Fourteen-year serial MRIs of patients with mild and severe courses of MS

Serial MRIs from 2 patients with relapsing-remitting MS displaying mild (video 1, baseline age: 42 years; disease duration: 1.2 years) and severe (video 2, baseline age: 43 years; disease duration: 1.6 years) brain atrophy with plots of brain parenchymal fraction (BPF),1 a measure of normalized brain volume, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) are presented. Patients were scanned every 6–12 months over 14 years using standardized protocols on 3 scanners (Siemens Vision, Symphony, and Trio).2 BPF was calibrated across scanners using scan-rescan measurements. During the first year, the severe patient had 10 contrast-enhancing lesions, whereas the mild patient had none. BPF decreased by 2% (mild) compared with 10% (severe) over 14 years.
Source: Neurology Clinical Practice - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: MRI, Volumetric MRI, Multiple sclerosis Case Source Type: research