Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity correlates with subtle motor dysfunction in tap dancers

Abstract Hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) detected by transcranial sonography is a typical finding in more than 90% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) but may also be visible in about 9% of healthy adults. In this study, we found a correlation between SN hyperechogenicity a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Parkinsonism & related disorders 2007-08, Vol.13 (6), p.362-364
Main Authors: Ruprecht-Dörfler, Petra, Klotz, Patricia, Becker, Georg, Berg, Daniela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Case-Control Studies
Dancing
Female
Humans
Male
Motor Skills Disorders - diagnostic imaging
Motor Skills Disorders - physiopathology
Neurology
Nigrostriatal hypofunction
Substantia Nigra - diagnostic imaging
Substantia nigra echogenicity
Transcranial ultrasound
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial - methods
Vulnerability marker
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Summary:Abstract Hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) detected by transcranial sonography is a typical finding in more than 90% of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) but may also be visible in about 9% of healthy adults. In this study, we found a correlation between SN hyperechogenicity and subtle motor dysfunction in otherwise healthy young tap dancers. In accordance with former findings, results of the present study confirm the hypothesis that SN hyperechogenicity is a marker for a possible functional impairment of the nigrostriatal system , that may become evident under challenging conditions.
ISSN:1353-8020
1873-5126
DOI:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2006.07.006