[Quantification of wallerian degeneration of the pyramidal tract in the capsular region by magnetic resonance imaging].
Using magnetic resonance imaging, we studied 23 patients with motor deficit associated with cerebrovascular disease of the internal capsule. According to the severity of the motor deficits, 23 patients were divided into three groups (severe group...9, moderately severe group...8, mild group...6). A coronal T2-weighted image was obtained along a straight line between the front edge of the medulla and the deepest point of the interpeduncular cistern in a midsagittal T1-weighted image. It was revealed that wallerian degeneration extended continuously from part of the internal capsule down to the pons or medulla or the decussation in all patients. The area of wallerian degeneration in the pons and the area of half the pons were calculated from the coronal T2-weighted image. Moreover, the wallerian index was calculated as: (area of wallerian degeneration in pons divided by area of half the pons) X 100. Values of the wallerian index +/- SD were 26.4 +/- 5.1 in the severe group, 19.2 +/- 5.6 in the moderately severe group, and 10.0 +/- 5.4 in the mild group. There were significant differences among the three groups. We concluded that the area of wallerian degeneration was related to the severity of motor deficits.
Orita
T
T
Department of Neurosurgery, Shuto General Hospital, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Tsurutani
T
T
Izumihara
A
A
Kajiwara
K
K
Matsunaga
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index