title: Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity correlates with subtle motor dysfunction in tap dancers.
abstract: Hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) detected by transcranial sonography is a typical finding in more than 90% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) but may also be visible in about 9% of healthy adults. In this study, we found a correlation between SN hyperechogenicity and subtle motor dysfunction in otherwise healthy young tap dancers. In accordance with former findings, results of the present study confirm the hypothesis that SN hyperechogenicity is a marker for a possible functional impairment of the nigrostriatal system, that may become evident under challenging conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruprecht-Dörfler
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003615:Dancing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial / Q000379:methods