We performed MRI in 7 cases with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), including 3 cases with childhood ALD, 3 cases with adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) and one symptomatic heterozygote. The symptomatic heterozygote was the mother of the patient with AMN. High-field-strength (2.0T) MRI was used in two cases with childhood ALD. In all 3 cases of childhood ALD, MR showed widespread lesions in both cerebral hemispheres. Areas of low intensity in the diencephalon or striatum on heavily T2-weighted images at 2.0T were seen in 2 cases with childhood ALD. Cerebral lesions confined to the internal capsule, cerebral peduncle and optic radiation in the adult onset ALD including AMN and symptomatic heterozygote, have not been reported and this confinement may indicate an early stage of the disease.