[en] The progress made in the field of medical imaging since the advent of magnetic resonance tomography is particularly evident in many disorders that are a domain of neuroradiology. The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of diseases of the white matter not only require accurate examination techniques but must just as well be based on the clinical symptoms observed. In the detection of diseases of the white matter magnetic resonance tomography is much more sensitive a tool than computed tomography. As it is normal for the images of any lesions to be isointense or hypointense as a result of T1 weighting and hyperintense in connection with T2 weighting, they may lead to a doubtful diagnosis, unless the interpretation is made by an experienced investigator taking account also of the pattern of structural changes and the neurologic-psychiatric manifestations of the disease. (orig.)