Modern Brainstem MRI Techniques for the Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonisms

Arribarat, Germain; Barros, Amaury De; Péran, Patrice

doi:10.3389/fneur.2020.00791

Cited by 18 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 93 publications

(109 reference statements)

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“…For example, TiDi-Fused processing offers the opportunity to delineate brainstem structures, like the reticular formation, which was at the heart of Rimland’s ( 1964 ) hypothesis. In this way, TiDi-Fused processing may now enable examinations into the relatively unexplored territory of the brainstem in autism and in other difficult-to-image populations with conditions that may involve the brainstem (e.g., Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease; Halliday et al, 1990 ; Simic et al, 2009 ; Arribarat et al, 2020 ). Moreover, while the TiDi-Fused pipeline involves registration with the T1w component of the MPnRAGE sequence, future work may benefit from fusing the dMRI with other quantitative structural MRI images or contrasts, which may provide additional information about brainstem composition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Imaging of the Brainstem and Cerebellum in Autistic Children: Transformation-Based High-Resolution Diffusion MRI (TiDi-Fused) in the Human Brainstem

Guerrero-González

Surgent

Adluru

et al. 2022

Front. Integr. Neurosci.

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Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) of the brainstem is technically challenging, especially in young autistic children as nearby tissue-air interfaces and motion (voluntary and physiological) can lead to artifacts. This limits the availability of high-resolution images, which are desirable for improving the ability to study brainstem structures. Furthermore, inherently low signal-to-noise ratios, geometric distortions, and sensitivity to motion not related to molecular diffusion have resulted in limited techniques for high-resolution data acquisition compared to other modalities such as T1-weighted imaging. Here, we implement a method for achieving increased apparent spatial resolution in pediatric dMRI that hinges on accurate geometric distortion correction and on high fidelity within subject image registration between dMRI and magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPnRAGE) images. We call this post-processing pipeline T1 weighted-diffusion fused, or “TiDi-Fused”. Data used in this work consists of dMRI data (2.4 mm resolution, corrected using FSL’s Topup) and T1-weighted (T1w) MPnRAGE anatomical data (1 mm resolution) acquired from 128 autistic and non-autistic children (ages 6–10 years old). Accurate correction of geometric distortion permitted for a further increase in apparent resolution of the dMRI scan via boundary-based registration to the MPnRAGE T1w. Estimation of fiber orientation distributions and further analyses were carried out in the T1w space. Data processed with the TiDi-Fused method were qualitatively and quantitatively compared to data processed with conventional dMRI processing methods. Results show the advantages of the TiDi-Fused pipeline including sharper brainstem gray-white matter tissue contrast, improved inter-subject spatial alignment for group analyses of dMRI based measures, accurate spatial alignment with histology-based imaging of the brainstem, reduced variability in brainstem-cerebellar white matter tracts, and more robust biologically plausible relationships between age and brainstem-cerebellar white matter tracts. Overall, this work identifies a promising pipeline for achieving high-resolution imaging of brainstem structures in pediatric and clinical populations who may not be able to endure long scan times. This pipeline may serve as a gateway for feasibly elucidating brainstem contributions to autism and other conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Imaging of the Brainstem and Cerebellum in Autistic Children: Transformation-Based High-Resolution Diffusion MRI (TiDi-Fused) in the Human Brainstem

Guerrero-González

Surgent

Adluru

et al. 2022

Front. Integr. Neurosci.

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“…Recent efforts have focused on the development of more precise and performing MRI sequences in order to obtain an enhanced characterization of the SNc damage in Parkinsonism. These efforts include nigrosome imaging, neuromelanin-sensitive sequences, iron-sensitive sequences, and advanced diffusion imaging [11,13,15,16]. The use of these imaging methods, alone or in combination, is emerging as an encouraging early diagnostic biomarker of PD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, improvements in MRI technology have made possible the study of changes within the SNc, which is particularly vulnerable to degeneration in PD [12]. The SNc, which is subdivided into nigrosomes and the nigral matrix, plays an essential role in regulating movements, with classic PD motor symptoms appearing when 30% or more of its dopaminergic neurons have vanished [13,14]. Recent efforts have been focused on the development of MRI sequences in order to enhance the characterization of SNc damage in PD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Imaging of Substantia Nigra in Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review

