Brain morphologic characteristics of cirrhotic alcoholics and cirrhotic nonalcoholics: an MRI study.

Cirrhotic alcoholics, cirrhotic nonalcoholics, and normal controls were compared on planimetric and subjective ratings of the MRI of the brain. The results indicated that the cirrhotic alcoholics exhibited more gross pathology than the nonalcoholic cirrhotics on ratings of frontal, parietal, and cerebellar atrophy; however, these groups were more similar to each other than they were different on planimetric measurements. The results are discussed in terms of the etiology and localization of the neuropathologic sequelae found commonly among alcoholics.