Developments in the Role of Transcranial Sonograph

Authors: Andrea Pilotto Rezzak Yilmaz Daniela Berg

Publish Date: 2015/05/26

Volume: 15, Issue: 7, Pages: 43-

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Abstract

In the last two decades transcranial sonography TCS has developed as a valuable supplementary tool in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of movement disorders In this review we highlight recent evidence supporting TCS as a reliable method in the differential diagnosis of parkinsonism combining substantia nigra SN basal ganglia and ventricular system findings Moreover several studies support SN hyperechogenicity as one of most important risk factors for Parkinson’s disease PD The advantages of TCS include short investigation time low cost and lack of radiation Principal limitations are still the dependency on the bone window and operator experience New automated algorithms may reduce the role of investigator skill in the assessment and interpretation increasing TCS diagnostic reliability Based on the convincing evidence available the EFNS accredited the method of TCS a level A recommendation for supporting the diagnosis of PD and its differential diagnosis from secondary and atypical parkinsonism An increasing number of training programmes is extending the use of this technique in clinical practiceWe would like to thank all participants of the studies assessing SN+ in longitudinal cohorts and all the staff members involved in applying and teaching this method at the moment especially Ina Posner We would also like to express our gratitude to Georg Becker who was the first to assess and promote TCS in movement disordersAndrea Pilotto has received an honorarium payment from ResearchFellowship Programme of DAAD German Academic Exchange Service Rezzak Yilmaz declares no conflict of interest Daniela Berg has received consultancy fees from UCB Novartis Lundbeck GSK and TEVA founding from UCB Novartis Lundbeck GSK and TEVA and grant from Michael J Fox Foundation BmBF dPV German Parkinson’s Disease Association Center of Integrative Neurosciences Internationale Parkinson Fonds Janssen Pharmaceutica TEVA Pharma GmbH and UCB Pharma GmbH

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