[Porencephaly. A report of 45 cases].

In 45 cases of porencephaly 35 were male and 10 female. Their age ranged from 80 days to 58 years (mean 14 years). In this series, symptoms were observed 80 days to 22 years before diagnosis. twenty-four cases were premature delivery, difficult labour or birth trauma. 14 cases had a history of head injury. 36 cases had congenital porencephalic cyst and 9 had post-traumatic porencephaly. The main symptoms and signs of porencephaly were dementia, speech defect, intracranial hypertension, hydrocephalus, epilepsy, ataxia or paralysis. etc. It is suggested that CT scan is very useful in the diagnosis of porencephaly, and section of cerebral cortex, opening of cyst, continuous drainage or shunting operation should be done as soon as the diagnosis was made.