Ultra-high field MRI enables visualization of anatomical alterations and quantification of iron deposition in the subcortical nucleus. To investigate whether 7T MRI could provide the diagnostic opportunity for Parkinson-plus syndromes, we recruited PD, MSA-P, MSA-C and PSP patients who underwent multi-modal scans including 3D MPRAGE and 3D multi-echo T2*-weighted MRI. All six patients with MSA-C showed visible nigrosome-1. The distances from SN to RN were significantly shorter in PSP than PD. The R2* values in SN, RN and putamen were significantly higher in MSA-P than PD. Our pilot study provided first-of-its-kind evidence that 7T MRI could help diagnose Parkinson-plus syndromes.
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