A comparative study of different techniques for delineation of the nigrosome-1 in substantia nigra (SN) is needed to define the most sensitive imaging biomarker for SN-related diseases. This study was conducted to assess the potential of multiecho susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in the delineation of the nigrosome-1. We also evaluated the relationship between neuromelanin (NM) and relaxation times of SN. We found that multiecho SWI can improve the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The older subjects exhibited increased CNR values. The correlation between NM-MRI and T2* value suggested that magnetization-transfer effect may be related to the presence of melanin-iron complex in the nigrosome-1.
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