Transcranial sonography (TCS) is a diagnostic tool in mood and movement disorders. Alterations within the raphe mesencephalic nucleus in the brain have been reported not only in patients with major depression but in patients with depressive symptoms accompanying several neurodegenerative disorders. The aim of the study was to assess the echogenicity of the nucleus raphe and other basal ganglia in patients with Huntington’s disease (HD). TCS was performed in 127 HD patients participating in observational studies (Registry/Enroll-HD) in the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology (Warsaw, Poland). Raphe hypoechogenicity was found in 78% of HD patients with current symptoms of depression (according to DSM-IV criteria), 57% of patients with a previous history of depression, and 56.8% patients who lacked signs or history of depression. Patients with hypoechogenic raphe reported significantly higher depression as measured on the BDI (15.6 ± 1.7) as compared to patients with normal echogenicity (9.5 ± 1.2), (p = 0.023). The diameter of the third ventricle was negatively correlated with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (rho − 0.37) and total functional capacity (TFC) scores (rho − 0.26). Hyperechogenic substantia nigra was visualized in 66,4% patients with HD and the degree of hyperechogenicity was correlated with the total motor score (TMS) (rho − 0.38). Changes in echogenicity of the basal ganglia are related to both depressive and motor symptoms among patients with HD.

经颅超声 (TCS) 是情绪和运动障碍的诊断工具。不仅在重度抑郁症患者中，而且在伴有多种神经退行性疾病的抑郁症状患者中，大脑中缝中脑核内的变化也有报道。该研究的目的是评估亨廷顿病 (HD) 患者中缝核和其他基底神经节的回声。在精神病学和神经病学研究所（波兰华沙）参与观察性研究 (Registry/Enroll-HD) 的 127 名 HD 患者中进行了 TCS。在 78% 有抑郁症症状的 HD 患者（根据 DSM-IV 标准）、57% 的既往有抑郁症病史的患者和 56.8% 没有抑郁症体征或病史的患者中发现中缝低回声。p  = 0.023）。第三脑室的直径与简易精神状态检查（MMSE）（rho - 0.37）和总功能能力（TFC）评分（rho - 0.26）呈负相关。66.4% 的 HD 患者可见高回声黑质，高回声程度与总运动评分 (TMS) (rho - 0.38) 相关。基底节回声的变化与 HD 患者的抑郁和运动症状有关。