Pascal Sati1,2, Anne H. Cross3,
Charles Hildebolt1, Dmitriy A. Yablonskiy4
1Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology,
Department of Radiology , Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis,
MO, United States; 2Translational Neuroradiology Unit,
Neuroimmunology Branch, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD,
United States; 3Department of Neurology, Washington University
School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States; 4Mallinckrodt
Institute of Radiology, Department of Radiology, Washington University School
of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States
Conventional
MRI based on spin-echo sequences aids in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
However, MRI markers derived from these SE sequences provide limited
information about tissue damage and correlate poorly with patient disability
assessed with clinical tests. In this study, we introduce for the first time
a new scoring method for MS evaluation using R2* histograms acquired by means
of Gradient Echo Plural Contrast Imaging technique. This method is sensitive
not only to lesion load, but also to the degree of tissue damage within the
MS lesions thus holding promise for improving the evaluation of MS pathology.
Keywords