PNEUMOENCEPHALOGRAPHY IN NON‐PROGRESSIVE ATAXIC SYNDROMES A Study of 26 Children and Adolescents

Bergström, K. and Sanner, G. (Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Paediatrics, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden). Pneumoencephalography in non‐progressive ataxic syndromes. A study of 26 children and adolescents. Acta Paediatr Scand, 63:732, 1974.—Twenty‐six patients with a congenital non‐progressive ataxic syndrome underwent pneumoencephalography (PEG). The patients were classified clinically into four groups: (I) The dysequilibrium syndrome (DES). (II) The dysequili brium syndrome with cataract. (III) Transitional form (TF). (IV) Simple ataxia (SA). In patients with signs of dysequilibrium different PEG changes were found; 16 of the 21 patients had cerebellar abnormalities. In all but one of the evaluable cases with signs of DES and cerebellar abnormalities on PEG a small antero‐superior part of the vermis was characteristic, which might be of patho‐genetic importance. None of the 5 patients with SA had a small cerebellar vermis. It was suggested that PEG may be of diagnostic help in infancy in presumptive ataxic conditions, but is neither of prognostic importance nor of diagnostic help for delineating specific hereditary forms.