Meeting Banner
Abstract #0603

Quantitative Characterization of Cortical Pathology in Multiple Sclerosis using Surface-Based Analysis of T2* Relaxation At 7T

Julien Cohen-Adad1,2, Karl G. Helmer1,2, Allen Scott Nielsen3, Doug Greve1,2, Thomas Benner1,2, Rip Philip Kinkel2,3, Bruce R. Rosen1,2, Caterina Mainero1,2

1A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA; 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 3Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA


The ability to detect and to classify in vivo gray matter (GM) lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) is required to better understand pathological processes associated with disease progression and disability. We combined ultra high field MRI (7T) with surface-based analysis to achieve quantitative assessment of cortical changes in MS. Results show a significant T2* increase in MS patients versus controls. This increase may reflect disseminated cortical pathology described in post-mortem examination. Surface-based analysis combined with quantitative measures has the potential to improve our understanding of the disease phenotypes via the discovery of specific quantitative biomarkers of cortical pathology in MS.

Keywords