The substantia nigra in Parkinson disease: proton density-weighted spin-echo and fast short inversion time inversion-recovery MR findings.

Abstract

The SN is located mainly beneath the red nucleus. Its location cannot be determined on the basis of T2-weighted imaging results but rather on the basis of proton density-weighted SE or fast STIR findings. SN volume loss is not found in Parkinson disease, and this finding is compatible with that of recent pathology reports in the literature.