Characterizing the Mesencephalon Using Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging

The mesencephalon is involved in a number of human neurodegenerative disorders and has been typically imaged with T1-, T2- and T2*-weighted methods. Our aim was to collect high-contrast susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) data to differentiate among and within the basic mesencephalic structures: n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR 2009-03, Vol.30 (3), p.569-574
Main Authors: Manova, E.S, Habib, C.A, Boikov, A.S, Ayaz, M, Khan, A, Kirsch, W.M, Kido, D.K, Haacke, E.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Geniculate Bodies - anatomy & histology
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Medical sciences
Mesencephalon - anatomy & histology
Middle Aged
Nervous system
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Nervous system as a whole
Neurology
Pyramidal Tracts - anatomy & histology
Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry
Red Nucleus - anatomy & histology
Substantia Nigra - anatomy & histology
Young Adult
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Summary:The mesencephalon is involved in a number of human neurodegenerative disorders and has been typically imaged with T1-, T2- and T2*-weighted methods. Our aim was to collect high-contrast susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) data to differentiate among and within the basic mesencephalic structures: namely, the red nucleus, substantia nigra, and crus cerebri. High-resolution SWI, 3D T1-weighted, and T2-weighted data were collected to study contrast in the mesencephalon at 1.5T and 4T. Contrast between structures was calculated for SWI high-pass (HP)-filtered-phase, T1 gradient-echo, and spin-echo T2-weighted data. SWI HP-filtered-phase data revealed similar contrast for the red nucleus and substantia nigra when compared with T2-weighted imaging. However, SWI was able to show structures within the red nucleus, substantia nigra, and medial geniculate body that were invisible on T2-weighted imaging. T1-weighted imaging, on the other hand, did not reveal measurable contrast for any of the structures of interest. SWI HP-filtered-phase data at 4T agreed well with india ink-stained cadaver brain studies, which appear to correlate with capillary density. With SWI, it is possible to create better anatomic images of the mesencephalon, with improved contrast compared with conventional T1- or T2-weighted sequences.
ISSN:0195-6108
1936-959X
DOI:10.3174/ajnr.A1401