3.0T MR Susceptibility-weighted Imaging for Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta in Primary Parkinson's Disease

Objective To evaluate the application of measurement of T2* value,width of substantia nigra pars compacta(SNc) and the ratio of the width to the midbrain diameter in diagnosing Parkinson disease(PD) in early stage with susceptibility weighted imaging( SWI) by 3T MR. Methods 59 patients with early stage idiopathic PD patients and 59 healthy controls,ranging in same ages and gender,had been scanned with routine sequences and SWI sequences by 3T MR. T2* value,width and the ratio of the width to the midbrain diameter of SNc were measured. The results of measurement were analyzed and compared. Results(1) The T2* values, width and the ratio of the width to the midbrain diameter was decreased in homolateral side SNc of symptoms of subjects with PD compared with the healthy controls(P0.05).(2) There was a significant reduction in the T2* values and the ratio of the width to the midbrain diameter in contralateral side SNc symptoms of subjects with PD compared with the healthy controls(P0.05). There was no differences in width of SNc(P 0.05). Conclusion Measurement of T2* value, width and the ratio of the width to the midbrain diameter of SNc with SWI is reliable to diagnose PD.