Sequential 3-D MRI frontal volume changes in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

In patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, clinical stages defined according to Jabbour correlate strongly with frontal lobe dysfunctions. Non-quantitative radiologic investigations in these patients have confirmed cerebral atrophy without identifying predominantly affected regions. We addressed this issue over an 8-year-old boy's course using volumetry based on three-dimensional T1-weighted gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging. Seven normal 6-12-year-old subjects served as controls. Whole-brain volume declined as Jabbour stage advanced from I to III. Frontal lobe volume and frontal-to-whole-brain volume ratios fell significantly as clinical stage progressed. Thus, cerebral atrophy in this SSPE patient was predominantly frontal, and paralleled clinical progression.