et al. 2021

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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms due to the degeneration of the pars compacta of the substantia nigra (SNc) with dopaminergic denervation of the striatum. Although the diagnosis of PD is principally based on a clinical assessment, great efforts have been expended over the past two decades to evaluate reliable biomarkers for PD. Among these biomarkers, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based biomarkers may play a key role. Conventional MRI sequences are considered by many in the field to have low sensitivity, while advanced pulse sequences and ultra-high-field MRI techniques have brought many advantages, particularly regarding the study of brainstem and subcortical structures. Nowadays, nigrosome imaging, neuromelanine-sensitive sequences, iron-sensitive sequences, and advanced diffusion weighted imaging techniques afford new insights to the non-invasive study of the SNc. The use of these imaging methods, alone or in combination, may also help to discriminate PD patients from control patients, in addition to discriminating atypical parkinsonian syndromes (PS). A total of 92 articles were identified from an extensive review of the literature on PubMed in order to ascertain the-state-of-the-art of MRI techniques, as applied to the study of SNc in PD patients, as well as their potential future applications as imaging biomarkers of disease. Whilst none of these MRI-imaging biomarkers could be successfully validated for routine clinical practice, in achieving high levels of accuracy and reproducibility in the diagnosis of PD, a multimodal MRI-PD protocol may assist neuroradiologists and clinicians in the early and differential diagnosis of a wide spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders.

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“…Pars compacta of substantia nigra (SNc) is the high signal intensity area situated between dorsally-placed red nucleus and ventral low signal areas of pars reticularis of substantia nigra (SNr). 5 , 6 The diagnostic markers in PD are the diminution and depigmentation of dopaminergic neurons in pars compacta of SN and noradrenergic neurons in locus coeruleus. 7 , 8…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative morphometric evaluation of the brainstem in neurodegenerative diseases with healthy individuals using magnetic resonance imaging

Rajagopal

D’Souza

Verma

et al. 2022

Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences

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Objective Measurement of a component within the reference value is a widely used parameter in Biomedical Science. This study highlights the value of morphometric changes in healthy individuals’ brainstem structure and their application in the detection and diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders. Methods This retrospective study included magnetic resonance (MR) images of 50 healthy individuals without neurological diseases, 35 clinically diagnosed individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), and 12 individuals with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Measurements of midbrain area, pons area, ratio of midbrain to pons area, superior profile of midbrain, thickness of substantia nigra (SN), cerebral crus width, interpeduncular distance, and concavity of the crus were analysed as per the standard protocol. Results Patients with PD had mean anteroposterior diameter of 1.11 ± 0.1 cm, which was more than the control group and PSP patients. Additionally, PSP patients showed the least midbrain and pons area of 1.06 ± 0.34 and 4.01 ± 1.2 sq.cm, respectively, compared to other groups. The ratio of midbrain to pons area was the least among PSP patients (0.21 ± 0.06 cm). Mean thickness of the right and left middle cerebellar peduncles (1.25 ± 0.19 and 1.24 ± 0.17 cm) was less in the PD group. The width of the SN gradually reduced in PD and more so in PSP patients. The convex superior profile of the midbrain was a consistent feature in all groups. Conclusion This study highlights the value of morphometrics of the brainstem profile in differentiating neurodegenerative diseases among aged, healthy individuals when combined with their clinical data.

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Modern Brainstem MRI Techniques for the Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonisms

Cited by 18 publications

References 93 publications

Improving Imaging of the Brainstem and Cerebellum in Autistic Children: Transformation-Based High-Resolution Diffusion MRI (TiDi-Fused) in the Human Brainstem

Improving Imaging of the Brainstem and Cerebellum in Autistic Children: Transformation-Based High-Resolution Diffusion MRI (TiDi-Fused) in the Human Brainstem

Imaging of Substantia Nigra in Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative Review

Comparative morphometric evaluation of the brainstem in neurodegenerative diseases with healthy individuals using magnetic resonance imaging

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