MR imaging findings in autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia.
OBJECTIVE
Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a disorder characterized by degeneration of the corticospinal tracts and posterior column of the spinal cord. Previously described radiologic findings included nonspecific brain abnormalities such as brain atrophy and white matter lesions, as well as atrophy of the spinal cord. In our study, we aimed to better characterize brain and spine MR imaging findings in a series of patients with HSP.


METHODS
Nine patients from 4 different Lebanese families with the autosomal recessive form of HSP were included in the study. All patients underwent brain and whole-spine MR imaging. We assessed the presence of white matter abnormalities mainly along the corticospinal tracts, brain atrophy, thinning of the corpus callosum, and the presence of spinal cord atrophy or abnormal signal intensity.


RESULTS
Imaging revealed mild brain atrophy (44%), atrophy of the corpus callosum (55%), white matter lesions (67%), abnormal T2 high signal intensity in the posterior limb of the internal capsule (55%), and mild spinal cord atrophy (33%).


CONCLUSIONS
The MR imaging findings of HSP are nonspecific and variable; however, the most prominent features include atrophy of the corpus callosum, T2 signal intensity in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, and spinal cord atrophy.
Hourani
R
R
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. rh64@aub.edu.lb
El-Hajj
T
T
Barada
W H
WH
Hourani
M
M
Yamout
B I
BI
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015419:Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary / Q000473:pathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult