MR-morphometry in multiple system atrophy and sporadic adult onset ataxias of unknown aetiology – different approaches

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic, adult-onset disease characterized by neurodegeneration in basal ganglia, brainstem, cerebellum and intermediolateral cell columns of the spinal cord. Clinically, a parkinsonian (MSA-P) and a cerebellar type of MSA (MSA-C) are distinguished. Sporadic adult onset ataxias of unknown aetiology (SAOA) denote all non-hereditary degenerative adult onset ataxias distinct from MSA-C, but early differential diagnosis is often difficult. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) we found previously cerebellar grey and white matter loss (GML/WML) in MSA and SAOA, whereas brainstem (WML…