Selective involvement of the globus pallidus and dentate nucleus in succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

MRI findings in a 12-year-old boy with succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency are described. SSADH deficiency is a rare neurometabolic disorder of GABA catabolism. The clinical diagnosis is difficult and the disease is underdiagnosed. MRI showed an unusual pattern with hyperintense signal in the globus pallidus and cerebellar dentate nucleus in T2-weighted images. The remaining basal ganglia and white matter were normal. This is the second report showing this particular pattern of pallidal-dentate nucleus involvement, which might be suggestive for SSADH deficiency.