Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration: A clinicopathological study of six Japanese autopsy cases and proposed potential progression pattern in the cerebellar lesion

Neuropathology
Volume 27 Issue 2 Page 99 - April 2007

Alcoholic cerebellar degeneration (ACD) is one of the most common neurological complications in alcoholics. As far as we know, however, only four Japanese autopsy cases of ACD have been reported, and only limited clinicopathological data on this disease are now available in Japan.

The aims of this study were: (i) to examine the clinicopathological correlation of six Japanese autopsy cases of ACD, including three asymptomatic cases; and (ii) to elucidate the pattern of progression of the cerebellar lesion in ACD.

These findings suggest that in ACD, severe lesions successively develop: (i) in the anterior superior vermis; (ii) anterior superior hemisphere; (iii) anterior inferior hemisphere; and (iv) anterior inferior vermis.

In addition, cerebellar symptoms may frequently occur if the anterior superior hemisphere and anterior inferior hemisphere, in addition to the anterior superior vermis, are involved.

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