Can T1-Differentiation in a Magnetization Prepared Turbo Field Echo Sequence at 7T Predict "Persistent Black Hole White Matter Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis?

Katharine Teal Bluestein¹, David Pitt², Aaron Boster², Andrew Kalnin¹, Michael Knopp¹, Petra Schmalbrock¹

A new T1-weighted IR-TFE sequence is described which can differentiate Multiple Sclerosis white matter lesions into two sub-groups: lesions with short T1 (2200 ms) and those with long T1 (4300 ms). The sequence is compared to 7T white matter attenuation (WHAT), 7T T1w-MPRAGE, and standard clinical 3T FLAIR. The long T1 white matter lesions are assumed to reflect severe tissue damage, potentially identifying persistent T1 "black holes" without the need for follow-up scans.