title: Capability of identifying red nuclei in different pulse sequences of regular 1.5-tesla magnetic resonance images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the optimal pulse sequences of commonly used 1.5-tesla MRI for identifying the red nucleus (RN) to aid targeting of the subthalamic nucleus (STN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six healthy adults were enrolled for this prospective study. All subjects underwent MR studies of 5 sequences: diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), T(1)-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T1IR), fast spin echo T(2)-weighted imaging (FSE-T2WI), T(2)-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2FLAIR) and T(2)*-weighted gradient-echo (T2*-GRE) sequences. The clearness of the RN contour was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the RN was identified in 98% subjects without gender and age differences. The RN was demarcated on a 5-mm slice relatively better in T2FLAIR (93.5%), followed by FSE-T2WI (78.3%), T2*-GRE (65.2%) and DWI (43.5%) sequences, but was completely invisible on the T1IR image. Generally, the signal intensity in all MR sequences decreased mildly on 2-mm slices with a similar identifying power. The detecting power on 5-mm slices was in favor of T2FLAIR with 94% sensitivity, 10% specificity, and 1.89 odds ratio compared to FSE-T2WI. In addition, the scanning time of T2FLAIR was longer in comparison to the FSE-T2WI study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T2FLAIR is an alternative to FSE-T2WI that can readily demarcate the RN to help target the STN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. tsmchiou@pchome.com.tw
authors.forename: Shang-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Yu-Chien
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Hung-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012012:Red Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*