Degenerative disorders of the central nervous system. An integrated approach to the differential diagnosis.

Neurodegenerative disorders are gaining increasing importance as the average age of the population progressively increases. It is therefore important to continue developing imaging techniques that will noninvasively, rapidly, and accurately diagnose such disorders. The major role of imaging in neurodegenerative disorders is to exclude the presence of treatable causes. By combining functional and anatomic imaging approaches, imaging has become a critical tool in the evaluation of these disorders.