Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Magnetic resonance signal abnormalities along the pyramidal tracts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the brain were reviewed in 16 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), representative of a large and homogeneously studied series, 11 of whom showed signal abnormalities along the pyramidal tracts. These were more frequent in patients with more severe upper motor neuron signs but did not correlate with disease severity. Our study suggests that MRI signal abnormalities along the pyramidal tracts are common in ALS and may reflect the severity of pyramidal tract degeneration.

Sommario

Abbiamo considerato le risonanze nucleari magnetiche eseguite in 16 di un gruppo più ampio di pazienti con sclerosi laterale amiotrofica. Anomalie di segnale lungo i fasci piramidali erano osservabili in 11 pazienti ed erano più frequenti in coloro i quali presentavano una maggiore compromissione del primo motoneurone. Non vi era correlazione con la durata né con la severità della malattia. Il nostro studio suggerisce che le alterazioni di segnale mostrate dalla MRI lungo i fasci piramidali sono di frequente riscontronella ALS e possono riflettere la gravità della degenerazione dei fasci piramidali.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brownell B., Oppenheimer D.R., Hughes J.T.:The central nervous system in motor neuron disease. J. Neurol. Neurosurg Psychiatry 33: 338–357, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Charcot J.M., Joffroy A.:Deux cas d'atrophie musculaire progressive avec lesions de la substance grise et des faisceaux anterolateraux de la moelle epinière. Arch. Physiol. Norm. Pathol. 2: 354–367, 629–649, 744–760, 1869.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Daube J:Electrophysiologic studies in the diagnosis and prognosis of motor neuron disease. Neurol. Clin. 3:473–493, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Drayer B., Burger P., Darwin R., et al.:Magnetic resonance imaging of brain iron. AJNR 7:373–380, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Goodin D.S., Rowley H.A., Olkney R.K.:Magnetic resonance imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann. Neurol. 23: 418–420, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hughes J.T.:Pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In: L.P. Rowland (Ed.).Human Motor Neuron Disease, Raven Press, New York, pp. 61–74, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ishikawa K, Nagura H., Yokota T., Yamanouchi H.:Signal loss in the motor cortex on magnetic resonance images in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann. Neurol. 33: 218–222, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mirowitz S., Sartor K., Gado M., Torack R.:Focal signal intensity variations in the posterior internal capsule: normal MRI findings and distinction from pathological findings. Radiology 172: 535–539, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Norris F.H. Jr., Calanchini P.R., Fallat R.J., Panchari S., Jewett B.:The administration of guanidine in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurology 24: 721–728, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Oba H., Araki T., Ohtomo K., et al.:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: T2 shortening in motor cortex at MRI imaging. Radiology 189: 843–846, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Pringle C.E., Hudson A.J., Munoz D.G., Kiernan J.A., Brown W.F., Ebers G.C.:Primary lateral sclerosis. Clinical features, neuropathology and diagnostic criteria. Brain, 115: 495–520, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sales Luís M.L., Hormigo A., Maurício C., Alves M.M., Serrão R.:Magnetic resonance imaging in motor neuron disease. J. Neurol. 237: 471–474, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Testa D., Caraceni T., Fetoni V.:Branchedchain amino acids in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J. Neurol. 236: 445–447, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Udaka F., Sawada H., Seriu N., Shindou K., Nishitani N., Kameyama M.:MRI and SPECT findings in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: demonstration of upper motor neuron involvement by clinical neuroimaging. Neuroradiology 34: 389–393, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Yagishita A., Nakano I., Oda M., Hirano A.,Location of the corticospinal tract in the internal capsule at MR imaging. Radiology 191: 455–460, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Carella, F., Grisoli, M., Savoiardo, M. et al. Magnetic resonance signal abnormalities along the pyramidal tracts in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ital J Neuro Sci 16, 511–515 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282908

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282908

Key Words

Navigation