Neuroradiologists should be aware that inherited ataxia in children is a common manifestation of many disorders. Some can be suggested or diagnosed by imaging; others can be prevented by genetic counseling or treated if detected in early stages.
Cerebellar atrophy (CA) is a cerebellum with initially normal development that displays progressive reduction in volume with enlarged folia.
CA is a nonspecific finding in neuroimaging studies. Pattern recognition approach is necessary to reduce the list of diagnostic possibilities.
AIM OF THE WORK
This study was conducted to suggest MRI based pattern recognition approach in children with inherited ataxia in correlation with clinical, laboratory and genetic data (whenever available).
PATIENTS
The study was conducted on 40 children; 22 males and 18 females (ranging in age from 1.5 to 14 years with mean age 4.3 years) presenting by clinical picture suggestive of inherited ataxia referred to the Department of Radiodiagnosis for further MRI evaluation at Alexandria University Hospitals.