Direct visualization of deep brain stimulation targets in Parkinson disease with the use of 7-tesla magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
A challenge associated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in treating advanced Parkinson disease (PD) is the direct visualization of brain nuclei, which often involves indirect approximations of stereotactic targets. In the present study, the authors compared T2*-weighted images obtained using 7-T MR imaging with those obtained using 1.5- and 3-T MR imaging to ascertain whether 7-T imaging enables better visualization of targets for DBS in PD.


METHODS
The authors compared 1.5-, 3-, and 7-T MR images obtained in 11 healthy volunteers and 1 patient with PD.


RESULTS
With 7-T imaging, distinct images of the brain were obtained, including the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and internal globus pallidus (GPi). Compared with the 1.5- and 3-T MR images of the STN and GPi, the 7-T MR images showed marked improvements in spatial resolution, tissue contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
Data in this study reveal the superiority of 7-T MR imaging for visualizing structures targeted for DBS in the management of PD. This finding suggests that by enabling the direct visualization of neural structures of interest, 7-T MR imaging could be a valuable aid in neurosurgical procedures.
Cho
Zang-Hee
ZH
Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Republic of Korea. zcho@gachon.ac.kr
Min
Hoon-Ki
HK
Oh
Se-Hong
SH
Han
Jae-Yong
JY
Park
Chan-Woong
CW
Chi
Je-Geun
JG
Kim
Young-Bo
YB
Paek
Sun Ha
SH
Lozano
Andres M
AM
Lee
Kendall H
KH
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005917:Globus Pallidus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult