title: T2-low signal intensity in the cortex in multiple system atrophy.
abstract: To determine the clinical significance of T2-low signal intensity in the cortex of patients presenting parkinsonism, T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of the cortex of patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), Parkinson's disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and compared with those of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and age-matched normal controls. The MR images were gathered and presented randomly to three neurologists who were blind to information on the patients. There was a significant increase in the frequency of T2-low signal intensity in the cortex of patients with ALS and MSA. Particularly in those with MSA, the T2-low signal intensity was observed not only in the motor cortex but also in the frontal association cortex. The cortical T2-low signal intensity in MSA might reflect the spread of degenerative processes in the cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan. h-miwa@wakayama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kajimoto
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komoto
authors.forename: Tameko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kihira
authors.forename: Tomoyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology