title: [Degenerative cerebellar diseases and differential diagnoses].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebellar syndromes result in distinct clinical symptoms, such as ataxia, dysarthria, dysmetria, intention tremor and eye movement disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  In addition to the medical history and clinical examination, imaging is particularly important to differentiate other diseases, such as hydrocephalus and multi-infarct dementia from degenerative cerebellar diseases. Degenerative diseases with cerebellar involvement include Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy as well as other diseases including spinocerebellar ataxia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine imaging investigations are also helpful for the differentiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Axial fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and T2-weighted sequences can sometimes show a signal increase in the pons as a sign of degeneration of pontine neurons and transverse fibers in the basilar part of the pons. The imaging is particularly necessary to exclude other diseases, such as normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), multi-infarct dementia and cerebellar lesions.
authors: Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Straße 1, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland. Wolfgang.Reith@uniklinikum-saarland.de.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Reith
authors: Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Straße 1, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Roumia
authors: Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Kirrberger Straße 1, 66424, Homburg/Saar, Deutschland.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Dietrich
mesh_terms: D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Ataxia; Cerebellar atrophy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson’s disease