Title | Midbrain atrophy in vascular Parkinsonism. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2011 |
Authors | Choi S-M, Kim BC, Nam T-S, Kim J-T, Lee S-H, Park M-S, Kim M-K, de Leon MJ, Cho K-H |
Journal | Eur Neurol |
Volume | 65 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 296-301 |
Date Published | 2011 |
ISSN | 1421-9913 |
Keywords | Aged, Analysis of Variance, Atrophy, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mesencephalon, Middle Aged, Parkinsonian Disorders, Pons, Retrospective Studies, Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Midbrain atrophy is a well-known feature of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Some clinical features of vascular parkinsonism (VP) such as pseudobulbar phenomena, lower body predominance and early postural instability suggest that the brainstem could be associated with VP. The aim of this study was to determine whether midbrain atrophy was present in patients with VP. METHODS: We measured the midbrain (Amd) and pons area (Apn) of 20 patients with VP, 15 patients with probable PSP and 30 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). The Amd and Apn were measured on mid-sagittal T(1)-weighted MRI scans using a computerized image analysis system. RESULTS: For the Amd, the patients with VP (99.86 mm(2)) and PSP (87.30 mm(2)) had significantly smaller areas than the patients with IPD (130.52 mm(2)). For the Apn, there was a significant difference only between the VP (407.23 mm(2)) and the IPD (445.05 mm(2)) patients. The Amd/Apn ratios of the patients with VP (0.245) and PSP (0.208) were significantly smaller than in the patients with IPD (0.292). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that brainstem atrophy often occurs in patients with VP and the midbrain is more vulnerable than the pons to atrophic changes. |
DOI | 10.1159/000326907 |
Alternate Journal | Eur Neurol |
PubMed ID | 21508644 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3202929 |
Grant List | R01 AG012101 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG022374 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |
Related Institute:
Brain Health Imaging Institute (BHII)