Imaging the Substantia Nigra in Parkinson Disease and Other Parkinsonian Syndromes

Parkinson disease is characterized by dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. There are various imaging markers for Parkinson disease. Recent advances in MRI have enabled elucidation of the underlying pathophysiologic changes in the nigral structure. This has contributed to accurate and early diagnosis and has improved disease progression monitoring. This article aims to review recent developments in nigral imaging for Parkinson disease and other parkinsonian syndromes, including nigrosome imaging, neuromelanin imaging, quantitative iron mapping, and diffusion-tensor imaging. In particular, this article examines nigrosome imaging using 7-T MRI and 3-T susceptibility-weighted imaging. Finally, this article discusses volumetry and its clinical importance related to symptom manifestation. This review will improve understanding of recent advancements in nigral imaging of Parkinson disease.

Automated summary

Parkinson disease is characterized by loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Recent advances in MRI technology have enabled elucidation of underlying pathophysiological changes in the nigral structure, contributing to improved diagnosis and monitoring of the disease progression.