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. 2021 Feb;63(2):217-224.
doi: 10.1007/s00234-020-02528-3. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Corticospinal tract involvement in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Bruno Shigueo Yonekura Inada  1   2 , Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro Rezende  3 , Fernando Vieira Pereira  4 , Lucas Ávila Lessa Garcia  5 , Antônio José da Rocha  6 , Pedro Braga Neto  7   8 , Orlando Graziani Povoas Barsottini  4 , Marcondes Cavalcante França Jr  3 , José Luiz Pedroso  4
Affiliations

Corticospinal tract involvement in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Bruno Shigueo Yonekura Inada et al. Neuroradiology. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the integrity of the corticospinal tracts (CST) in patients with SCA3 and age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We also looked at the clinical correlates of such diffusivity abnormalities.

Methods: We assessed 2 cohorts from different Brazilian centers: cohort 1 (n = 29) scanned in a 1.5 T magnet and cohort 2 (n = 91) scanned in a 3.0 T magnet. We used Pearson's coefficients to assess the correlation of CST DTI parameters and ataxia severity (expressed by SARA scores).

Results: Two different results were obtained. Cohort 1 showed no significant between-group differences in DTI parameters. Cohort 2 showed significant between-group differences in the FA values in the bilateral precentral gyri (p < 0.001), bilateral superior corona radiata (p < 0.001), bilateral posterior limb of the internal capsule (p < 0.001), bilateral cerebral peduncle (p < 0.001), and bilateral basis pontis (p < 0.001). There was moderate correlation between CST diffusivity parameters and SARA scores in cohort 2 (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.40-0.59).

Conclusion: DTI particularly at 3 T is able to uncover and quantify CST damage in SCA3. Moreover, CST microstructural damage may contribute with ataxia severity in the disease.

Keywords: Cerebellar ataxia; Corticospinal tract; Diffusion tensor imaging; Machado-Joseph disease; Retrograde degeneration; Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.

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