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Substantia nigra echogenicity is normal in non-extrapyramidal cerebral disorders but increased in Parkinson's disease

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Summary.

Transcranial sonography (TCS) revealed substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). To further evaluate specificity of this finding, we examined 30 IPD patients and 30 age-matched subjects with non-extrapyramidal cerebral disorders (NED). All IPD patients showed a SN hyperechogenicity, in 17 it was bilateral and in 13 unilateral. 7 NED patients had a SN hyperechogenicity, in all it was unilateral, confirming previous results in healthy subjects. Bilateral SN hyperechogenicity indicates IPD and normal SN echogenicity indicates NED. In 30% of patients TCS does not distinguish between IPD and NED. Data further support the assumption that bilateral SN hyperechogenicity is specific for IPD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Rostock University, Rostock, Federal Republic of Germany, , , , , , DE

    U. Walter, M. Wittstock, R. Benecke & D. Dressler

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  1. U. Walter
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  2. M. Wittstock
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  3. R. Benecke
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  4. D. Dressler
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Received April 30, 2001; accepted October 17, 2001

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Walter, U., Wittstock, M., Benecke, R. et al. Substantia nigra echogenicity is normal in non-extrapyramidal cerebral disorders but increased in Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm 109, 191–196 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s007020200015

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s007020200015

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