RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Differentiation of Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonian syndromes by transcranial ultrasound
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 423
OP 425
DO 10.1136/jnnp.2004.049221
VO 76
IS 3
A1 S Behnke
A1 D Berg
A1 M Naumann
A1 G Becker
YR 2005
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/76/3/423.abstract
AB Neuroimaging is known to complement clinical findings in the diagnostic work up of parkinsonian syndromes. Recently, transcranial ultrasound was reported to have a high diagnostic yield in differentiating idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD) from atypical parkinsonian syndromes. This report summarises the sonographic findings of 102 patients with IPD, 34 patients with multiple system atrophy, and 21 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra is predictive for IPD whereas a low echogenic substantia nigra, particularly when combined with a hyperechogenic lentiform nucleus, strongly suggests an atypical Parkinsonian syndrome. The underlying causes for the differential echo pattern of the substantia nigra remain unknown.