Emma Clare Tallantyre1, Jennifer E. Dixon2, Matthew J. Brookes2, Ali Al-Radaideh2, Paul S. Morgan3,4, Nikos Evangelou1, Peter G. Morris2
1Clinical Neurology, Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK; 2Sir Peter Mansfield MR Centre, Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK; 3Radiology & Radiological Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA; 4Academic Radiology, Nottingham University, Nottingham, UK
Objective: To investigate whether cortical MS lesions detected using 3T DIR are also seen using ultra high field (7T) MRI. Methods: MR imaging at 3T and 7T of 11 MS patients and 8 controls. Results: DIR was susceptible to artefact in controls. A proportion of cortical lesions identified on 3T DIR appear to be genuine. However, enhanced spatial resolution of 7T MPRAGE better determines the anatomical location of lesions and some cortical hyperintensities on 3T DIR seem to arise from extracortical blood vessels. Conclusions: Ultra high field MRI increases sensitivity and specificity in the detection of cortical lesions.