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Transcranial brain sonography findings in two main variants of progressive supranuclear palsy
Author(s) -
Kostić V. S.,
Mijajlović M.,
Smajlović D.,
Lukić M. J.,
Tomić A.,
Svetel M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.12034
Subject(s) - progressive supranuclear palsy , medicine , echogenicity , parkinsonism , nuclear medicine , pathological , third ventricle , differential diagnosis , substantia nigra , pathology , ultrasound , radiology , parkinson's disease , atrophy , disease
Background and purpose Progressive supranuclear palsy ( PSP ) can occur with two main clinical presentations, classified as classical R ichardson's syndrome ( PSP ‐ RS ) and as PSP ‐parkinsonism ( PSP ‐P), the most common atypical PSP variant. The differential diagnosis between them is challenging. Therefore, we studied different ultrasound markers by transcranial sonography in individuals with PSP ‐ RS and PSP ‐ P , to test their value in the diagnostic work up of these patients. Methods Transcranial sonography was performed in 21 patients with PSP ‐ RS and 11 patients with PSP ‐ P . Echogenic sizes of the substantia nigra ( SN ) and the lenticular nuclei ( LN ), as well as the width of the third ventricle, were measured. Results Among the patients with PSP ‐ RS and PSP ‐ P , three (14%) and eight (73%) patients had a hyperechogenic SN ( P = 0.020), respectively. Uni‐ or bilateral hyperechogenicity of the LN was observed in 67% and 36% of patients with PSP ‐ RS and PSP ‐ P , respectively ( P = 0.101). Third ventricle was significantly wider in patients with PSP ‐ RS (11.2 ± 2.3 mm) when compared with patients with PSP ‐ P (7.5 ± 1.4 mm; P = 0.001). Conclusion Our data, possibly reflecting pathological differences, primarily contribute supporting the view that the neurodegenerative process differs in the two PSP variants.