Corpus callosum hypersignals and focal atrophy: Neuroimaging findings in globular glial tauopathy type I

Background and purpose Globular glial tauopathies (GGTs) have heterogeneous presentations; little evidence regarding typical clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) presentations are available. Methods We retrospectively assessed MRIs from three postmortem-confirmed GGT cases, in two patients with atypical progressive aphasia and one with corticobasal syndrome. Results We suggest that four principal concomitant MRI findings characterize GGT type I: a sagittal callosal hyperintense band, marked focal callosal atrophy suggesting white matter degeneration originating in cortical areas responsible for symptoms (anterior atrophy in predominantly language manifestations and posterior atrophy in predominantly apraxia), periventricular white matter lesions, and mild-to-moderate brain stem atrophy. Conclusions We observed four concomitant MRI abnormalities in patients with atypical dementia, parkinsonism, and late incomplete supranuclear gaze palsy. Two patients had atypical progressive aphasia and one had corticobasal syndrome.

Automated summary

The study found that GGT type I patients exhibit specific MRI abnormalities including a sagittal callosal hyperintense band, callosal atrophy, periventricular white matter lesions, and brain stem atrophy. These MRI findings are common in patients with atypical dementia, parkinsonism, and late incomplete supranuclear gaze palsy.