Application of Quantitative Measurement in Differential Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and Vascular Parkinsonism by Susceptibility-weighted Imaging

Purpose To evaluate the value of phase value of nuclei in extracorticospinal tract measured on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and vascular parkinsonism (VPS). Materials and Methods The phase value of nuclei in extracorticospinal tract were measured and compared in 20 patients with PD, 20 patients with VPS and 20 healthy control subjects on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Results The phase values of sustantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), globus pallidus (GP) and putamen (PUT) in PD group significantly reduced compared with those in VPS group and control group (P 0.01). The phase value of SNc, GP and PUT reduced at the early stage in PD group, and then further reduced with the severity of disease; the phase value of sustantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) reduced at the medium to late stage (P 0.05). The phase value of SNc, PUT, caudate nucleus (CN), SNr and GP did not reduce at the early to medium stage in VPS group, and slightly reduced at the late stage (P 0.01, P 0.05), but no statistical difference in phase value of bilateral red nucleus was observed (P 0.05). Conclusion Measurement of phase value of nuclei of extracorticospinal tract on SWI is reliable to diagnose PD and differentiate PD from VPS.