Abnormal signals on proton density-weighted MRI of the superior cerebellar peduncle in progressive supranuclear palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess MRI signal abnormalities of the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients.


METHODS
Signal changes were examined on proton density-weighted images (PDWI) and on T2-weighted images (T2WI) of SCP in 9 PSP patients, and findings were compared to those in 20 Parkinson's disease patients and 20 age-matched control subjects.


RESULTS
We observed effacement or lack of clarity of the low signal on PDWI in SCP in 4 of 9 PSP patients, but not in any of the Parkinson's disease patients or control subjects. These signal changes were not observed on T2WI.


CONCLUSIONS
The signal changes on PDWI may be a specific finding reflecting demyelination and gliosis of SCP in PSP. Our findings suggest that evaluation of SCP on PDWI may be helpful in the diagnosis of PSP patients.
Oka
M
M
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan. okamasak@radi.med.hokudai.ac.jp
Katayama
S
S
Imon
Y
Y
Ohshita
T
T
Mimori
Y
Y
Nakamura
S
S
D000368:Aged; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*
D011522:Protons