Significance and clinical application of the changes of substantia nigra echogenicity detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography

Substantia nigra is the largest nuclei in midbrain, which is divided into a compact part and a reticular part. Recent studies have shown that the changes of iron content in reticular part of substantia nigra results in the changes of substantia nigra echogenicity, The substantia nigra detected by transcranial Doppler, according to its echo changes, may provide help for the susceptibility of Parkinson＇s disease, latency and early diagnosis, as well as for the differential diagnosis of multiple system atrophy and vascular parldnsonism. Key words: substantia nigra;  ultrasonography, Doppler, transcranial;  Parldnson disease