Characterization of Substantia Nigra Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to characterize the substantia nigra in different diseases by means of MRI. The study was conducted at Alamal,Modern Medical Center and the Milittary Hospital MRI centers in Khartoum state during the period from 2012 to 2016. The study included 40 patients with Parkinson, 29 males and 11females, 18 with schizophrenia, 14males and4females, and 42 with epilepsy, 27males and15 females and 50 considered as control subject, 37males and13 females. Fifty control subjects and forty patients with Parkinson disease were imaged in T1, T2; Fluid attenuation at inversion recovery (FLAIR) weighted sequence at MRI machine 1.5 Tesla. The control group consisted of 37(74%) males and 13 (26%) females, 30 to 86 years old (mean age, 49.04±11.51 years). The group with Parkinson’s disease included 29 (72.5%) males and 11 (27.5%) females, 46 to 77 years old (mean age, 60.42±7.84years) with a mean duration of Disease 7.8±3.5 years In axial T2 weighted MR images of the midbrain, which included the mammillary body and red nucleus, the right and left substantia nigra width and length, were measured; compared with the control group and were correlated with patients ages and disease duration. Compared with that of controls, loss of substantia nigra was evident in patients. The visible substantia nigra length and width were significantly smaller in patients compared with controls P=0.005 with hypointense character on T2 weighted images. The duration of Parkinson disease has a significant impact in the nigral width reduction. T2 weighted images provide a convenient way to visualize stantia nigra degeneration in Parkinson disease. New equations were established to predict the nigral width in the progression of Parkinson disease and age related changes in normal subjects. Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects several brain functions. MRI technology has enabled studies of brain anatomy in patients with schizophrenia aimed at understanding more about the substantia nigra, Lateral ventricles and Temporal Lobes in schizophrenia disease. Eighteen patients with schizophrenia were examined (M: F = 14:4 Mean age: 44.77 years) and 50 healthy controls. Using a 1.5T MRI unit, T2-weighted axial images were obtained. The length and width for the substantia nigra (SN), lateral ventricles and temporal Lobes were measured as well as identified signal intensity which was Compare Between patients and healthy controls using unpaired t-tests. Results showed that the signal intensity in schizophrenic patients differs from normal healthy Subjects. The measured values of (SN) and Lateral ventricles in patients were significantly greater than those in healthy Controls at p<0.01. Furthermore, no difference in temporal lobes between schizophrenia patients and controls were observed. The research shows that schizophrenia has neuro- correlation that can be seen by studying MR images. Also 42 patients with epilepsy disease were imaged in T1, T2, And FLAIR weighted sequence at 1.5 Tesla. In axial T2 weighted MR images, the right and left substantia nigra width and length, were measured and compared with the control group. No significant differences found between the control subject and epileptic patients. This study demonstrates that MR imaging with T2 weighted imaging is useful for detecting the changes in the width and length of the substantia nigra in Parkinson disease patients. New equations were established to predict the changes in substantia nigra in normal subjects and patients with Parkinson disease. Thereby, the magnetic resonance imaging with T2 weighted imaging was useful to distinguish patients with PD from controls.