MR anatomy of the substantia innominata and findings in Alzheimer disease: a preliminary report

• Published in: American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR Vol. 16; no. 10; pp. 2001 - 2007
• Main Authors: Sasaki, M, Ehara, S, Tamakawa, Y, Takahashi, S, Tohgi, H, Sakai, A, Mita, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Brook, IL Am Soc Neuroradiology 01.11.1995; American Society of Neuroradiology
• Subjects: Aged; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Alzheimer Disease - pathology; Atrophy; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Reference Values; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Substantia Innominata - pathology; Human; Nervous system diseases; Correlation; Nucleus basalis; Alzheimer disease; Central nervous system disease; Exploration; Degenerative disease; Anatomy; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Cerebral disorder; Prosencephalon
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X

To demonstrate normal MR anatomy of the substantia innominata and its changes in Alzheimer disease on MR imaging. Using a 1.5-T superconductive MR unit, thickness of the substantia innominata was measured on coronal thin-section images obtained in 22 patients with Alzheimer disease and 14 age-matched control subjects. Comparison of these images with postmortem specimens of human brain was also performed. On T2-weighted images through the anterior commissure, the substantia innominata was clearly identified between the globus pallidus and the anterior perforated substance. In Alzheimer disease, thinning of the substantia innominata was more frequently observed than in the age-matched controls. Thin-section T2-weighted coronal MR images can demonstrate shrinkage of the substantia innominata, a finding that may aid in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease.