@entity528 and corticospinal tract (CST) degeneration are typical of @entity746 ( @entity746 ). It is a matter of debate whether qualitative assessment of the CST by MRI is useful in the diagnosis. It is also an open question whether quantitative determination of the T2 relaxation times can improve its value. Signal intensity along the CST on 14 consecutive slices was assessed using arbitrary visual rating on double-echo T2-weighted and proton-density spin-echo images of 21 @entity1 with @entity746 and 21 age- and sex-matched controls. T2 was determined quantitatively. On the T2-weighted images the @entity1 ' ratings did not differ from that of controls. The T2 of @entity1 and controls showed no statistical difference in any slice. There was no correlation between T2 and @entity1 age, duration of the disease, or predominant bulbar, lower or upper motor neurone signs. The only correlation between MRI findings and disease was on the proton-density images: all cases in which the CST was poorly seen were controls; a clearly high-signal CST was seen only in the @entity1 . High conspicuity of the CST was thus specific but not sensitive for the diagnosis of @entity746 . T2-weighted images and measurement of T2 were not useful for diagnosis.

The corticospinal tract in XXXX : an MRI study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity528 :: ('MESH:D009410', 'Disease') :: ['Cortical motor neurone loss'] @entity746 :: ('MESH:D000690', 'Disease') :: ['ALS', 'amyotrophic lateral sclerosis']
@entity746 :: (MESH:D000690,Disease) :: ['amyotrophic lateral sclerosis']
