title: Diagnosis and misdiagnosis of adult neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Kufs disease).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To critically re-evaluate cases diagnosed as adult neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (ANCL) in order to aid clinicopathologic diagnosis as a route to further gene discovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through establishment of an international consortium we pooled 47 unsolved cases regarded by referring centers as ANCL. Clinical and neuropathologic experts within the Consortium established diagnostic criteria for ANCL based on the literature to assess each case. A panel of 3 neuropathologists independently reviewed source pathologic data. Cases were given a final clinicopathologic classification of definite ANCL, probable ANCL, possible ANCL, or not ANCL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 47 cases, only 16 fulfilled the Consortium's criteria of ANCL (5 definite, 2 probable, 9 possible). Definitive alternate diagnoses were made in 10, including Huntington disease, early-onset Alzheimer disease, Niemann-Pick disease, neuroserpinopathy, prion disease, and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Six cases had features suggesting an alternate diagnosis, but no specific condition was identified; in 15, the data were inadequate for classification. Misinterpretation of normal lipofuscin as abnormal storage material was the commonest cause of misdiagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis of ANCL remains challenging; expert pathologic analysis and recent molecular genetic advances revealed misdiagnoses in >1/3 of cases. We now have a refined group of cases that will facilitate identification of new causative genes.
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK. s.berkovic@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Samuel F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Berkovic
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Staropoli
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Stirling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kmoch
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Glenn W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Sims
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cotman
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahlo
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cadieux-Dion
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cossette
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jedličková
authors.affiliation: From the Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine (S.F.B., K.L.O., J.A.D., M.S.H.), University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia; Biogen, Inc. (J.F.S.), Cambridge, MA; Department of Pathology (S.C.), Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (S.K., I.J., A.P.), First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague; General University Hospital in Prague (S.K.), Czech Republic; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust (G.W.A.), London, UK; Center for Human Genetic Research and Department of Neurology (K.B.S., S.L.C.), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Population Health and Immunity Division (M.B., K.R.S.), The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research; Departments of Mathematics and Statistics and Medical Biology (M.B.), University of Melbourne, Australia; Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (M.C.-D., P.C.), University of Montreal, Canada; and MRC Laboratory for Cell Biology (S.E.M.), Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment and UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Přistoupilová
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mole
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D008062:Lipofuscin / Q000378:metabolism; D009472:Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinoses / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008062:Lipofuscin