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Pontine T2 hypointensity

MedGen UID:
1841706
Concept ID:
C5826898
Finding
HPO: HP:4000169

Definition

A darker than expected T2 signal on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pons. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

Conditions with this feature

Charlevoix-Saguenay spastic ataxia
MedGen UID:
338620
Concept ID:
C1849140
Disease or Syndrome
Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is clinically characterized by a progressive cerebellar ataxia, peripheral neuropathy, and spasticity. Disease onset of classic ARSACS is often in early childhood, leading to delayed walking because of gait unsteadiness in very young toddlers, while an increasing number of individuals with disease onset in teenage or early-adult years are now being described. Typically the ataxia is followed by lower-limb spasticity and later by peripheral neuropathy – although pronounced peripheral neuropathy has been observed as a first sign of ARSACS. Oculomotor disturbances, dysarthria, and upper-limb ataxia develop with slower progression than the other findings. Brain imaging demonstrates atrophy of the superior vermis and the cerebellar hemisphere with additional findings on MRI, such as linear hypointensities in the pons and hyperintense rims around the thalami. Many affected individuals (though not all) have yellow streaks of hypermyelinated fibers radiating from the edges of the optic disc noted on ophthalmologic exam, and thickened retinal fibers can be demonstrated by optical coherence tomography. Mild intellectual disability, hearing loss, and urinary urgency and incontinence have been reported in some individuals.

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Jiang J, Wang J, Lin M, Wang X, Zhao J, Shang X
Brain Behav 2020 Oct;10(10):e01778. Epub 2020 Aug 5 doi: 10.1002/brb3.1778. PMID: 32755074Free PMC Article
Carré G, Dietemann JL, Gebus O, Montaut S, Lagha-Boukbiza O, Wirth T, Kremer S, Namer IJ, Anheim M, Tranchant C
J Neurol 2020 May;267(5):1269-1277. Epub 2020 Jan 14 doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-09702-w. PMID: 31938861

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Zhou R, Sangam K, Cabrera A, AlMutawa F, Sivro A, Roy F, Silverman M, Sharma M, Budhram A
J Neurol Sci 2025 Feb 15;469:123379. Epub 2025 Jan 3 doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123379. PMID: 39764914
Papandreou A, Soo AKS, Spaull R, Mankad K, Kurian MA, Sudhakar S
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022 Dec;43(12):1810-1814. Epub 2022 Nov 3 doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A7693. PMID: 36328404
Biswas A, Krishnan P, Amirabadi A, Blaser S, Mercimek-Andrews S, Shroff M
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2020 Oct;41(10):1930-1936. Epub 2020 Aug 27 doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A6726. PMID: 32855186Free PMC Article
Jiang J, Wang J, Lin M, Wang X, Zhao J, Shang X
Brain Behav 2020 Oct;10(10):e01778. Epub 2020 Aug 5 doi: 10.1002/brb3.1778. PMID: 32755074Free PMC Article
Steenweg ME, Wolf NI, Schieving JH, Fawzi Elsaid M, Friederich RL, Ostergaard JR, Barkhof F, Pouwels PJ, van der Knaap MS
Arch Neurol 2012 Jan;69(1):125-8. doi: 10.1001/archneurol.2011.1030. PMID: 22232354

Diagnosis

Jain RS, Sannegowda RB, Agrawal A, Hemrajani D, Jain R, Mathur T
BMJ Case Rep 2013 Feb 14;2013 doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006641. PMID: 23417372Free PMC Article
Gross BA, Puri AS, Popp AJ, Du R
Neurosurg Rev 2013 Apr;36(2):187-93; discussion 194. Epub 2012 Nov 29 doi: 10.1007/s10143-012-0435-9. PMID: 23192650
Martin MH, Bouchard JP, Sylvain M, St-Onge O, Truchon S
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2007 Sep;28(8):1606-8. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A0603. PMID: 17846221Free PMC Article
Rumboldt Z, Jednacak H, Talan-Hranilović J, Rumboldt T, Kalousek M
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2003 Jan;24(1):112-4. PMID: 12533337Free PMC Article
Fujisawa I, Asato R, Okumura R, Nakano Y, Shibata T, Hamanaka D, Hashimoto T, Konishi J
Cancer 1991 Sep 1;68(5):1009-14. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19910901)68:5<1009::aid-cncr2820680517>3.0.co;2-r. PMID: 1913472

