MTA-scale for Medial Temporal lobe Atrophy (Scheltens)

Diagnosis

MTA-scale for Medial Temporal lobe Atrophy (Scheltens)

History

The MTA-score (Scheltens) should be rated on coronal T1-weighted images. on a slice through the corpus of the hippocampus (level of the anterior pons).

The scale  is based on a visual score of the width of the choroid fissure, the width of the temporal horn, and the height of the hippocampal formation.

• score 0: no atrophy
• score 1: only widening of choroid fissure
• score 2: also widening of temporal horn of lateral ventricle
• score 3: moderate loss of hippocampal volume (decrease in height)
• score 4: severe volume loss of hippocampus

< 75 years: score 2 or more is abnormal.

> 75 years: score 3 or more is abnormal.

Score

Width of choroid fissure

Width of temporal horn

Height of hippocampal formation

0

N

N

N

1

↑

N

N

2

↑↑

↑↑

↓

3

↑↑↑

↑↑↑

↓↓

4

↑↑↑

↑↑↑

↓↓↓