Validation of Reduced Fractional Anisotropy Measures in the Substantia Nigra of Parkinson's Patients using DAT Imaging

Lorna Harper^1,2, Edward Newman^1,2, Donald Hadley^1,2, Donald Grosset^1,2

This study aims to validate previous work demonstrating a reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) measured in the substantia nigra (SN) of Parkinsons Disease (PD) patients. DTI studies were acquired in twenty patients together with dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging. DAT imaging was used to confirm the clinical diagnosis of PD before correlation between the radioligand uptake in the striatum and FA measured in the SN was investigated. Two of the patients were found not to have PD; however they also demonstrated a reduction in FA. No correlation was found between FA measured in the SN and radioligand uptake in the striatum.