title: Nigral involvement in atypical parkinsonisms: evidence from a pilot study with ultra-high field MRI.
abstract: Ten healthy subjects (HS) and 15 patients with atypical parkinsonisms underwent 7-T susceptibility-weighted-imaging MR to evaluate substantia nigra (SN). All HS were judged "normal". Twelve out of 15 patients exhibited bilateral abnormal SN while three patients with corticobasal degeneration (CBD) showed bilateral normal aspect of SN. Anatomical changes of SN at 7 T occur in multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy as previously reported in Parkinson's disease. Preserved SN in CBD confirms the pathological heterogeneity of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frosini
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ceravolo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS, Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tosetti
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ubaldo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bonuccelli
authors.affiliation: IMAGO7 Foundation, Pisa, Italy. mircocosottini@libero.it.|Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56124, Cisanello Pisa, Italy. mircocosottini@libero.it.
authors.forename: Mirco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosottini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014326:Tropanes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D014326:Tropanes; C087552:2-carbomethoxy-8-(3-fluoropropyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)tropane
keywords: Corticobasal degeneration; Magnetic resonance imaging; Multiple system atrophy; Parkinson’s disease/parkinsonism; Progressive supranuclear palsy