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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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Improved Visibility of the Subthalamic Nucleus on High-Resolution Stereotactic MR Imaging by Added Susceptibility (T2*) Contrast Using Multiple Gradient Echoes

E. Elolf^a, V. Bockermann^b, T. Gringel^a,c, M. Knauth^a, P. Dechent^c and G. Helms^c

^a Department of Neuroradiology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
^b Department of Neurosurgery, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
^c MR-Research in Neurology and Psychiatry, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

View larger version (19K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 1. T2* decay in the STN (dots) and reticular formation (RF; circles). Fitted T2* values were 25.0 ± 0.4 ms (STN, bold) and 59.1 ± 2.0 (RF, dashed).

View larger version (48K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig 2. Comparison of T1-weighted, T1+T2*-weighted, and T2-weighted (top to bottom) MR imaging in anterior/posterior commissure orientation. Note the T2* contrast of vessels and iron-containing structures. The outlines of the Schaltenbrand-Wahren atlas are shown as overlay (blue). The STN and red nucleus (RN) are assigned. A mismatch between the atlas and individual anatomy of the STN can be seen. The apparent inconsistency between T2*- and T2-weighted images (as seen on the left and right STN) demonstrates the limitations when coregistering the multisection T2-weighted data with the multiecho 3D datasets.