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01-08-2011 | Case Report

The “eye of the tiger” sign in pure akinesia with gait freezing

Authors: Roberto Erro, Marianna Amboni, Carmine Vitale, Katia Longo, Mariangela Rocco, Carmela Russo, Sabina Pappatà, Arturo Brunetti, Paolo Barone

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 4/2011

Abstract

The “eye of the tiger” is a neuroradiologic sign due to iron deposition in the globus pallidus: it appears as diffuse low signal intensity with a central area of high signal intensity confined to the globus pallidus. The “eye of the tiger” sign has been associated with neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type 1 (NBIA1), a condition caused by mutations in the gene encoding pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2). However, the specificity of this neuroradiologic sign has been already challenged and it has been described in other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we report the first case of a patient suffering from pure akinesia with gait freezing with the “eye of the tiger” sign in T2-weighted MRI sequences. All clinical, laboratory and radiologic data excluded other diagnosis and genetic testing excluded PANK2 mutations suggesting that the “eye of the tiger” is not specific for NBIA1 and may also occur in other movement disorders.

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Title: The “eye of the tiger” sign in pure akinesia with gait freezing
Authors: Roberto Erro
Marianna Amboni
Carmine Vitale
Katia Longo
Mariangela Rocco
Carmela Russo
Sabina Pappatà
Arturo Brunetti
Paolo Barone
Publication date: 01-08-2011
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: Neurological Sciences / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0589-1

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The “eye of the tiger” sign in pure akinesia with gait freezing

Abstract

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Springer Medicine

Abstract

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