title: Improving MRT image quality in patients with movement disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to improve image quality in a simultaneous fMRI-EEG study with patients suffering from the involuntary movements typical for Huntington's disease, the aim was to develop a technique for immobilizing the heads of our patients inside an MRI head coil.
  
  
  METHODS
  We modified a mask technique previously used for reliable repositioning in temporally fractionated radiotherapy. The mask was tested in three patients with Huntington's disease, acquiring structural and functional MR images with simultaneous EEG with and without the mask.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image as well as EEG signal quality were significantly improved in patients wearing the mask. However, the image quality with mask was comparable to acquisitions from patients without movement disorders only in patients with light to moderate dyskinesia. Although image quality was also significantly improved in a patient suffering from severe dyskinesia with quasi-continuous involuntary movements, the quality of both the MR images as well as the EEG signal was lower than what would be expected in a healthy control person.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have succeeded in developing a mask that fits into the MRI head coil, does not disturb the MRI signal, and significantly improves both fMRI and EEG signal quality.
authors: Division of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Department of General Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Breisacher Straße 64, Freiburg, D-79106, Germany, elisabeth.schueltke@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Schültke
authors: Norbert
authors: N
authors: Nanko
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Pinsker
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Katzev
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Sebastian
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Feige
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Nikkhah
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008397:Masks; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen