Increased cortical grey matter lesion detection in multiple sclerosis with 7 T MRI: a post-mortem verification study

The relevance of cortical grey matter pathology in multiple sclerosis has become increasingly recognized over the past decade. Unfortunately, a large part of cortical lesions remain undetected on magnetic resonance imaging using standard field strength. In vivo studies have shown improved detection by using higher magnetic field strengths up to 7 T. So far, a systematic histopathological verification of ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequences has been lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of 7 T versus 3 T magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequences for the detection of cortical multiple sclerosis lesions by directly comparing them to histopathology. We obtained hemispheric coronally cut brain sections of 19 patients with multiple sclerosis and four control subjects after rapid autopsy and formalin fixation, and scanned them using 3 T and 7 T magnetic resonance imaging systems. Pulse sequences included T1-weighted, T2-weighted, fluid attenuated inversion recovery, double inversion recovery and T2*. Cortical lesions (type I–IV) were scored on all sequences by an experienced rater blinded to histopathology and clinical data. Staining was performed with antibodies against proteolipid protein and scored by a second reader blinded to magnetic resonance imaging and clinical data. Subsequently, magnetic resonance imaging images were matched to histopathology and sensitivity of pulse sequences was calculated. Additionally, a second u...

Source: Brain - April 25, 2016 Category: Neurology Authors: Kilsdonk, I. D., Jonkman, L. E., Klaver, R., van Veluw, S. J., Zwanenburg, J. J. M., Kuijer, J. P. A., Pouwels, P. J. W., Twisk, J. W. R., Wattjes, M. P., Luijten, P. R., Barkhof, F., Geurts, J. J. G. Tags: Multiple Sclerosis/Neuroinflammation Original Articles Source Type: research