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Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index: diagnostic accuracy of a fully automated algorithm in comparison with the manual measurement in a large Italian multicentre study in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy

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Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the reliability of a new in-house automatic algorithm for calculating the Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index (MRPI), in a large multicentre study population of patients affected by progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) or Parkinson’s disease (PD), and healthy controls (HC), and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the automatic and manual MRPI values.

Methods

The study included 88 PSP patients, 234 PD patients and 117 controls. MRI was performed using both 3T and 1.5T scanners. Automatic and manual MRPI values were evaluated, and accuracy of both methods in distinguishing PSP from PD and controls was calculated.

Results

No statistical differences were found between automated and manual MRPI values in all groups. The automatic MRPI values differentiated PSP from PD with an accuracy of 95 % (manual MRPI accuracy 96 %) and 97 % (manual MRPI accuracy 100 %) for 1.5T and 3T scanners, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study showed that the new in-house automated method for MRPI calculation was highly accurate in distinguishing PSP from PD. Our automatic approach allows a widespread use of MRPI in clinical practice and in longitudinal research studies.

Key Points

• A new automatic method for calculating the MRPI is presented.

• Automatic MRPI values are in good agreement with manual values.

• Automatic MRPI can distinguish patients with PSP from patients with PD.

• The automatic method overcomes MRPI application limitations in routine practice.

• The automatic method may allow a more widespread use of MRPI.

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Abbreviations

M:

Midbrain

MCP:

Middle cerebellar peduncle

MRPI:

Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index

P:

Pons

PD:

Parkinson’s disease

PSP:

Progressive supranuclear palsy

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristic

SCP:

Superior cerebellar peduncle

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Acknowledgements

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Professor Aldo Quattrone. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. Methodology: cross sectional study, multicentre study.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology, National Research Council, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy

      Salvatore Nigro & Aldo Quattrone

    2. Institute of Neurology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University ‘Magna Graecia’, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy

      Gennarina Arabia & Aldo Quattrone

    3. Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, ‘Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo’ - I.R.C.C.S, Venice-Lido, Italy

      Angelo Antonini, Luca Weis & Andrea Marcante

    4. Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, 80138, Italy

      Alessandro Tessitore, Mario Cirillo & Gioacchino Tedeschi

    5. MRI Research Center SUN-FISM, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

      Alessandro Tessitore, Mario Cirillo & Gioacchino Tedeschi

    6. Functional MR Unit, Policlinico S. Orsola – Malpighi, Bologna, Italy

      Stefano Zanigni & Caterina Tonon

    7. Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

      Stefano Zanigni, Giovanna Calandra-Buonaura & Caterina Tonon

    8. IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

      Giovanna Calandra-Buonaura

    9. Parkinson Institute, ASST G.Pini - CTO, ex ICP, Milano, Italy

      Gianni Pezzoli & Roberto Cilia

    10. Department ‘G.F. Ingrassia’, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

      Mario Zappia, Alessandra Nicoletti & Calogero Edoardo Cicero

    11. Department of Neurological and Movement Sciences, University Hospital of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy

      Michele Tinazzi & Pierluigi Tocco

    12. Institute of Radiology, University Hospital of Verona, Piazzale L.A. Scuro 10, 37134, Verona, Italy

      Nicolò Cardobi

    Authors
    1. Salvatore Nigro
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    2. Gennarina Arabia
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    3. Angelo Antonini
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    4. Luca Weis
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    20. Aldo Quattrone
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    Correspondence to Aldo Quattrone.

    Additional information

    Salvatore Nigro and Gennarina Arabia contributed equally to this work.

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    Nigro, S., Arabia, G., Antonini, A. et al. Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index: diagnostic accuracy of a fully automated algorithm in comparison with the manual measurement in a large Italian multicentre study in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Eur Radiol 27, 2665–2675 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4622-x

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-016-4622-x

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