Preoperative identification of subthalamic nucleus for deep brain stimulation using three-dimensional phase sensitive inversion recovery technique

We assessed the feasibility of utilizing three-dimensional (3D) phase sensitive inversion recovery (IR) images for preoperatively determining deep brain stimulator position. We measured geometric distortion with a grid phantom and evaluated images of 3 volunteers to determine optimum imaging parameters for 3D phase sensitive IR. Geometric distortion measured less than 1.0%. Respective inversion and recovery times, which provided high T1 contrast between the subthalamic nucleus and adjacent tissue, were 200 and 4000 ms. In studies of 3 volunteers and 2 patients, the subthalamic nucleus was clearly depicted in 3D phase sensitive IR images. The measured coordinates of the subthalamic nucleus agreed well with those calculated by conventional estimation from midpoint of the anterior and posterior commissure. Three-dimensional phase sensitive inversion recovery was useful in visualizing the subthalamic nucleus for effective deep brain stimulation. (author)