PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - S K Chhetri AU - D Gow AU - S Shaunak AU - A Varma TI - Clinical assessment of the sensory ataxias; diagnostic algorithm with illustrative cases AID - 10.1136/practneurol-2013-000764 DP - 2014 Aug 01 TA - Practical Neurology PG - 242--251 VI - 14 IP - 4 4099 - http://pn.bmj.com/content/14/4/242.short 4100 - http://pn.bmj.com/content/14/4/242.full SO - Pract Neurol2014 Aug 01; 14 AB - 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.