Neuropathologic overlap of progressive supranuclear palsy, Pick's disease and corticobasal degeneration

Mel B. Feany, Linda A. Mattiace, Dennis W. Dickson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

243 Scopus citations

Abstract

Several neurodegenerative disorders contain tau-immunoreactive neuronal and glial inclusions throughout the cerebral cortex and brainstem. Although these diseases have been considered distinct clinicopathological entities, recent recognition of many neuropathological and clinical parallels has raised the question of overlap between the disorders. In addition, histopathological similarities sometimes complicate neuropathological diagnosis. To address these issues, we examined the morphology and differential distribution of pathologic lesions in three disorders: progressive supranuclear palsy, Pick's disease, and corticobasal degeneration. We found considerable similarity in the anatomical regions affected by the three entities; however, semiquantitative analysis revealed differential anatomical susceptibility. Similarly, although overlap existed in the morphology of tau-immunoreactive inclusions, characteristics differences remained and may be useful in differential diagnosis. In particular, glial inclusions varied dramatically between the disorders. Despite significant overlap among the three neurodegenerative diseases examined, the morphological and regional differences suggest that each is a distinct pathophysiological entity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)53-67
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
Volume55
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1996

Keywords

  • Corticobasal degeneration
  • Neurofibrillary tangles
  • Pick's disease
  • Progressive supranuclear palsy
  • Tau protein

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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