DETECTION OF PYRAMIDAL TRACT LESIONS IN AMYOTROPHIC-LATERAL-SCLEROSISWITH MAGNETIZATION-TRANSFER MEASUREMENTS

PURPOSE: To determine the presence of small lesions in the pyramidal t ract in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by using mag netization-transfer (MT) measurements and MR imaging, METHODS: MT rati os (MTRs) were measured in the posterior limb of the internal capsule in nine patients with ALS and in nine healthy volunteers. RESULTS: The mean value of MTRs (%) in patients with ALS was 15.76 +/- 1.48, while that of the control subjects was 19.83 +/- 1.54. The difference was s tatistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: MT measurements are useful for detecting abnormalities associated with degeneration of the pyramidal tract in patients with ALS.