AJDRAJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on December 26, 2008
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1401
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American Journal of Neuroradiology 30:569-574, March 2009
© 2009 American Society of Neuroradiology

BRAIN

Characterizing the Mesencephalon Using Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging

E.S. Manovaa, C.A. Habiba,b, A.S. Boikovb, M. Ayaza,b, A. Khana, W.M. Kirschd, D.K. Kidoc and E.M. Haackea,b,c

a Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Mich
b The MRI Institute for Biomedical Research, Detroit, Mich
c Department of Radiology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif
d Department of Neurosurgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif

Please address correspondence to E. Mark Haacke, PhD, The MRI Institute for Biomedical Research, 440 E Ferry St, Unit 2, Detroit, MI 48202; e-mail: nmrimaging{at}aol.com

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The mesencephalon is involved in a number of human neurodegenerative disorders and has been typically imaged with T1-, T2- and T2*-weighted methods. Our aim was to collect high-contrast susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) data to differentiate among and within the basic mesencephalic structures: namely, the red nucleus, substantia nigra, and crus cerebri.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-resolution SWI, 3D T1-weighted, and T2-weighted data were collected to study contrast in the mesencephalon at 1.5T and 4T. Contrast between structures was calculated for SWI high-pass (HP)-filtered-phase, T1 gradient-echo, and spin-echo T2-weighted data.

RESULTS: SWI HP-filtered-phase data revealed similar contrast for the red nucleus and substantia nigra when compared with T2-weighted imaging. However, SWI was able to show structures within the red nucleus, substantia nigra, and medial geniculate body that were invisible on T2-weighted imaging. T1-weighted imaging, on the other hand, did not reveal measurable contrast for any of the structures of interest. SWI HP-filtered-phase data at 4T agreed well with india ink–stained cadaver brain studies, which appear to correlate with capillary density.

CONCLUSIONS: With SWI, it is possible to create better anatomic images of the mesencephalon, with improved contrast compared with conventional T1- or T2-weighted sequences.




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Copyright © 2009 by the American Society of Neuroradiology. Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X