Magnetic resonance imaging of hypertrophic olivary degeneration.

OBJECTIVE

To review the pathophysiologic mechanisms involved in hypertrophic olivary degeneration, with attention to epidemiologic and clinical aspects and especially to imaging findings.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We reviewed 5 patients diagnosed with hypertrophic olivary degeneration at our center from 2010 through 2013, analyzing relevant clinical, epidemiologic, and radiologic findings.

RESULTS

In all cases, a hyperintensity was seen in the inferior olivary nuclei in FLAIR and T2-weighted sequences. No signal alterations were seen on T1-weighted sequences, and no enhancement was seen after intravenous injection of contrast material. In the cases studied by diffusion-weighted imaging, no significant alterations were seen in these sequences. Olivary hypertrophy was seen in all patients except in one, in whom presumably not enough time had elapsed for hypertrophy to occur. The alterations were bilateral in two of the five cases. Only one case exhibited the typical clinical manifestations.

CONCLUSION

Given that patients may not present clinical manifestations that can be attributed to hypertrophic olivary degeneration, it is important to recognize the characteristic radiologic signs of this entity.