Multiple system atrophy: clinical-radiological correlation. Report of two cases

The "Hot Cross Bun Sign" in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Types 2 and 7-Case Reports and Review of Literature

Background

The "hot cross bun" sign is a cruciform hyperintensity is seen on T2 weighted imaging within the pons. The sign is considered to be pathognomic for Multiple system atrophy type C. The clinical and radiological features of Multiple system atrophy type C overlap with the autosomal dominant inherited ataxias. We present a case series of 3 African patients with genetically proven Spinocerebellar Ataxia presenting with the Hot cross bun sign and a scoping review of similar studies.

Cases

We described the phenotypic and radiological presentation of genetically confirmed SCA-2 in two, and SCA-7 in one patient, with the "hot cross bun" sign.

Literature Review

We performed a scoping review on the Hot Cross Bun Sign.A total of 66 articles were retrieved. We describe the diverse aetiologies of the sign and associated phenotypic and radiological features. We review the Spinocerebellar Ataxias described with a Hot cross bun sign and make comparisons to Multiple System Atrophy Type C [Ref. 1,2].

Conclusions

To our knowledge this is the first description of an African cohort presenting with the Hot Cross Bun Sign. We expand the differential diagnosis of the Hot Cross Bun Sign.

Atrofia de Múltiplos Sistemas: gestão de caso complexo em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família

A Atrofia de Múltiplos Sistemas é uma doença neurodegenerativa grave, caracterizada por falência autonômica progressiva, com características parkinsonianas, cerebelares e piramidais em diferentes combinações. É a terceira causa de Parkinsonismo, atingindo 7,8% dos maiores de 40 anos, de evolução rápida e com média de 6 a 10 anos de vida após o início dos sintomas. O objetivo do estudo foi relatar um caso complexo de Atrofia de Múltiplos Sistemas acompanhado em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família. Reforça a importância da longitudinalidade para a coordenação do cuidado, o diagnóstico diferencial e a integralidade da atenção. O olhar global da equipe de saúde da família influenciou o manejo do caso, favorecendo o trabalho em rede com a abordagem especializada. Destaca a magnitude da gestão do cuidado praticada na Atenção Primária à Saúde na condução dos casos complexos.

Clinical features of dystonia in atypical parkinsonism

BACKGROUND: The association between Dystonia and Parkinson's disease (PD) has been well described especially for foot and hand dystonia. There is however few data on dystonic postures in patients with atypical parkinsonism. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency and pattern of dystonia in a group of patients with atypical parkinsonism (multiple system atrophy - MSA, progressive supranuclear palsy - PSP, and corticobasal degeneration - CBD) and to investigate whether dystonia could be the first presenting symptom at disease onset in those patients. METHOD: A total of 38 medical charts were reviewed (n=23/MSA group; n=7/CBD group; n=8/PSP group) and data values were described as means/standard deviations. The variables evaluated were sex, age at onset, disease duration, first symptom, clinical features of dystonia and other neurological signs, response to levodopatherapy, Hoehn&Yahr scale >3 after three years of disease, and magnetic resonance imaging findings. RESULTS: The overall frequency of dystonia in our sample was 50% with 30.4% (n=7) in the MSA group, 62.5% (n=5) in the PSP group, and 100% (n=8) in the CBD group. In none of these patients, dystonia was the first complaint. Several types of dystonia were found: camptocormia, retrocollis, anterocollis, blepharoespasm, oromandibular, and foot/hand dystonia. CONCLUSION: In our series, dystonia was a common feature in atypical parkinsonism (overall frequency of 50%) and it was part of the natural history although not the first symptom at disease onset. Neuroimaging abnormalities are not necessarily related to focal dystonia, and levodopa therapy did not influence the pattern of dystonia in our group of patients.