The Age-Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) scale can be used to quantify the extent of changes in the white on imaging studies.
Types of Lesions:
(1) periventricular white matter changes (PVWMC)
(2) DWMC: deep white matter changes
Parameters:
(1) lobes frontal lobe, parietal-occipital lobe, temporal lobe, infratentorial region
(2) basal ganglia
|
Lobes
|
Basal Ganglia
|
Score
|
|
no lesions
|
no lesions
|
0
|
|
focal lesions
|
1 focal lesion
|
1
|
|
beginning confluence of lesions
|
more than 1 focal lesion
|
2
|
|
diffuse involvement of most region
|
confluence of lesions
|
3
|
|
Score
|
PWMC
|
DWMC
|
|
0
|
ventricles symmetrical and well-defined
|
< 5 mm
|
|
1
|
bands < 5 mm or ventricles non-symmetrcial
|
5 to 9 mm
|
|
2
|
5 to 10 mm
|
10 to 25 mm, or bridging between 2 focal lesions
|
|
3
|
> 1 mm
|
> 25 mm
|
subscore for left side =
= SUM(scores for each of 4 lobes; score for basal ganglia)
subscore for right side =
= SUM(scores for each of 4 lobes; score for basal ganglia)
total score =
= SUM(both subscores)
Interpretation:
• minimum subscore and total score: 0
• maximum subscore for left side: 15
• maximum subscore for right side: 15
• maximum total score: 30
