Dominik Fritzsch MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Matthias Oberbeck, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Donald Lobsien MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Karl-Titus Hoffmann MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The motivation of the study was to investigate how, using susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), signal differences in basal ganglia, thalamus and midbrain in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to a control group can be detected.

In 34 consecutive, prospectively studied patients with PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages I-IV, side dominance right n = 14, left n = 10, not clearly n = 10) and 34 age-and gender-paired controls relative signal intensities (SI) of putamen, globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, thalamus, red nucleus and substantia nigra were determined in the 3 Tesla -SWI-image. Reference regions were the lateral ventricles-CSF in the anterior horn and the splenium of the corpus callosum. The regional average values of relative SI of the groups were compared.

In patients with PD, the mean values of relative SI in almost all core areas considered higher than in the control group (reference CSF and splenium).But a significant difference only in the substatia nigra (left more clearly than at right) was found.

Using SWI at 3 Tesla MRI in patients with PD differences in the relative SI of the studied nuclei, particularly in the substania nigra were detected in comparison to the control group. The relative SI was higher in patients than in healthy subjects. The causes are discussed one hand with neurodegenerative changes with glial remodeling reactions, similar to other diseases of the basal ganglia. In addition, pathological changes in regional vascularity, which can be detected by SWI very sensitive, may be the cause of our findings.

SWI MRI in patients with suspected Parkinson disease can support the diagnosis.

Fritzsch, D, Oberbeck, M, Lobsien, D, Hoffmann, K, Susceptibility-weighted Imaging of Cerebral Nuclei in the 3 Tesla MRI in Patients with Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD).  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11011232.html