Reversibility of cerebral atrophy after head injury in children.

Reversible cerebral atrophy in humans has been documented by computed tomography in alcoholics and has been described as an incidental finding after head injury in children. Two children were studied who had sustained a severe closed head injury, 1 and 5 years previously, after which cerebral atrophy had developed, according to subacute computed tomography. Reversible cerebral atrophy was seen on magnetic resonance images of both patients. Despite normal appearance on magnetic resonance images more than 1 year after injury, both patients exhibited residual neuropsychological impairment on a broad range of cognitive and memory tests.