TITLE:
Lesion contrast differences in MRI sequences in multiple sclerosis: Correlation to clinical disability
AUTHORS:
Maija Rossi, Minna Raunio, Pertti Ryymin, Irina Elovaara, Prasun Dastidar
KEYWORDS:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Multiple Sclerosis; Imaging Sequences
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering,
Vol.6 No.3A,
March
29,
2013
ABSTRACT: The
purpose of this study was to analyze the lesion brightness (image contrast) in
multiple MRI sequences in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS),
secondary progressive MS (SPMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), and clinically
isolated syndrome (CIS); and to correlate the lesion contrast with lesion
volumes and neurological disability. MRI ex- amination at 1.5 T was performed
on 80 patients with RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, or CIS. The protocol included T1- and T2-weighted spin echo (SE), fluid attenuated inversion
recovery (FLAIR), T1-weighted
SE with magnetization transfer preparation, and diffusion weighted imaging
(DWI). Contrast was measured between MS lesions and normal appearing white
matter. Lesion volume was calculated in T1-weighted-
and FLAIR-images. All patients were examined neurologically including evaluation
of expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score. Lesion contrast correlated
with total brain lesion volume (p = 0.000 - 0.040). In patients with low EDSS,
three sequences were able to differentiate between CIS and RRMS. SPMS and PPMS
were separated by DWI. Lesion contrast correlated with EDSS score on T1-weighted imaging, with or
without magnetization transfer preparation. Patient age correlated with lesion
contrasts. Contrast measurements seem limited in radiological and clinical
diagnosis of MS in reference to disease course, its activity and progression.
The differentiation between MS subgroups might improve at 3 T and could help in
leading to earlier treatment of the disease.