A Comparison of Substantia Nigra T1 Hyperintensity in Parkinson's Disease Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Matched Controls: Volumetric Analysis of Neuromelanin Imaging.
10.3348/kjr.2016.17.5.633
- Author:
Won Jin MOON
1
;
Ju Yeon PARK
;
Won Sung YUN
;
Ji Yeong JEON
;
Yeon Sil MOON
;
Heejin KIM
;
Ki Chang KWAK
;
Jong Min LEE
;
Seol Heui HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Radiology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05030, Korea. mdmoonwj@kuh.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Neuromelanin;
High-resolution T1-weighted imaging;
Magnetic resonance;
Parkinsonian disorders;
Dementia;
Alzheimer disease;
Substantia nigra
- MeSH:
Aged;
Alzheimer Disease*;
Dementia*;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Mesencephalon;
Neurodegenerative Diseases;
Parkinson Disease*;
Parkinsonian Disorders;
Retrospective Studies;
Substantia Nigra*
- From:Korean Journal of Radiology
2016;17(5):633-640
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: Neuromelanin loss of substantia nigra (SN) can be visualized as a T1 signal reduction on T1-weighted high-resolution imaging. We investigated whether volumetric analysis of T1 hyperintensity for SN could be used to differentiate between Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-matched controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 10 patients with PDD, 18 patients with AD, and 13 age-matched healthy elderly controls. MR imaging was performed at 3 tesla. To measure the T1 hyperintense area of SN, we obtained an axial thin section high-resolution T1-weighted fast spin echo sequence. The volumes of interest for the T1 hyperintense SN were drawn onto heavily T1-weighted FSE sequences through midbrain level, using the MIPAV software. The measurement differences were tested using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a post hoc comparison. RESULTS: A comparison of the three groups showed significant differences in terms of volume of T1 hyperintensity (p < 0.001, Bonferroni corrected). The volume of T1 hyperintensity was significantly lower in PDD than in AD and normal controls (p < 0.005, Bonferroni corrected). However, the volume of T1 hyperintensity was not different between AD and normal controls (p = 0.136, Bonferroni corrected). CONCLUSION: The volumetric measurement of the T1 hyperintensity of SN can be an imaging marker for evaluating neuromelanin loss in neurodegenerative diseases and a differential in PDD and AD cases.
