Comparative Appraisal of CT Scan and MRI in the Diagnosis of Leigh Encephalomyelopathy in Two Siblings

reported that computed tomographic (CT) scans show symmetrical low-density areas in the putamen in many cases of Leigh encep’nalomyeiopath~, .7-11 We examined CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in siblings with Leigh encephalomyelopathy associated with generalized deficiency of cytochrome c oxidase, and recognized that MRI already demonstrated prolonged Tj and T2 relaxation times in the putamen before any abnormal findings in ~’f scan. It is concluded that early diagnosis of Leigh enccphalomyelopathy is better achieved through MRI than CT scans. ’