Background: Midbrain atrophy is a characteristic feature of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), observed in PSP-Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS) and to a lesser extent PSP-parkinsonism (PSP-P).
Objective: Our aim was to critically evaluate the utility of manual magnetic resonance imaging measurements of the midbrain tectal plate as a diagnostic biomarker in PSP.
Methods: Length of the tectal plate and width of the superior and inferior colliculi were measured in 40 PSP (20 PSP-RS and 20 PSP-P) patients and compared with 20 Parkinson's disease and 20 healthy control subjects.
Results: Tectal plate length was reduced in both PSP groups compared with Parkinson's disease and control subjects and was most abnormal in PSP-RS followed by PSP-P. Reduced tectal plate length was associated with worse PSP Rating Scale scores.
Conclusions: Simple manual measurements of tectal plate length show utility as a diagnostic biomarker in PSP, particularly for PSP-RS. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Keywords: midbrain atrophy; progressive supranuclear palsy; tectal plate.
© 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.