title: Transcranial sonography in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we analyzed transcranial sonography (TCS) in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 66 DM1 patients and 55 matched healthy controls (HCs). Echogenicity of the brainstem raphe (BR) and substantia nigra (SN) and third ventricle width (DTV) were assessed by TCS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BR hypoechogenicity was more common in DM1 patients than in HCs (37.7% vs. 7.8%, P < 0.01). Patients with depression or fatigue were more likely to have BR hypoechogenicity (80.0% vs. 29.4%, P < 0.01 and 51.9% vs. 24.2%, P < 0.05, respectively). Both hypoechogenicity and hyperechogenicity of SN were more frequent in DM1 patients than in controls (26.2% vs. 10.9% and 13.1% vs. 1.8%, respectively, P < 0.01). DTV was increased in DM1 patients compared with HCs (6.0 ± 1.4 vs. 4.9 ± 0.9 mm, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCS can offer new insight into structural changes of several cerebral areas in patients with DM1.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 6 Dr Subotica Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Stojan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Peric
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavlovic
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ralic
authors.forename: Valerija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dobricic
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Basta
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lavrnic
authors.forename: Vidosava
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rakocevic Stojanovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: brainstem raphe; depression; myotonic dystrophy type 1; substantia nigra; transcranial sonography