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Three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in the substantia nigra of healthy controls and patients with Parkinson’s disease

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson’s disease three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging with high spatial resolution at 3 Tesla was performed. Regional variations of spectroscopic data between the rostral and caudal regions of the substantia nigra as well as the midbrain tegmentum areas were evaluated in healthy controls and patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Methods

Nine patients with Parkinson’s disease and eight age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Data were acquired by using three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging measurements. The ratios between rostral and caudal voxels of the substantia nigra as well as the midbrain tegmentum areas were calculated for the main-metabolites N-acetyl aspartate, creatine, choline, and myo-inositol. Additionally, the metabolite/creatine ratios were calculated.

Results

In all subjects spectra of acceptable quality could be obtained with a nominal voxel size of 0.252 ml. The calculated rostral-to-caudal ratios of the metabolites as well as of the metabolite/creatine ratios showed with exception of choline/creatine ratio significant differences between healthy controls and patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Conclusions

The findings from this study indicate that regional variations in N-acetyl aspartate/creatine ratios in the regions of the substantia nigra may differentiate patients with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research and German Center for Neurodegenerative Disease (DZNE), University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

    Adriane Gröger, Jana Godau & Daniela Berg

  2. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

    Grzegorz Chadzynski & Uwe Klose

  3. Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Adriane Gröger

Authors
  1. Adriane Gröger
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  2. Grzegorz Chadzynski
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  3. Jana Godau
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  4. Daniela Berg
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  5. Uwe Klose
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Correspondence to Adriane Gröger.

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Gröger, A., Chadzynski, G., Godau, J. et al. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in the substantia nigra of healthy controls and patients with Parkinson’s disease. Eur Radiol 21, 1962–1969 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2123-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2123-5

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