OBJECTIVETo describe the clinical manifestation and the EEG, CT and MRI findings of hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

METHODSThe clinical manifestations and the plasma ammonia levels were analyzed in 17 patients with HE, who underwent EEG, CT and MRI examinations.

RESULTSFifteen patients had abnormal EEG findings characterized by lowered basic rhythm, moderate to high amplitude theta wave activity, and sporadic delta wave and triphasic wave. Fourteen patients had abnormal MRI findings, including increased signal in the bilateral globus pallidus (14/17), putmen(4/17) and tegmentum of the midbrain (7/17) in T1WI without corresponding alterations in the signal intensity in T2WI. T2 FLAIR demonstrated increased signal in the bilateral white matter of the cerebral hemispheres. CT identified no corresponding alterations in the signal intensity.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal EEG findings or MR signals in the brain are common in patients with HE. EEG allows detection of abnormal waves, and MRI may help identify such lesions, which all help in the diagnosis of HE.