Transcranial sonography in Parkinson's disease.
Transcranial sonography has become a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes. This is a non-invasive, low cost procedure. The main finding on transcranial sonography in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease is an increased echogenicity of the mesencephalic substantia nigra region. This hyperechogenicity is present in more than 90% of cases, and reflects a dysfunction in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway. This study discussed how the hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra may facilitate the differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes.
Division of Clinical Neurosurgery, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Edson
E
Bor-Seng-Shu
José Luiz
JL
Pedroso
Daniel Ciampi de
DC
Andrade
Orlando Graziani Povoas
OG
Barsottini
Luiz Augusto Franco de
LA
Andrade
Egberto Reis
ER
Barbosa
Manoel Jacobsen
MJ
Teixeira
D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial