The computed axial tomography of the brain in protein energy malnutrition

Forty consecutive new cases of protein energy malnutrition were evaluated clinically and biochemically; in addition, the brain morphology was assessed by computed tomography within 24 hours of admission. Cerebral shrinkage was shown in six of 14 (42.9%) cases of marasmus, ten of 14 (71.4%) cases of kwashiorkor, and 11 of 12 (91.7%) cases of marasmic-kwashiorkor. Ventricular dilatation was demonstrated in 57.1% of marasmus cases, 71.4% of kwashiorkor cases and 91.7% of patients suffering from marasmic-kwashiorkor. However, none of the subjects studied showed any changes in the brain stem or cerebellum. Only ten returned 2 months after nutritional rehabilitation for repeat tomograms. None of these repeat tomograms showed any residual morphological changes. The study demonstrated that the brain is affected in all types of malnutrition, albeit in different proportions, but these changes are completely reversible.