Diffusion MRİ findings of substantia nigra at patients with parkinsons disease

The aim of this study is to reveal the finding of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging at substantia nigra in patients with parkinson?s disease and to compare results with the control group. The study included 20 patients with Parkinson?s disease and 20 healthy volunteers. In these cases, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and diffusion weighted echo-planar images (DW-EPI) at b100, b600 and b1000 gradient values were taken and the measurements were made through the maps of Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) of each group at b100, b600 and b1000 values from substantia nigra. Mean ADC values at b100 for the control group were found as 125±30 x10-4 mm²/sec in substantia nigra and these values at b100 for patients with Parkinson?s disease were found as 100±44 x 10-4 mm²/sec. For b600, 78±16 x 10-4 mm²/sec were found in control group and 70±14 x 10-4 mm²/sec patients with Parkinson?s disease. For b1000 60±14 x 10-4 mm²/sec were found in control group and 58±08 x 10-4 mm²/sec patients with Parkinson?s disease. When DW-MRI examination in patients with Parkinson?s disease was compared with control group, changes at mean ADC values for b100 in substantia nigra were found statistically significant. However, there were no significant changes at ADC values for b600 and b1000 in substantia nigra at patients with Parkinson?s disease and control group. Keywords: Parkinson?s disease, substantia nigra, diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging