Spastic ataxia with eye-of-the-tiger-like sign in 4 siblings due to novel compound heterozygous AFG3L2 mutation

Abstract

The eye-of-the-tiger (EOT) is a neuroradiologic sign observed on T2-weighted sequences that refers to a central high signal intensity in the anteromedial aspect of both globus pallidus (GP) and a surrounding low signal intensity due to excess iron deposition. Combining T2 and susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) allows an optimal characterization of iron accumulation. The EOT sign is considered almost pathognomonic of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN)