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MRI hyperintensities of the temporal lobe and external capsule in patients with CADASIL
O'Sullivan M, Jarosz JM, Martin RJ, Deasy N, Powell JF, Markus HS.. Neurology, 2001-03-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an inherited, autosomal dominant condition caused by mutations of the Notch3 gene. Affected individuals have migraine, mood disturbance, and recurrent strokes, often progressing to subcortical dementia and premature death. MRI findings include focal lacunar infarcts and diffuse T2-weighted hyperintensity, or leukoaraiosis. However, such findings are seen much more commonly in patients with cardiovascular risk factors, particularly hypertension, where they are believed to represent cerebral small vessel disease. No previous study has sought to identify specific radiologic markers of CADASIL. Methods MRI scans from 20 consecutive patients with CADASIL and 20 patients with sporadic leukoaraiosis due to presumed small-vessel disease were compared using the previously validated semiquantitative MRI rating scale devised by Scheltens et al. Analysis was blinded to clinical category. Results Scores for hyperintensities of the temporal white matter and external capsule-insula region were significantly higher in patients with CADASIL. Hyperintensity confined to the pole of the temporal lobe was a characteristic finding in CADASIL, occurring in 19 patients with CADASIL but no patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis. Involvement of the external capsule, though less specific, was seen early in the disease course. In a few patients with CADASIL, involvement of the corpus callosum was observed. Conclusions Temporal pole hyperintensity is a radiologic marker of CADASIL. Involvement of the external capsule and corpus callosum are also characteristic findings that may help to distinguish the disease.
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APA 7th
O'Sullivan, M., Jarosz, J. M., Martin, R. J., Deasy, N., Powell, J. F., & Markus, H. S. (2001). MRI hyperintensities of the temporal lobe and external capsule in patients with CADASIL. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.56.5.628
Vancouver
O'Sullivan M, Jarosz JM, Martin RJ, Deasy N, Powell JF, Markus HS. MRI hyperintensities of the temporal lobe and external capsule in patients with CADASIL. Neurology. 2001. doi:10.1212/wnl.56.5.628. PMID: 11245715.
BibTeX
@article{osullivan2001-11245715,
author = {O'Sullivan, M. and Jarosz, J. M. and Martin, R. J. and Deasy, N. and Powell, J. F. and Markus, H. S.},
title = {{MRI hyperintensities of the temporal lobe and external capsule in patients with CADASIL}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2001},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.56.5.628},
pmid = {11245715},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.56.5.628}
}
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Key findings
- Results Scores for hyperintensities of the temporal white matter and external capsule-insula region were significantly higher in patients with CADASIL.
Why it matters
This study found that MRI hyperintensities in the temporal white matter and external capsule-insula region were significantly higher in patients with CADASIL than in patients with sporadic leukoaraiosis. It concerns an inherited small vessel disease and reports nothing about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants20
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2001 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 20 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 365 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.5 citations a year over 27 year(s) since 2001 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 48 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Hugh Stephen Markus: h-index 137 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | St George's, University of London: institution h-index 762 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 11245715) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 54 / 100 | — |
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