Related Experiment Videos
MRI findings of multiple sclerosis with acute transverse myelopathy
T Fukazawa1, K Miyasaka, K Tashiro
1Hokuyukai Neurological Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
We classified clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who underwent brain MRI with superconductive magnet into 2 subgroups: group A, consisting of 14 patients who had shown acute transverse myelopathy (ATM) during the course of illness; and group B, 35 patients without ATM, and the same neuroradiologist, blinded to clinical profiles of the patients, investigated the MR scans. We analyzed some parameters such as distribution, size, shape and number of the lesions. Although the total number of lesions were similar in each group, and the number of small size or patchy shape solitary lesions were not different, the moderate, large, ovoid or confluent lesions were lower in number in group A, compared with group B. The degree of cerebral white matter lesions and periventricular lesions were higher in group B. Brainstem lesions were significantly less common in group A. These results show characteristic differences in MR-detected, possibly pathological, changes between these 2 groups, and support our previous report that group A may constitute a distinct subgroup in patients with MS.
Insights
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with acute transverse myelopathy (ATM) showed fewer brainstem lesions and distinct lesion characteristics on MRI compared to those without ATM.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Neuroimmunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
- Subtyping MS patients can aid in understanding disease heterogeneity and progression.
- Acute transverse myelopathy (ATM) is a specific neurological manifestation in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in brain MRI findings between MS patients with and without a history of ATM.
- To identify characteristic radiological patterns associated with ATM in MS.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of brain MRI scans from clinically definite MS patients.
- Classification into two groups: Group A (14 patients with ATM) and Group B (35 patients without ATM).
- Neuroradiologist, blinded to clinical data, assessed lesion distribution, size, shape, and number.
Main Results:
- Total lesion numbers were similar, but Group A had fewer moderate, large, ovoid, or confluent lesions.
- Group B exhibited higher degrees of cerebral white matter and periventricular lesions.
- Brainstem lesions were significantly less frequent in Group A.
Conclusions:
- Distinct MRI-detected pathological changes exist between MS patients with and without ATM.
- These findings support the classification of MS patients with ATM as a potentially distinct subgroup.
- MRI characteristics may help differentiate MS subtypes with specific clinical presentations.