Corticobasal degeneration: evaluation of cortical atrophy by means of hemispheric surface display generated with MR images.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the characteristics of cortical atrophy in corticobasal degeneration and Alzheimer disease by using a hemispheric surface display generated with magnetic resonance (MR) images.


METHODS
The magnitude and extent of cortical atrophy were evaluated with MR hemispheric surface display and volumetric measurement in three groups: 17 patients with corticobasal degeneration, 17 matched patients with Alzheimer disease, and 17 matched healthy control subjects.


RESULTS
The extent and magnitude of cortical atrophy were larger in the group with corticobasal degeneration than in the group with Alzheimer disease. The parasagittal and paracentral regions were significantly more atrophic in patients with corticobasal degeneration than in patients with Alzheimer disease (P <.05). The mean hemispheric-to-total intracranial volume ratios were significantly smaller in the patients with corticobasal degeneration (61%) and those with Alzheimer disease (64%) than in control subjects (69%). Asymmetry of hemispheric volume was significantly larger in the group with corticobasal degeneration than in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The extent of cortical atrophy in corticobasal degeneration is more widespread than was previously thought. Parasagittal and paracentral atrophy is a distinctive feature of corticobasal degeneration and distinguishes it from Alzheimer disease.
Kitagaki
H
H
Neuroimaging Research/Radiology Service, Hyogo Institute for Aging Brain and Cognitive Disorders, Himeji, Japan. kitagaki@shimane-med.ac.jp
Hirono
N
N
Ishii
K
K
Mori
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D001284:Atrophy; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology*; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*