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Sonographic detection of basal ganglia abnormalities in spasmodic dysphonia
Author(s) -
Walter U.,
Blitzer A.,
Benecke R.,
Grossmann A.,
Dressler D.
Publication year - 2014
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.12151
Subject(s) - spasmodic dysphonia , basal ganglia , medicine , dystonia , focal dystonia , audiology , pathology , surgery , botulinum toxin , central nervous system , psychiatry
Background and purpose Abnormalities of the lenticular nucleus ( LN ) on transcranial sonography ( TCS ) are a characteristic finding in idiopathic segmental and generalized dystonia. Our intention was to study whether TCS detects basal ganglia abnormalities also in spasmodic dysphonia, an extremely focal form of dystonia. Methods Transcranial sonography of basal ganglia, substantia nigra and ventricles was performed in 14 patients with spasmodic dysphonia (10 women, four men; disease duration 16.5 ± 6.1 years) and 14 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls in an investigator‐blinded setting. Results Lenticular nucleus hyperechogenicity was found in 12 spasmodic dysphonia patients but only in one healthy individual (Fisher's exact test, P < 0.001) whilst other TCS findings did not differ. The area of LN hyperechogenic lesions quantified on digitized image analysis correlated with spasmodic dysphonia severity (Spearman test, r = 0.82, P < 0.001). Conclusion Our findings link the underlying pathology of spasmodic dysphonia to that of more widespread forms of dystonia.