Volume and iron content in basal ganglia and thalamus.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have highlighted the possibility to investigate brain iron content in vivo. In this study, we combined T2* relaxometry and automatic segmentation of basal ganglia based on T1-weighted images in healthy subjects, with the aim of characterizing age related changes in volume and iron-related relaxivity values (R2*) of these structures. Thirty healthy subjects underwent MR imaging at 3 Tesla. Mean R2* values and volumes were calculated for the selected subcortical structures (pallidum, putamen, thalamus and caudate nucleus). Our results showed a correlation between R2* values and iron concentration as calculated from published post-mortem data. Furthermore, we observed a shrinkage/iron increase with a different pattern in the anatomical regions selected in this work, suggesting that the age-related changes on these MR parameters are specific to the subcortical structure considered. In particular, the putamen demonstrated a decrease of volume and an increase of iron level, with the posterior region of this structure appearing more disposed to iron deposition. Our work suggests that combining volumetry and iron estimation in MRI permits to investigate in vivo neurophysiological and neuropathological changes of basal ganglia.
Péran
Patrice
P
Department of Radiology, IRCCS Foundation Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy. p.peran@hsantalucia.it
Cherubini
Andrea
A
Luccichenti
Giacomo
G
Hagberg
Gisela
G
Démonet
Jean-François
JF
Rascol
Olivier
O
Celsis
Pierre
P
Caltagirone
Carlo
C
Spalletta
Gianfranco
G
Sabatini
Umberto
U
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009929:Organ Size; D011699:Putamen / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D013788:Thalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
D007501:Iron