Re: RESEARCH: Diffusion-weighted MRI differentiates the Parkinson varia...

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Hi Al,

Here's another recent research study on another MRI method:

J Comput Assist Tomogr 2002 Mar-Apr;26(2):266-271

Thin Section MR Study of the Basal Ganglia in the Differential Diagnosis

Between Striatonigral Degeneration and Parkinson Disease.

Righini A, Antonini A, Ferrarini M, de Notaris R, Canesi M, Triulzi F,

Pezzoli G.

Radiology and Neuroradiology Service, Hospital V. Buzzi (A. Righini, M.

Ferrarini, and F. Triulzi), and Parkinson Clinic, Department of

Neuroscience, Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento Milan (A. Antonini, R. de

Notaris, M. Canesi, and G. Pezzoli), Milan, Italy.

PURPOSE: Signal abnormalities within the putamen in MRI have been related to

tissue degeneration in the striatonigral variant of multiple system atrophy

(MSA-P). While previous work demonstrated the high specificity of these MR

findings, sensitivity rates were unsatisfactory. We evaluated the

specificity and sensitivity of an acquisition protocol using thin section

MRI to differentiate MSA-P from Parkinson disease (PD).

METHOD: Axial 3-mm-thick conventional T2 and proton density spin echo images

at the level of basal ganglia were acquired at 1.5 T in 24 patients with

MSA-P and 27 patients with PD.

RESULTS: We found an abnormal putaminal T2 hypointensity in 21 of 24 MSA-P

patients (87.5% sensitivity) and a proton density hyperintensity in 20 of 24

MSA-P patients (83.3% sensitivity). Three among 27 PD patients had an

abnormal putaminal T2 hypointensity (88.8% specificity) and there were no

proton density abnormalities (100% specificity).

CONCLUSION: Our thin section conventional spin echo protocol showed a

substantial increase in MR sensitivity compared with previous reports. We

believe that a better depiction of even mild signs of degeneration in the

putamen may allow a more widespread use of this technique in the

differential diagnosis of parkinsonisms.

PMID: 11884785 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Re: RESEARCH: Diffusion-weighted MRI differentiates the

Parkinson varia...

> Pam, I checked with my MRI Imaging friends and they tell me that Diffusion

> Weighed MR Imaging is done in the USA for Stroke Dx and follow up. I will

> call a few of my Neuroradiologists to get more info.

>

> Since most major Hospitals have MRI this could be a little easier then

PET.

> Keep you posted. Thanks for the Super research work.

>

> AL

>