Hyperintense putaminal rim sign is not a hallmark of multiple system atrophy at 3T.
OBJECTIVE
Hyperintense putaminal rim (HPR) on the T2-weighted imaging, which has been observed in our daily practice while reading 3T brain images, has been described as a finding typical of multiple system atrophy (MSA). We hypothesized that the HPR sign is not an exclusive hallmark of MSA at a high magnetic field strength, but rather may be a normal finding.


METHODS
Ten consecutive clinically healthy age-matched adults who showed recognizable HPR at 3T were subsequently examined on a 1.5T imaging system within 2 hours. MR examination included axial T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE), fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) on a 3T scanner, and equivalent T2-weighted FSE at 1.5T. MR images were obtained parallel to the intercommissural plane. All the images were interpreted by 2 experienced neuroradiologists.


RESULTS
All 10 subjects (3 men and 7 women; aged 52 +/- 6.1 years [range, 44-61 years], expressed as mean +/- SD) with the positive HPR sign on axial T2-weighted FSE at 3T had negative findings at 1.5T. Such hyperintense rim was also vague or absent on the 3T-FLAIR images.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the HPR at 3T scans is a nonspecific, normal finding. FLAIR may be helpful in discriminating between normal subjects and patients with MSA in case of isolated HPR at 3T.
Lee
Wei-Hsing
WH
Department of Radiology, Neuro-Medical Scientific Center, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lee
Chau-Chin
CC
Shyu
Woei-Cherng
WC
Chong
Pau-Nyen
PN
Lin
Shinn-Zong
SZ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology; D011699:Putamen / Q000473:pathology*