Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
Neuroimage. 2010 May 15;51(1):28-32. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.01.112. Epub 2010 Feb 10.
Transcranial ultrasound of the substantia nigra (SN) shows a distinct hyperechogenicity in the majority of patients with Parkinson's disease. Recent studies indicate a larger area of hyperechogenicity in elderly healthy adult subjects. The present study aimed to determine the size of the SN hyperechogenicity and of the mesencephalic brainstem in children and adults without evidence of movement disorders. The areas of echogenicity in the substantia nigra (aSN) and the area of the ipsilateral midbrain (aMid) were assessed in 121 healthy infants and children as well as in 64 healthy adults. Furthermore, the ratio of aSN and aMid was calculated (S/M ratio). We found a positive correlation between age and aSN and between age and the S/M ratio. The values for aSN and S/M ratio were smaller in infants and children compared to healthy adults (aSNmax 0.06+/-0.05 cm2 vs. 0.13+/-0.08 cm2). The aSN and S/M ratio grew with increasing age in an almost linear progression. The increase of SN hyperechogenicity over time suggests that the biological process underlying this ultrasound finding may be more dynamic and possibly progressive than previously thought.
经颅超声检查显示，大多数帕金森病患者的黑质（SN）呈现明显的高回声。最近的研究表明，在老年健康成年人中，高回声区域更大。本研究旨在确定无运动障碍的儿童和成人中 SN 高回声和中脑脑桥的大小。在 121 名健康婴儿和儿童以及 64 名健康成年人中，评估了黑质（aSN）的回声区域和同侧中脑（aMid）的面积。此外，计算了 aSN 和 aMid 的比值（S/M 比值）。我们发现 aSN 与年龄以及 S/M 比值与年龄之间呈正相关。与健康成年人相比，婴儿和儿童的 aSN 和 S/M 比值较小（aSNmax 0.06+/-0.05 cm2 vs. 0.13+/-0.08 cm2）。随着年龄的增长，aSN 和 S/M 比值几乎呈线性增长。随着时间的推移，SN 高回声的增加表明，这种超声发现背后的生物学过程可能比以前想象的更具动态性和潜在的进展性。
