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Transcranial sonography has become a useful tool in the differentialdiagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes. This is a non-invasive, low costprocedure. The main finding on transcranial sonography in patientswith idiopathic Parkinson’s disease is an increased echogenicity ofthe mesencephalic substantia nigra region. This hyperechogenicityis present in more than 90% of cases, and reflects a dysfunction inthe dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway. This study discussed howthe hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra may facilitate thedifferential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes.

Transcranial sonography has become a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes. This is a non-invasive, low cost procedure. The main finding on transcranial sonography in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease is an increased echogenicity of the mesencephalic substantia nigra region. This hyperechogenicity is present in more than 90% of cases, and reflects a dysfunction in the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway. This study discussed how the hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra may facilitate the differential diagnosis of parkinsonian syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]