A distinct neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging pattern in parkinsonian multiple system atrophy.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy is a neurodegenerative disorder frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease. No early imaging biomarkers currently differentiate these disorders. METHODS:Simple visual imaging analysis of the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus in neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging and nigrosome 1 in susceptibility-weighted sequences was performed in thirty patients with parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy fulfilling possible/probable second consensus diagnostic criteria. The neuromelanin visual pattern was compared to patients with Parkinson's disease with the same disease duration (n?=?10) and healthy controls (n?=?10). Substantia nigra semi-automated neuromelanin area/signal intensity was compared to the visual data. RESULTS:Groups were similar in age, sex, disease duration, and levodopa equivalent dose. Hoehn & Yahr stage was higher in parkinsonian multiple system atrophy patients, 69% of whom had normal neuromelanin size/signal, significantly different from Parkinson's disease patients, and similar to controls. Nigrosome 1 signal was lost in 74% of parkinsonian multiple system atrophy patients. Semi-automated neuromelanin substantia nigra signal, but not area, measurements were able to differentiate groups. CONCLUSIONS:In patients with parkinsonism, simple visual magnetic resonance imaging analysis showing normal neuromelanin substantia nigra and locus coeruleus, combined with nigrosome 1 loss, allowed the distinction of the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy from Parkinson's disease and healthy controls. This easy and widely available method was superior to semi-automated measurements in identifying specific imaging changes in substantia nigra and locus coeruleus.
SUBMITTER: Simoes RM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7694430 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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