Characterizing the Swallow Tail Sign: A Cross-Sectional Clinicopathologic Analysis of the Pattern of Brain Atrophy in Autopsy-Confirmed Lewy Body Dementia
Preston Roche1, A. Campbell Sullivan1, Rima Chaudhari2, Arash Salardini1, Kevin Bieniek2, Margaret Flanagan2, Alicia Parker1
1UT Health San Antonio, 2Glenn Biggs Alzheimer's Research Institute
Objective:
OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel radiographic sign found in Lewy body dementia, which can be used to aid in diagnosis.
Background:
BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of guidelines for diagnosing Lewy body dementia using radiologic biomarkers. At present, guidance from the literature notes that central atrophy can occur in this disease process. We aim to clarify specific brain areas affected by atrophy. In the future, qualitative and volumetric measurements targeting these areas may be used in memory disorder evaluations.
Design/Methods:
DESIGN/METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of clinicopathological data from participants who donated their brains to the Biggs Institute’s Brain Donation program. Thirty patients with predominantly diffuse neocortical Lewy body dementia and available antemortem brain imaging were included in the analysis.
Results:
RESULTS: Preliminary data indicate that patients with autopsy-confirmed predominant diffuse neocortical Lewy body dementia had several characteristic radiologic findings. The majority of patients have deep parieto-occipital atrophy which we describe as the “Swallow Tail sign.” In addition, patients often had medial frontal, anterior temporal, and midbrain atrophy.
Conclusions:
CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of brain atrophy described in this clinicopathological study, including the “Swallow Tail sign”, can be employed as a radiologic biomarker of Lewy body dementia.
Disclaimer: Abstracts were not reviewed by Neurology® and do not reflect the views of Neurology® editors or staff.