Cranial MRI changes may precede symptoms in Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome

Two families are presented in which siblings of children affected with Hall ervorden-Spatz syndrome exhibited characteristic cranial magnetic resonance imaging changes before developing clinical features of the disease. Linkag e to a major locus on chromosome 20p supported the diagnosis of Hallervorde n-Spatz syndrome. In some patients with Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome, iron i s radiographically evident before the onset of clinical symptoms. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.