer's Disease : A Quantitative Study
Hirono et al.
Stroke 2000;31:2182-2188.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Significance of Cerebral White Matter Abnormalities 100 Years After Binswanger's Report : A Review
Pantoni and Garcia
Stroke 1995;26:1293-1301.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Greater Abnormalities of Brain Cerebrospinal Fluid Volumes in Younger Than in Older Patients With Alzheimer's Disease
Sullivan et al.
Arch Neurol 1993;50:359-373.
ABSTRACT  

Neuropsychological Importance of Subcortical White Matter Hyperintensity
Tupler et al.
Arch Neurol 1992;49:1248-1252.
ABSTRACT  

White-Matter Hyperintensity and Neuropsychological Functions in Dementia and Healthy Aging
Almkvist et al.
Arch Neurol 1992;49:626-632.
ABSTRACT  

The Relationship of High-Intensity Signals on Magnetic Resonance Images to Cognitive and Psychiatric State in Alzheimer's Disease
Harrell et al.
Arch Neurol 1991;48:1136-1140.
ABSTRACT  

White Matter Hyperintensities in Dementia of Alzheimer's Type and in Healthy Subjects Without Cerebrovascular Risk Factors: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Kozachuk et al.
Arch Neurol 1990;47:1306-1310.
ABSTRACT  

Periventricular and White Matter Magnetic Resonance Imaging Hyperintensities Do Not Differ Between Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Aging
Leys et al.
Arch Neurol 1990;47:524-527.
ABSTRACT  

Cognition and White Matter Changes on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Dementia
Kertesz et al.
Arch Neurol 1990;47:387-391.
ABSTRACT  

Leuko-Araiosis on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Speed of Mental Processing
Junque et al.
Arch Neurol 1990;47:151-156.
ABSTRACT  

Brain White-Matter Changes in the Elderly Prone to Falling
Masdeu et al.
Arch Neurol 1989;46:1292-1296.
ABSTRACT