Magnetic resonance imaging in Parkinson's disease

Magnetic resonance imaging was utilized to examine changes in the pars compacta associated with Parkinson's disease. We found a reduction in average width of the pars compacta in advanced- but not early-stage patients. Conversely, a significant difference in width (right minus left) was observed in early- but not late-stage patients. Width asymmetry may be a sensitive magnetic resonance imaging indicator for the early detection of Parkinson's disease when there is a predominance of unilateral clinical symptoms.