Characterizing Iron Deposition In The Deep Gray Nuclei Of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis By Susceptibility Weighted Imaging

[Objective] Assessing the difference of brain iron deposition in the deep gray matter between multiple sclerosis sufferers and healthy volunteers by using Susceptibility Weighted Imaging.[Methods] Eighteen patients (10males and8females) with clinically proven multiple sclerosis (MS) and nineteen age-matched healthy volunteers (9males and10females), all had MR examination. Bilateral phase value, magnitude value and SWI value of head of caudate nucleus(HCN), globus pallidus(GP), putamen(PUT), substantia nigra(SN), red nucleus(RN) pulvinar thalamus(PT) and thalamus(THA) were measured for MS sufferers and healthy volunteers.[Result] Compared to the volunteers, the mean phase values for all the deep gray nuclei are higher. Furthermore, the mean phase values of GP, PUT, SN, PT and THA are significantly higher than volunteers(P<0.05).[Conclusion] SWI is a powerful tool for assessing iron deposition in brain. Because of the significantly higher values in many deep gray nuclei, we consider that iron is an important factor in MS.