[Findings of computed tomography in multiple sclerosis-correlation of clinical findings with computed tomography in clinically definite 14 patients of multiple sclerosis (author's transl)].

Recent introduction of Computed Tomography (CT) in clinical neurology made it possible to visualize the brain lesion without any invasive procedures. In multiple sclerosis (MS), the demyelinating foci were reported to be observed as low density areas on CT, but occasionally contrast enhanced high density areas were reported also. So far as we know, only a few reports which analysed interrelationship between clinical signs and CT findings were published. In this report we tried to examine the correlation of clinical findings with CT in MS. All scans were performed using an EMI head scanner (EMI 1000) with a 160 X 160 matrix. Contrast material was administered as an intravenous bolus of 60% meglumine iothalamate. In clinically definite 14 MS patients, CT showed localized, circumscribed low density areas in 4 patients, periventricular low density in 1 patient, widening of cortical sulci with ventricular dilatation in 11 patients and no abnormalities in 3 patients. The widening of cortical sulci with ventricular dilatation were noted to be particularly common findings. The periventricular low density was not so frequently seen as we expected. Localized, circumscribed low density areas on CT were well correlated with the neurological findings in 2 patients. In these cases the abnormalities on CT persisted in spite of neurological improvement. As a conclusion, we think CT might be useful as a diagnostic evaluation of MS.