title: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as a Tool for Early Diagnosis and Prognostication in Cortico-Basal Ganglia Degeneration (CBD) Syndromes: Review of Literature and Case Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cortico basal degeneration (CBD) of the brain is a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease which encompasses unique neuropsychiatric manifestations. Early diagnosis is essential for initiating proper treatment and favorable outcome. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a well-known technique for assessment of cortical excitatory and inhibitory properties. It was suggested that in a degenerative disease like CBD which involves the cortex as well as the subcortical structures, comparing both hemispheres, a differential pattern in TMS can be obtained which would help in early identification, prognostication and early therapeutic intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a case of CBD with corroborative clinical and imaging picture wherein single pulse TMS was used over both the hemispheres measuring the following parameters of interest which included: Motor Threshold (MT), Central Motor Conduction Time (CMCT) and Silent Period (SP).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differential patterns of MT, CMCT and SP was obtained by stimulating over both the hemispheres with the affected hemisphere showing significantly reduced MT and prolonged CMCT implying early impairment of cortical and subcortical structures thereby revealing the potential application of TMS being utilized in a novel way for early detection and prognostication in CBD syndromes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Thomas Gregor
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Issac
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sadanandavalli Retnaswami
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Nagaraju
keywords: Cortico-Basal degeneration (CBD); differential hemispheric parameters; transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS)