Quantitative susceptibility mapping from basal ganglia and related structures: correlation with disease severity in progressive supranuclear palsy

ObjectiveWe examined whether mean magnetic susceptibility values from deep gray matter structures in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) differed from those in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy volunteers, and correlated with the PSP rating scale.MethodsHead of caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra and red nucleus were the regions of interest. Mean susceptibility values from these regions in PSP patients were estimated using quantitative susceptibility mapping. Correlations with clinical severity of disease as measured by the PSP rating scale were examined. The mean susceptibility values were also compared with those from healthy volunteers and age- and disease duration-matched patients with PD.ResultsData from 26 healthy volunteers, 26 patients with PD and 27 patients with PSP, were analysed. Patients with PSP had higher mean susceptibility values from all regions of interest when compared to both the other groups. The PSP rating scale scores correlated strongly with mean susceptibility values from the red nucleus and moderately with those from the putamen and substantia nigra. The scores did not correlate with mean susceptibility values from the caudate nucleus or globus pallidus. In patients with PD, the motor deficits correlated moderately with mean susceptibility values from substantia nigra.ConclusionsIn patients with PSP, mean susceptibility values indicating the severity of mineralization of basal ganglia and related structures correlate with disease severity, the correlation of red nucleus being the strongest. Further studies are warranted to explore whether mean susceptibility values could serve as biomarkers for PSP.

Automated summary

This study compared the mean magnetic susceptibility values in deep gray matter structures between patients with PSP, PD and healthy volunteers, and examined their correlation with PSP rating scale. Results showed that PSP patients had higher mean susceptibility values in all regions of interest compared to the other groups. The PSP rating scale scores correlated strongly with mean susceptibility values from the red nucleus, and moderately with those from the putamen and substantia nigra. Mean susceptibility values could serve as potential biomarkers for PSP.