We correlated MR images with histologic findings in two autopsy-proven cases of chronic hepatic encephalopathy. Cortical hyperintensities on T2-weighted images histologically revealed pseudolaminar spongy degeneration in the deep layers of the cerebral cortices and hyperintensities in the cerebral white matters showed tissue rarefaction associated with loss of myelin and axons but without reactive astrocytosis. Both lesions were considered to be caused by chronic hepatic encephalopathy.