title: High resolution magnetic susceptibility mapping of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if tissue magnetic susceptibility is a more direct marker of tissue iron content than other MR markers of iron. This study presents the first quantitative, in vivo measurements of the susceptibility of the substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine patients and 11 controls were studied at 7 Tesla. Susceptibility maps were created by inverting the filtered phase maps associated with T2* weighted images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, patients showed an increase in susceptibility of the pars compacta compared with controls, which correlates with the predicted increase in brain iron in Parkinson's disease. A rostral-caudal gradient in susceptibility was also observed in controls and patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Susceptibility mapping may provide a new tool for studying the development of Parkinson's disease.
authors: Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, Nottingham, UK.
authors: Ashley K
authors: AK
authors: Lotfipour
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Wharton
authors: Stefan T
authors: ST
authors: Schwarz
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Gontu
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Schäfer
authors: Andrew M
authors: AM
authors: Peters
authors: Richard W
authors: RW
authors: Bowtell
authors: Dorothee P
authors: DP
authors: Auer
authors: Penny A
authors: PA
authors: Gowland
authors: Nin P S
authors: NP
authors: Bajaj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron