The application of SWI sequence in patients with primary Parkinson disease

Objective:Evaluating the ability of SWI(susceptibility weighted image) sequence to detect the changes of morphology and iron deposition in the early stage of primary Parkinson disease(PD).Methods:Thirty early stage PD patients and fifteen normal controls had been scanned with routine sequences and SWI sequences by 3T MR.The width of the SNc,SNr and the volume and signal density of the substantia nigra on SWI images were mearsured.And the width of the SNr and SNc were also mearsured on T2W images.The data of measured were analyzed and compared.Results:The width of the SNc,SNr and the volume of the substantia nigra have no significant reduce in PD group compared with the normal control group in both SWI and T2W images(P0.05).And also in SWI the width of the SNc,SNr and the volume of the substantia nigra have no significant reduce in PD group between the health side and the sick side.The signal density of substantia nigra was significantly diminished in PD group compared with the normal control group in SWI image(P0.05).Conclusion:Morphology of substantia nigra in early stage of the PD patients have no significant changes compared with normal controls.SWI sequence could be a new and sensitivity method for dignosis of PD in the early stage.