MRI-Visible Anatomy of the Basal Ganglia and Thalamus

Michael J Hoch; Timothy M Shepherd

doi:10.1016/j.nic.2022.05.003

MRI-Visible Anatomy of the Basal Ganglia and Thalamus

Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2022 Aug;32(3):529-541. doi: 10.1016/j.nic.2022.05.003.

Authors

Michael J Hoch¹, Timothy M Shepherd²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Suite 130, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: https://twiter.com/@RVUhound.
² Department of Radiology, New York University Langone School of Medicine, 660 First Avenue, Room 226, New York, NY 10016, USA. Electronic address: timothy.shepherd@nyulangone.org.

PMID: 35843660
DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2022.05.003

Abstract

Conventional MR imaging does not discriminate basal ganglia and thalamic internal anatomy well. Radiology reports describe anatomic locations but not specific functional structures. Functional neurosurgery uses indirect targeting based on commissural coordinates or atlases that do not fully account for individual variability. We describe innovative MR imaging sequences that improve the visualization of normal anatomy in this complex brain region and may increase our understanding of basal ganglia and thalamic function. Better visualization also may improve treatments for movement disorders and other emerging functional neurosurgery targets. We aim to provide an accessible review of the most clinically-relevant neuroanatomy within the thalamus and basal ganglia.

Keywords: DBS; Diencephalon; FGATIR; Functional neurosurgery; Neuroanatomy; Parkinson’s disease; Subthalamic nucleus; Track-density imaging.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Basal Ganglia* / anatomy & histology
Basal Ganglia* / diagnostic imaging
Brain
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Neurosurgical Procedures / methods
Thalamus* / anatomy & histology
Thalamus* / diagnostic imaging