White matter injury in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Microscopic examination of 6 brains and spinal cords of patients deceased of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis reveals as follows: 1) White matter changes considerably exceeding those found in motor neurons structures. 2) They involve white matter of frontal, temporal and parietal lobes including long association fibers. 3) Pyramidal tracts are extremely damaged within spinal cord and medulla. 4) Within spinal cord besides pyramidal tracts majority of ascending and descending pathways are damaged. 5) Pathomechanism of white matter changes seems to be complex. Within brain hemispheres predominate nonspecific changes, 6) Imaging methods in ALS bring a diagnostic progress but at present the conclusions on specificity of changes encountered in various imaging methods in different diseases seem to be precautions.
Rafałowska
J
J
Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa.
Dziewulska
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure