Computed tomography of the brain in metabolic diseases involving the central nervous system in children.

We discuss the clinical and CT features of certain metabolic brain disorders which cause specific CT abnormalities. These disorders may be divided into those which affect the gray matter, white matter or a combination of both gray and white matter regions. In metabolic disorders which affect the gray matter, there is ventricular enlargement with basal cistern and cortical sulcal space enlargement. In metabolic disorders which affect the white matter, there are symmetrical hypodensities seen throughout the white matter region.