Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is the most common hereditary ataxia and thinning of the cervical spinal cord is a consistent observation in Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), although neuropathological examination in FRDA reveals neuronal loss in gray matter (GM) nuclei and degeneration of white matter (WM) tracts in the spinal cord, brainstem and cerebellum. Using diffusion-tensor (DTI) imaging and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) we tested the hypothesis that WM damage in FRDA is more extensive than previously described and probably involves normal-appearing WM.

Read More: Diffusion tensor imaging and tract-based spatial statistics analysis in Friedreich's ataxia patients