Abstract
Adult leukodystrophies with neuroaxonal spheroids (LNS) constitute a heterogeneous group of genetic diseases. Herein, we report on two unrelated patients with LNS characterized by rapid onset, predominant involvement of the frontal white matter, and areas of decreased apparent diffusion coefficient on diffusion-weighted imaging. We found similar cases in the literature and propose that they represent a distinct entity within the group of LNS. Further studies will be required to identify its molecular basis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Axelsson R, Röyttä M, Sourander P, Akesson HO, Andersen O (1984) Hereditary diffuse leucoencephalopathy with spheroids. Acta Psychiatr Scand Suppl 314:1–65
Baba Y, Ghetti B, Baker MC, Uitti RJ, Hutton ML, Yamaguchi K, Bird T, Lin W, DeLucia MW, Dickson DW, Wszolek ZK (2006) Hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids: clinical, pathologic and genetic studies of a new kindred. Acta Neuropathol 111:300–311. doi:10.1007/s00401-006-0046-z
Browne L, Sweeney BJ, Farrell MA (2003) Late-onset neuroaxonal leucoencephalopathy with spheroids and vascular amyloid. Eur Neurol 50:85–90. doi:10.1159/000072504
Freeman SH, Hyman BT, Sims KB, Hedley-Whyte ET, Vossough A, Frosch MP, Schmahmann JD (2009) Adult onset leukodystrophy with neuroaxonal spheroids: clinical, neuroimaging and neuropathologic observations. Brain Pathol 19:39–47. doi:10.1111/j.1750-3639.2008.00163.x
Hancock N, Poon M, Taylor B, McLean C (2003) Hereditary diffuse leucoencephalopathy with spheroids. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 74:1345–1347. doi:10.1136/jnnp.74.9.1345
Itoh K, Shiga K, Shimizu K, Muranishi M, Nakagawa M, Fushiki S (2006) Autosomal dominant leukodystrophy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia: clinical and neuropathological characteristics. Acta Neuropathol 111:39–45. doi:10.1007/s00401-005-1113-6
Keegan BM, Giannini C, Parisi JE, Lucchinetti CF, Boeve BF, Josephs KA (2008) Sporadic adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with neuroaxonal spheroids mimicking cerebral MS. Neurology 70:1128–1133. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000304045.99153.8f
Marotti JD, Tobias S, Fratkin JD, Powers JM, Rhodes CH (2004) Adult onset leukodystrophy with neuroaxonal spheroids and pigmented glia: report of a family, historical perspective, and review of the literature. Acta Neuropathol 107:481–488. doi:10.1007/s00401-004-0847-x
Mascalchi M, Gavazzi C, Morbin M, Giaccone G, Arnetoli G, Zappoli R, Bugiani O (2006) CT and MR imaging of neuroaxonal leukodystrophy presenting as early-onset frontal dementia. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 27:1037–1039
Minagawa M, Maeshiro H, Shioda K, Hirano A (1985) Membranous lipodystrophy (Nasu disease): clinical and neuropathological study of a case. Clin Neuropathol 4:38–45
Moro-de-Casillas ML, Cohen ML, Riley DE (2004) Leucoencephalopathy with neuroaxonal spheroids (LENAS) presenting as the cerebellar subtype of multiple system atrophy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 75:1070–1072. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.028431
Rosso C, Remy P, Creange A, Brugieres P, Cesaro P, Hosseini H (2006) Diffusion-weighted MR imaging characteristics of an acute strokelike form of multiple sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 27:1006–1008
Sedel F, Tourbah A, Fontaine B, Lubetzki C, Baumann N, Saudubray JM, Lyon-Caen O (2008) Leukoencephalopathies associated with inborn errors of metabolism in adults. J Inherit Metab Dis 31:295–307. doi:10.1007/s10545-008-0778-0
Terada S, Ishizu H, Yokota O, Ishihara T, Nakashima H, Kugo A, Tanaka Y, Nakashima T, Nakashima Y, Kuroda S (2004) An autopsy case of hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with spheroids, clinically suspected of Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neuropathol 108:538–545. doi:10.1007/s00401-004-0920-5
Uchino A, Takase Y, Nomiyama K, Egashira R, Kudo S (2006) Acquired lesions of the corpus callosum: MR imaging. Eur Radiol 16:905–914. doi:10.1007/s00330-005-0037-9
Van der Knaap MS, Naidu S, Kleinschmidt-Demasters BK, Kamphorst W, Weinstein HC (2000) Autosomal dominant diffuse leukoencephalopathy with neuroaxonal spheroids. Neurology 54:463–468
Yamashita M, Yamamoto T (2002) Neuroaxonal leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids. Eur Neurol 48:20–25. doi:10.1159/000064952
Yazawa I, Nakano I, Yamada H, Oda M (1997) Long tract degeneration in familial sudanophilic leukodystrophy with prominent spheroids. J Neurol Sci 147:185–191. doi:10.1016/S0022-510X(96)05346-4
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maillart, E., Rousseau, A., Galanaud, D. et al. Rapid onset frontal leukodystrophy with decreased diffusion coefficient and neuroaxonal spheroids. J Neurol 256, 1649–1654 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-5172-9
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-5172-9