Purpose: To evaluate the utility of MR diffusion tensor imaging in diagnosing primary lateral sclerosis (PLS).
Materials and methods: Five patients who met clinical criteria for a diagnosis of PLS, and two patients with possible PLS of less than three years duration and eight normal volunteers were studied using MR diffusion tensor imaging.
Results: All seven patients showed decreased diffusion anisotropy and increased diffusion constant in the PLIC, with complete separation from a normal control group, including patients early in the course of the illness.
Conclusion: Quantitative diffusion tensor imaging appears to be a useful test to detect upper motor neuron damage and hence to help to establish the diagnosis of PLS.
Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.