Background: The objective of this study is to differentiate PSP from Parkinson's disease through magnetic resonance imaging.
Methods: We included 14 consecutive patients with PD (9) or PSP (5). These measures included the third ventricle, midbrain diameter, quadrigeminal plate, brainstem volumetry, and interpeduncular angle.
Results: Patients with PSP presented enlargement of third ventricle (100% vs. 33%), lower midbrain diameter (mean 13.2 +/- 1.7 mm vs. 16.5 +/- 1.7 mm) and thinning of the quadrigeminal plate (mean 2.7 +/- 0.3 mm vs. 3.6 +/- 0.3 mm) in comparison with PD.
Conclusions: Characteristic findings on MRI may help to differentiate PD from PSP.