The pallidal index (PI) and the R1 relaxation rate are two commonly used MRI markers to diagnose manganese (Mn) neurotoxicity caused by excess Mn accumulation in the brain. While it has been hypothesized that the R1 relaxation rate is more sensitive and specific to Mn accumulation than the PI, a formal comparison is still missing. This study aimed to compare these two MRI markers' sensitivity and specificity to distinguish different levels of exposure to Mn by performing a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis on a cohort of welders, occupationally exposed to Mn in welding fumes.
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