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Diffusion tensor imaging in the diagnosis of primary lateral sclerosis
Aziz M Uluğ1, Thomas Grünewald, Michael T Lin
1Department of Radiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. amu@watts.med.cornell.edu
Purpose:
To evaluate the utility of MR diffusion tensor imaging in diagnosing primary lateral sclerosis (PLS).
Materials And Methods:
Five patients who met clinical criteria for a diagnosis of PLS, and two patients with possible PLS of less than three years duration and eight normal volunteers were studied using MR diffusion tensor imaging.
Results:
All seven patients showed decreased diffusion anisotropy and increased diffusion constant in the PLIC, with complete separation from a normal control group, including patients early in the course of the illness.
Conclusion:
Quantitative diffusion tensor imaging appears to be a useful test to detect upper motor neuron damage and hence to help to establish the diagnosis of PLS.