Abstract
Computed tomography performed in 27 cases in the vegetative state was analyzed concerning the possibility of escape from the vegetative state. All patients had been in the vegetative state for 3 months or longer at the time of entry to this study. Of the 27, 23 cases did not escape from the vegetative state, while 4 cases could. Characteristic CT findings for each group were sought and the results were as follows. If diffuse low density was noted in the cerebral cortex, the case did not escape from the vegetative state. If diffuse low density was noted in the cerebral white matter, the case did not improve. A low density area in the bilateral basal ganglia was a poor finding. A low density area in the brain stem indicated poor results.
