Objective: The objective is to assess the use of the volumetry of OB & T as a parameter for distinguishing controls from patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) and for distinguishing PD from the other diagnostic groups.

Background: Previous studies have shown volumetry of the olfactory bulbs and tracts (OB & T) might be useful in the differential diagnosis of parkinsonisms.

Methods: The study group comprised by 20 patients with PD (stage 1 H&Y), 10 with MSA, 10 with PSP, 5 with corticobasal degeneration CBD and 20 matched controls. All patients were evaluated using UPDRS, DaT-SPECT and brain MRI. We performed volumetry of the OB & T using the software Osrix (Figure 1).

Results: The lowest volume was seen in patients with PD: 208.3 ± 46.3 mm3. The highest volume was seen in controls: 347.4 ± 82.6 mm3. Other groups showed intermediate mean values: MSA: 257.3 ± 44.2 mm3, PSP: 266.2 ± 65.1 mm3, CBD: 331.4 ± 41.7 mm3. When comparing OB & T volumes among the four disease groups and the control group, the mean of PD was different from all other groups (p < 0.05 each) while the mean in controls was only significantly different from PD and MSA.

Conclusions: Our results replicate previous studies and confirm volumetry of OB & T is a parameter in the differential diagnosis PD from other neurodegenerative parkinsonisms. Volumetry of OB & T may also has a role in differentiating early PD from controls.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/volumetry-of-the-olfactory-bulbs-and-tracts-in-the-differential-diagnosis-of-neurodegenerative-parkinsonisms/