THE ROLE OF HIGH FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE BRAIN IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF EARLY-STAGE PARKINSON’S DISEASE: A CLINICAL CASE

Objective: to demonstrate the role of high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of early-stage Parkinson’s disease on a clinical case.

Materials and methods. Patient S., 1962 (53 years), referred to the Neurological Center of Epileptology, Neurogenetic and Brain Research of University Clinic of the Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after prof. V.F. Voyno-Yasenetskiy with of the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. The patient received the recommendation of a neurologist was not performed in connection with the doubts about the correctness of his diagnosis of the disease (diagnosed clinically). To confirm the diagnosis, the patient is recommended to carry out high field MRI of the brain according to the Protocol of neurodegenerative diseases, including images, weighted by magnetic susceptibility (SWI)  and magnetic resonance spectroscopy at the level of subcortical ganglia of the cerebral hemispheres and substantia nigra of the brain stem.

Results. On brain MRI in SWI  mode revealed structural changes of the substantia nigra (absence of Nigrosome-1 on both sides) – early signs of MRI-negative cases of Parkinson’s disease.

Conclusion. In this clinical example illustrates the role of high field MRI in the diagnosis of early-stage Parkinson’s disease. Should remain wary of doctors of primary health care (district internists, family practitioners, neurologists) regarding the debut of Parkinson’s disease even in patients younger than 50 years. 

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