Thalamic Magnetic Susceptibility (χ) Alterations in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping Studies
Abstract
Background: Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) provides a non-invasive post-processing method to investigate alterations in magnetic susceptibility (χ), reflecting iron content within brain regions implicated in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs).
Purpose: To investigate alterations in thalamic χ in patients with NDDs using QSM.
Study type: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Population: A total of 696 patients with NDDs and 760 healthy controls (HCs) were included in 27 studies.
Field strength/sequence: Three-dimensional multi-echo gradient echo sequence for QSM at mostly 3 Tesla.
Assessment: Studies reporting QSM values in the thalamus of patients with NDDs were included. Following PRISMA 2020, we searched the four major databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase for peer-reviewed studies published until October 2024.
Statistical tests: Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) between patients and HCs.
Results: The pooled SMD indicated a significant increase in thalamic χ in NDDs compared to HCs (SMD = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.05-0.79; k = 27). Notably, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients showed a significant increase in thalamic χ (1.09, 95% CI: 0.65-1.53, k = 2) compared to HCs. Subgroup analyses revealed significant χ alterations in younger patients (mean age ≤ 62 years; 0.56, 95% CI: 0.10-1.02, k = 11) and studies using greater coil channels (coil channels > 16; 0.64, 95% CI:…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 696 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Preliminary Toxicity Analysis of 3DCRT versus IMRT on the High Dose Arm of the RTOG 0126 Prostate Cancer Trial
- Adaptive Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Initial Clinical Outcomes from a Prospective Trial
- American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 263: Standardizing Nomenclatures in Radiation Oncology
- Motion Management Strategies and Technical Issues Associated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy of Thoracic and Upper Abdominal Tumors: A Review from NRG Oncology
- High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy as a monotherapy for localized prostate cancer: treatment description and preliminary results of a phase I/II clinical trial
- Highly efficient training, refinement, and validation of a knowledge-based plan quality control system for radiotherapy clinical trials
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.