[An autopsy case of "progressive supranuclear palsy" without psychiatric or neurological signs]

No To Shinkei. 2004 Feb;56(2):157-61.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

We report an autopsy case of a Japanese man with "progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)" who showed neither neurological nor psychiatric signs. Although he died by heart failure at the age of 84 years, he had neither neurological nor psychiatric signs throughout the clinical course. Neuropathological examination revealed neuronal loss of the substantia nigra and pallidum. Neurofibrillary tangles were observed in the caudate nucleus, subthalamic nucleus, pallidum, putamen, substantia nigra, locus ceruleus, pontine nucleus, inferior olivary nucleus, and dentate nucleus, compatible with the NINDS pathological diagnosis of PSP reported in 1994. Staining by Gallyas-Braak methods disclosed tuft-shaped astrocytes in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and thalamus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of "PSP" without psychiatric or neurological signs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Globus Pallidus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / pathology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Neuropil Threads / pathology
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / pathology*
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / psychology