MR evaluation of wallerian degeneration of the pyramidal tract

: This study is based on 135 magnetic resonance (MR) exams of 110 patients with wallerian degeneration of the pyramidal tract shown on MR images acquired on a mid field imaging scanner. The MR findings of wallerian degeneration were abnormal signal band along the course of the pyramidal tract and ipsilateral brain stem shrinkage. In all 110 cases an abnormal signal band was seen on T2-weighted spin-echo images, that is, a hypointense band in four exams between 30 days and 116 days after onset of symptoms, and hyperintense bands in 122 exams. The hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images was shown in most cases after 200 days from the onset. In one case a signal of the pyramidal tract showed a hyperintense band at 7 days, hypointense at 30 days, and hyperintense again at 123 days after onset. Sequential MR exams of another case showed gradual narrowing of the hyperintense signal band and progression of the ipsilateral brainstem shrinkage. The narrowing of the pyramidal tract and the ipsilateral brain stem shrinkage tended to be shown after 6 months from onset.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)