Therapy

Zeng H, Wen F, Huang W, Gan Y, Zeng W, Chen R, He Y, Wang Y, Liu Z, Liang C, Wong KK
PLoS One 2016;11(10):e0162877. Epub 2016 Oct 31 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162877. PMID: 27798639Free PMC Article
Hagiwara K, Okada Y, Shida N, Yamashita Y
Intern Med 2008;47(5):431-5. Epub 2008 Mar 3 doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.47.0634. PMID: 18310977
Esposito F, Becker DP, Villablanca JP, Kelly DF
Neurosurgery 2005 Apr;56(2 Suppl):E443; discussion E443. doi: 10.1227/01.neu.0000157023.12468.6a. PMID: 15794847
Hecht MJ, Fellner F, Fellner C, Hilz MJ, Neundörfer B, Heuss D
J Neurol Sci 2002 Jul 15;199(1-2):59-65. doi: 10.1016/s0022-510x(02)00104-1. PMID: 12084444
Kesler R, Maertens P
J Neuroimaging 1999 Apr;9(2):118-21. doi: 10.1111/jon199992118. PMID: 10208111

Prognosis

Zhou R, Sangam K, Cabrera A, AlMutawa F, Sivro A, Roy F, Silverman M, Sharma M, Budhram A
J Neurol Sci 2025 Feb 15;469:123379. Epub 2025 Jan 3 doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123379. PMID: 39764914
Caliskan E, Sager SG, Yukselmis U, Kilic AK, Gunbey HP
Childs Nerv Syst 2024 Jan;40(1):227-232. Epub 2023 Sep 22 doi: 10.1007/s00381-023-06163-0. PMID: 37737897
Phulpagar P, Holla VV, Tomar D, Kamble N, Yadav R, Pal PK, Muthusamy B
J Hum Genet 2023 Dec;68(12):859-866. Epub 2023 Sep 26 doi: 10.1038/s10038-023-01195-5. PMID: 37752213
Carré G, Dietemann JL, Gebus O, Montaut S, Lagha-Boukbiza O, Wirth T, Kremer S, Namer IJ, Anheim M, Tranchant C
J Neurol 2020 May;267(5):1269-1277. Epub 2020 Jan 14 doi: 10.1007/s00415-020-09702-w. PMID: 31938861
Mahato D, Vivas-Buitrago T, Gassie K, Jentoft M, Tavanaiepour D, Quiñones-Hinojosa A
J Neurooncol 2018 Jan;136(2):299-306. Epub 2017 Nov 2 doi: 10.1007/s11060-017-2653-z. PMID: 29098570

Clinical prediction guides

Phulpagar P, Holla VV, Tomar D, Kamble N, Yadav R, Pal PK, Muthusamy B
J Hum Genet 2023 Dec;68(12):859-866. Epub 2023 Sep 26 doi: 10.1038/s10038-023-01195-5. PMID: 37752213
Zhang ZY, Liu ZQ, Qin W, Chen YW, Liu ZJ
Chin Med J (Engl) 2018 Mar 20;131(6):665-671. doi: 10.4103/0366-6999.226890. PMID: 29521288Free PMC Article
Jain RS, Sannegowda RB, Agrawal A, Hemrajani D, Jain R, Mathur T
BMJ Case Rep 2013 Feb 14;2013 doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006641. PMID: 23417372Free PMC Article
Gross BA, Puri AS, Popp AJ, Du R
Neurosurg Rev 2013 Apr;36(2):187-93; discussion 194. Epub 2012 Nov 29 doi: 10.1007/s10143-012-0435-9. PMID: 23192650
Hagiwara K, Okada Y, Shida N, Yamashita Y
Intern Med 2008;47(5):431-5. Epub 2008 Mar 3 doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.47.0634. PMID: 18310977

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