CT findings of epidemic encephalitis in acute stage

ABSTRACT

Although the incidence of epidemic encephalitis has decreased mardekly nowadays, sporadic cases are stillobserved in Korea. In this study, CT findings of 17 patients with clinically and serologically proven epidemicencephalitis were analized. In principle, CT scans were done at the acute and subacute stage, whithin 20 days fromonset. The results were follows; 1. Of all 17 patients with CT scan, normal scan were demonstrated in 3 cases andabnormal scans in 14 cases. 2. The abnormal CT findings were ; area of low density in 9 cases, brain edema in 7cases, nodular and gyral contrast enhancement in 3 cases, central brain atrophy in 3 cases and hemorrhagic highdensity in 2 cases in order of frequency. 3. The CT findings, according to date of CT scan from onset, were; brainedema and are of low density within 10 days from onset, normal or central brain atrophy between 11 days and 20days, are of hemorrhagic high density and contrast enhanced lesions at both stage. 4. The locational distributionswere; thalamus and cerebral white matter in 7 cases respectively, basal ganglia in 5 cases, cerebral cortex in 4cases and septum pellucidum in 1 case in order of frequency.