The pathoanatomy of RLS revisited: evidence for cortical and subcortical alterations

The pathoanatomical correlate of the restless legs syndrome (RLS) remains undetermined up to date. Various neuroimaging approaches including advanced MRI techniques, PET and SPECT have indicated widespread spinal, mesencephalic and cerebral involvement. The aim of the present study was to address potential alterations of both gray and white matter within the same group of patients suffering from idiopathic RLS by combined application of the optimal MRI technique each, i.e. voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Therefore, a large patient sample from the outpatient clinic for movement d…