Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Original Article

Comparison between MRI and 3D-SSP in olivopontocerebellar atrophy and cortical cerebellar atrophy

Hirotoshi Hamaguchi, M.D.1), Fumio Kanda, M.D., Ph. D.1), Kayo Hosaka, M.D., Ph. D2), Masahiko Fujii, M.D., Ph. D.2) and Kazuo Chihara M.D., Ph. D.1)

1)Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism, Neurology and Hematology/Oncology, Department of Clinical Molecular Medicine, and 2)Department of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine

We compared images of three-dimensional stereotactic surface projections (3D-SSP) of SPECT with MRI images in spinocerebellar degeneration patients (13 olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) and 7 cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA)). We analyzed a brain blood flow pattern with an image of statistics by 123I-IMP SPECT.
In OPCA patients, a blood flow reduction was more remarkable in 3D-SSP than a degree of cerebellar atrophy in MRI. In patients with CCA, the cerebellum showed little blood flow reduction in 3D-SSP despite of apparent atrophy in MRI.
Simultaneous examination both MRI and 3D-SSP might be useful for differential diagnosis of spinocerebellar degenerations.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 44: 263|267, 2004)
key words: olivopontocerebellar atrophy, cortical cerebellar atrophy, three-dimensional stereotactic surface projections, 123I-iodo-amphetamine single photon emission computed tomography, MRI

(Received: 19-Jun-03)