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A Diagnostic Algorithm

Kirsty Bhattacharya, MD; Daniela Saadia, MD; Barbara Eisenkraft, MD; Melvin Yahr, MD; Warren Olanow, MD; Burton Drayer, MD; Horacio Kaufmann, MD

Arch Neurol. 2002;59:835-842.

Background  Brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers the potential for objective criteria in the differential diagnosis of multiple system atrophy with predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P) and Parkinson disease (PD), since it frequently shows characteristic abnormalities in patients with MSA-P and is believed to be normal in patients with PD.

Objective  To determine concordance between clinical and MR imaging–based diagnoses of MSA-P and PD.

Design  Two neuroradiologists identified and rated striatal and infratentorial abnormalities in 39 brain MR images and assigned a diagnosis of PD, MSA-P, or MSA with additional marked cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C).

Setting  Academic medical center.

Patients  Thirty-nine patients with parkinsonism, including 21 with a clinical diagnosis of PD, 14 with MSA-P, and 4 with MSA-C.

Results  All patients with MSA and 14 (67%) of 21 patients with PD had some abnormality on brain MR imaging. Brainstem atrophy was seen in patients with MSA-P and MSA-C. Putaminal atrophy was seen only in MSA-P. Putaminal hypointensity and lateral slitlike hyperintensity were seen in both PD and MSA-P but were always mild in PD. Cerebellar abnormalities, seen in all patients with MSA-C and 11 patients with MSA-P, were also identified in 6 patients with PD, albeit always rated as mild. Nonconcordance between clinical and radiological diagnosis occurred in 2 patients with PD, 5 with MSA-P, and 1 with MSA-C.

Conclusion  Since several features on brain MR imaging are seen only in MSA-P, a simple diagnostic algorithm may improve the MR imaging diagnosis of MSA-P and PD.

From the Departments of Neurology (Drs Bhattacharya, Saadia, Yahr, Olanow, and Kaufmann) and Radiology (Drs Eisenkraft and Drayer), Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.

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