Importance of Different Characteristic of the Corticospinal Tract Based on DTI and Cadaveric Microdissection

Abstract

Purpose: Microsurgical anatomy of the corticospinal tract, its functional role and crucial points in differential diagnosis were evaluated. There is no consensus about its differences and cerebral origin of the corticospinal tract. Tractography and cadaver dissection can help to investigate the characteristics of the corticospinal tract. Also, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is hard to diagnose as it has common symptoms and signs with other disorders. Methods: Three formalin-fixed human brains (six sides) were dissected by the Klingler technique in a stepwise manner from the lateral to medial and superior to inferior under 6x–40x magnification using a surgical microscope. All stages of the dissection were photographed using three-dimensional method. Lastly, we present a patient with the sign of drop foot who underwent electromyographical and radiological examination, diagnosed as atypic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Results: The connections of the corticospinal tract, in particular the travel in the in trajectories of stepwise in manner cerebral origin. We demonstrated a case report with anatomic correlation to define the damage of corticospinal tract in variable levels. Crucial landmarks, connections, eloquent brain areas that related to the corticospinal tract were emphasized. Conclusion: So that pointing the importance of such disorders to keep in mind as not to move forward with incorrect operation decision. Trajectory of one of the largest desending pathway, corticospinal tract and the relationship with different diagnosis should be considered.

Keywords

• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• corticospinal tract
• differential diagnosis
• foot drop

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