Correlation between antemortem magnetic resonance imaging findings and pathologically confirmed corticobasal degeneration.

Background: Slowly progressive asymmetric parkinsonism and cortical dysfunction clinically characterize corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Various pathologic findings, including corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy, and frontotemporal degenerations, underlie CBS.

Objective: To determine if regional cortical and corpus callosum atrophy and subcortical and periventricular white matter (SPWM) signal changes on head magnetic resonance imaging were specific to CBD.

Design: Historical review of autopsy cases.

Setting: Subspecialized behavioral neurology and movement disorder clinics within a neurology department of a tertiary referral center.

Patients: Seventeen patients with CBS who had an autopsy-confirmed diagnosis of CBD or another neurodegenerative disease.

Main Outcome Measures: Regional cerebral cortical atrophy, regional corpus callosum atrophy, and SPWM signal changes.

Results: Similar patterns of regional atrophy and SPWM signal changes were found in the patients with autopsy-proven CBD and in the patients with other neurodegenerative diseases.

Conclusion: Neither cortical nor corpus callosum atrophy nor SPWM signal changes on head magnetic resonance imaging are specific to CBD.