Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Discrimination of white matter lesions and multiple sclerosis plaques by short echo quantitative 1H-magnetic
P Kapeller1, S Ropele, C Enzinger
1Dept. of Neurology, University of Graz, Austria. peter.kapeller@kfunigraz.ac.at
Abstract:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques and age related white matter lesions (WML) are of similar morphological appearance on T2 weighted MRI. Therefore their differentiation is sometimes crucial. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) adds metabolic information to conventional imaging and may help to distinguish inflammatory MS plaques from vascular related WML. This study was performed to evaluate the metabolite pattern in MS plaques and WML. 15 MS patients, 14 elderly individuals with WML and 16 controls were investigated by conventional MRI and short echo quantitative (1)H-MRS (TE: 30ms, TR: 3000ms). The mean metabolite concentrations in normal control white matter (NCWM), MS plaques and WML were: t-NAA: 8.96 mmol/l (SD: 0.93) vs 6.79 mmol/l (SD: 1.99) vs 7.18 mmol/l (SD: 1.41); Cho:1.66 mmol/l (SD: 0.4) vs 1.49 mmol/l (SD: 0.45) vs 1.46 mmol/l (SD: 0.34); PCr:5.64 mmol/l (SD: 0.83) vs 4.9mmol/l (SD: 1.3) vs 4.95 mmol/l (SD: 0.86); myo-Ins: 4.57 mmol/l (SD:1.05) vs 6.34 mmol/l (SD: 2.03) vs 4.5 mmol/l (SD: 0.96). t-NAA reduction in MS plaques and WML was significant compared with controls (p
Insights
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) helps differentiate multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques from white matter lesions (WML). MS plaques show elevated myo-inositol, aiding in distinguishing them from WML.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Metabolic Neuroscience
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques and age-related white matter lesions (WML) present similar appearances on T2-weighted MRI.
- Differentiating MS plaques from WML is critical for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the distinct metabolite patterns in MS plaques and WML using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS).
- To determine if (1)H-MRS can aid in distinguishing inflammatory MS plaques from vascular WML.
Main Methods:
- Conventional MRI and short echo quantitative (1)H-MRS (TE: 30ms, TR: 3000ms) were performed on 15 MS patients, 14 elderly individuals with WML, and 16 controls.
- Metabolite concentrations (t-NAA, Cho, PCr, myo-Ins) were measured in normal control white matter (NCWM), MS plaques, and WML.
Main Results:
- Both MS plaques and WML showed a significant reduction in N-acetylaspartate (t-NAA) compared to controls (p ≤ 0.001).
- MS plaques exhibited significantly elevated myo-inositol (myo-Ins) concentrations compared to both controls (p = 0.002) and WML (p = 0.003).
- No significant differences were observed in Cho and PCr concentrations across the groups.
Conclusions:
- Both MS plaques and WML demonstrate reduced t-NAA levels, indicating neuronal compromise.
- Elevated myo-Ins in MS plaques, but not WML, offers a key metabolic marker for differentiation.
- (1)H-MRS provides valuable metabolic information for distinguishing MS plaques from WML.
