[MRI follow-up in multiple sclerosis. A guideline for quality assurance]

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive to pathological tissue changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. It demonstrates the frequently subclinical disease activity and follow-up examinations regularly show the accumulation of new lesions and the development of atrophy. The increasing importance of follow-up examinations in MS patients makes it necessary to provide comparable MRI data even over long observation periods. This review article focusses on critical variables in this regard and technical issues; practical guidelines for MRI protocols in MS patients are presented. The influence of field strength, MR systems from different manufacturers, and new software releases is described. Guidelines concerning the graphic planning of the examination, sequence protocols, documentation and reporting of cranial MR studies in MS patients are presented.