Echogenicity of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease and its relation to clinical findings

Recently an increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) was demonstrated by transcranial ultrasound (TCS). In this study we set out to compare SN echogenicitiy with disease characteristics (time of onset, duration, toxin exposure) in a large pat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology 2001-08, Vol.248 (8), p.684-689
Main Authors: BERG, Daniela, SIEFKER, Christiane, BECKER, Georg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Antiparkinson Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Brain Stem - diagnostic imaging
Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Mesencephalon - diagnostic imaging
Middle Aged
Neurologic Examination
Neurology
Parkinson Disease - diagnostic imaging
Parkinson Disease - epidemiology
Parkinson Disease - physiopathology
Personality Tests
Pilot Projects
Substantia Nigra - diagnostic imaging
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
United Kingdom - epidemiology
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Summary:Recently an increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) was demonstrated by transcranial ultrasound (TCS). In this study we set out to compare SN echogenicitiy with disease characteristics (time of onset, duration, toxin exposure) in a large patients sample. Patients' history and exposure to toxins were recorded from 112 PD patients who underwent a thorough neurological examination including assessment of disease stage according to Hoehn and Yahr and CURS (Columbia University Rating Scale). Personality was assessed according to the Freiburg Personality Inventory. In all patients the area of SN echogenicity was encircled and measured by TCS. All except 9 patients had hyperechogenic SN areas exceeding the mean plus standard deviation values of an age matched control group (0.19 cm2). The age of disease onset was lower in patients who displayed an area of SN echogenicity above this value. The area of SN echogenicity was larger contralateral to the side with more severe symptoms. None of the other characteristics correlated with ultrasound findings. We conclude that SN hyperechogenicity is a typical finding in PD. The cause of hyperechogenicity is so far unknown. Investigation of the underlying reason might disclose a pathogenic factor in PD.
ISSN:0340-5354
1432-1459
DOI:10.1007/s004150170114