Abstract #5061

Semi-automated identification of Substantia Nigra in healthy controls and patients with Parkinson's Disease: a feasibility study using MP2RAGE

Maria Eugenia Caligiuri¹, Gaetano Barbagallo², Tobias Kober³, Umberto Sabatini⁴, Aldo Quattrone^1,2, and Andrea Cherubini¹

¹Neuroimaging Unit, Institute of Bioimaging and Molecular Physiology (IBFM-CNR), Catanzaro, Italy, ²Institute of Neurology, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy, ³Healthcare Sector IM&WS S, Siemens Schweiz AG, Renens, Switzerland, ⁴Institute of Neuroradiology, University Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy

Reliable in vivo assessment of human substantia nigra (SN) requires highly trained operators and different MRI sequences. Advanced techniques have recently facilitated SN identification, but their acquisition in routine clinical practice may not be feasible. MP2RAGE allows for quantitative T1 mapping with an acceptable acquisition time (< 10 minutes). Moreover, SN can be seen on T1 maps, but not on standard MPRAGE. In this study, we tested the feasibility of semi-automated SN identification on MP2RAGE-derived T1 maps by using a thresholding approach, and compared SN volume and T1 values between healthy controls and patients with Parkinson's disease.

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