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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Cerebral cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis detected by MR imaging at 8 Tesla
A Kangarlu1, E C Bourekas, A Ray-Chaudhury
1Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Background And Purpose:
Conventional imaging of ex-vivo brain at 1.5T in multiple sclerosis (MS) detects only a small fraction of the gray matter cerebral cortical lesions that can be detected by pathology. Our purpose was to examine if imaging at 8T can detect plaques in cortical gray matter (CGM) not evident at 1.5T.
Methods:
An ex-vivo brain obtained at autopsy from a patient with MS was formalin fixed and 1 cm coronal slices were examined using MR imaging at 8T.
Results:
Numerous cerebral cortical lesions not evident at 1.5T were seen at 8T. Lesions were easily identified using gradient-echo and spin-echo (SE) as well as diffusion images. MR imaging at 8T identified many of the types of plaques previously evident only by pathology. The magnitude of the cortical involvement in this 1 patient was severe. Lesions in the gray matter readily visible by high-field MR imaging were sometimes barely visible by pathology. MR imaging at 8T often facilitated the detection of such plaques by pathology.
Conclusion:
This study establishes the utility of high-field imaging at 8T in the delineation of plaques in the cerebral CGM in MS.
Insights
High-field 8T MRI detects more multiple sclerosis (MS) cortical gray matter lesions than conventional 1.5T MRI. This advanced imaging technique reveals subtle plaques, improving diagnosis and understanding of MS brain pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropathology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Background:
- Conventional 1.5T MRI detects limited cerebral cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to pathology.
- Gray matter lesions are often missed by standard MRI protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capability of 8T MRI to detect cerebral cortical lesions in MS.
- To compare the sensitivity of 8T MRI versus 1.5T MRI for identifying cortical gray matter (CGM) plaques.
Main Methods:
- An ex-vivo brain from an MS patient was examined using 8T MRI.
- Formalin-fixed 1 cm coronal slices were analyzed with various MRI sequences (gradient-echo, spin-echo, diffusion).
Main Results:
- Numerous cortical lesions, undetectable at 1.5T, were identified using 8T MRI.
- 8T MRI visualized many plaque types previously only visible through pathology.
- High-field MRI facilitated pathological detection of some lesions.
Conclusions:
- 8T MRI is highly effective for delineating cerebral cortical plaques in MS.
- High-field MRI significantly enhances the detection of MS lesions in the gray matter.
