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Characteristic signal changes in the pontine base on T2- and multishot diffusion-weighted images in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1

  • Diagnostic Neuroradiology
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to demonstrate characteristic signal changes of the pontine base on T2-weighted images of patients with SCA 1, and to elucidate the relationship between abnormal high-intensities of the pontine base on T2-weighted images and the findings on multishot diffusion-weighted images. We assessed abnormal signals of the pontine base on T2-weighted images from 50 controls and six patients with SCA 1 diagnosed by genetic analysis. At the same time, we evaluated the degeneration of the transverse pontine fibers in the pontine base by multishot diffusion-weighted imaging. A midline high-intensity was seen in the pontine base on T2-weighted images in two of the 50 controls and five of the six patients with SCA 1. The midline high-intensity had a sensitivity of 83.3% for patients and a specificity of 96.0% for controls. Multishot diffusion-weighted imaging demonstrated the degeneration—the amorphous-pattern signal—of the transverse pontine fibers in four (66.7%) of the six patients. In the other two patients, the zebra-pattern signal was seen in the pontine base. The midline high-intensity on T2-weighted images appears to be one of characteristic MRI findings of SCA 1. Multishot diffusion-weighted imaging suggested that the midline high-intensity should reflect the degeneration of the transverse pontine fibers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology of Ohshima Clinic, 1-14 Yonchyome, Sakurada Nishi, Yamagata, 990-2321, Japan

    M. Adachi

  2. Third Department of Internal Medicine, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan

    T. Kawanami

  3. Department of Neurology of Ohshima Clinic, 1-14 Yonchyome, Sakurada Nishi, Yamagata, 990-2321, Japan

    H. Ohshima

  4. Department of Radiology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan

    T. Hosoya

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  1. M. Adachi
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  2. T. Kawanami
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  3. H. Ohshima
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  4. T. Hosoya
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Correspondence to M. Adachi.

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Adachi, M., Kawanami, T., Ohshima, H. et al. Characteristic signal changes in the pontine base on T2- and multishot diffusion-weighted images in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Neuroradiology 48, 8–13 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-005-0002-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-005-0002-y

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