title: Quantitative assessment of iron deposition in the midbrain using 3D-enhanced T2 star weighted angiography (ESWAN): a preliminary cross-sectional study of 20 Parkinson's disease patients.
abstract: Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assesses neurodegenerative structural changes in the cerebral anatomy of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients but cannot detect non-structural abnormalities; however, enhanced T2 star weighted angiography (ESWAN) can precisely indicate PD-related substantia nigra (SN) iron deposition. The differences in ESWAN-based parameters between different PD stages were assessed using midbrain iron deposits of 20 PD patients aged 64.3±12.7 (41-85) years grouped by Hoehn and Yahr staging into minimal (stages ≤2.5) or moderate to severe (stages ≥3.0) motor impairment groups and 14 healthy control subjects. Conventional MRI and ESWAN measurements of mean phase value (MPV) and midbrain dimensions (width and diameter) revealed similar anatomical characteristics; however, ESWAN revealed the presence of smaller MPVs and SN pars compacta (SNc) (P<0.01) and a negative correlation between reduction extent and motor impairment (P<0.01). SNc width to midbrain diameter was reduced in moderate to severe impairment patients versus control and minimal impairment patients (both P<0.01). A positive correlation was found between MPV and width or SNc width to midbrain diameter ratio (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). Minimal impairment group mean MPV and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) width evidenced no significant reduction, unlike significant reductions in the moderate to severe impairment group (P<0.01). No significant changes were observed in MPV or width in the RN region (P>0.05). ESWAN allows for early and accurate iron deposition determination in PD patients, particularly useful as a supplement to conventional MRI in early-stage PD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Hospital, China Medical University, Heping Dist., Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, PR China. xiangxuehai19850224@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Ci
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guoguang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: ESWAN; Enhanced T2 star weighted angiography; Iron deposition; MPV; MRI; Magnetic resonance imaging; PD; Parkinson's disease; Phase value; RN; SN; SNc; SNr; enhanced T2 star weighted angiography; magnetic resonance imaging; mean phase value; red nucleus; substantia nigra; substantia nigra pars compacta; substantia nigra pars reticulate