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Clinical assessment of the sensory ataxias; diagnostic algorithm with illustrative cases
  1. S K Chhetri1,2,
  2. D Gow3,
  3. S Shaunak1,
  4. A Varma3
  1. 1Neurology Department, Royal Preston Hospital, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Preston, UK
  2. 2The University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
  3. 3Neurology Department, Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Manchester, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Anoop Varma, Consultant Neurologist, Neurology Department, Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Stott Lane, Salford, M6 8HD, UK; dranoopvarma{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Ataxia is a common neurological syndrome resulting from cerebellar, vestibular or sensory disorders. The recognition and characterisation of sensory ataxia remains a challenge. Cerebellar ataxia is the more common and easier to identify; sensory ataxia is often mistaken for cerebellar ataxia, leading to diagnostic errors and delays. A coherent aetiological work-up is only possible if clinicians initially recognise sensory ataxia. We discuss ways to separate sensory from cerebellar ataxia, the causes of sensory ataxia and the clinico-neurophysiological syndromes causing the sensory ataxia syndromes. We summarise a logical tiered approach as a diagnostic algorithm.

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