title: Voxel-based diffusion tensor imaging detects pyramidal tract degeneration in primary lateral sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a progressive degenerative disorder affecting upper motor neurons and requires a clinical diagnosis. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a quantitative method for assessing white matter fibre integrity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the involvement of upper motor neurons by using DTI in PLS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A patient with PLS was compared with eight age-matched controls. Differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) index were assessed using DTI on a voxel-by-voxel basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased FA was observed in the proximal part of the pyramidal tract bilaterally, which indicated degeneration of the pyramidal cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Voxel-based DTI could be used as an objective marker for detecting upper motor neuron degeneration in PLS.
authors.affiliation: Department Radiology, Medical School University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Tzarouchi
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Kyritsis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Astrakas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diakou
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Argyropoulou
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology