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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Fat-saturated post gadolinium T1 imaging of the brain in multiple sclerosis
Osama Al-Saeed1, Mohammed Ismail, Reji Athyal
1Department of Radiology, Kuwait University, Kuwait. osamas@hsc.edu.kw
Background:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is of vital importance in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Imaging sequences better demonstrating enhancing lesions can help in detecting active MS plaques.
Purpose:
To evaluate the role of fat-saturated gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted (T1W) images of the brain in MS and to assess the benefit of performing this additional sequence in the detection of enhancing lesions.
Material And Methods:
In a prospective study over a six-month period, 70 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed MS were enrolled. These constituted 14 male and 56 female patients between the ages of 21 and 44 years. All the patients underwent brain MRIs on a 1.5 Tesla Magnet. Gadolinium-enhanced T1 images with and without fat saturation were compared and results were recorded and analyzed using a conspicuity score and McNemar test.
Results:
There were a total of 157 lesions detected in 70 patients on post-contrast T1W fat-saturated images compared with 139 lesions seen on the post-contrast T1W fast spin-echo (FSE) images. This was because 18 of the lesions (11.5%) were only seen on the fat-saturated images. In addition, 15 lesions were more conspicuous on the fat saturation sequence (9.5%). The total conspicuity score obtained, including all the lesions, was 2.24 +/-0.60 (SD). Using the two-tailed McNemar test for quantitative analysis, the P value obtained was <0.0001.
Conclusion:
T1W fat-saturated gadolinium-enhanced images show better lesion enhancement than T1W images without fat saturation.
Insights
Fat-saturated T1-weighted (T1W) MRI sequences significantly improve the detection of active lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This enhanced imaging technique offers better visualization of enhancing plaques, aiding in MS diagnosis and management.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and monitoring.
- Identifying active MS plaques requires imaging sequences that effectively show enhancing lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the utility of fat-saturated gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted (T1W) brain MRI sequences in MS.
- To determine the added benefit of this sequence for detecting enhancing lesions.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study included 70 consecutive MS patients (21-44 years old).
- Brain MRIs were performed on a 1.5 Tesla Magnet.
- Gadolinium-enhanced T1W images with and without fat saturation were compared using conspicuity scores and McNemar tests.
Main Results:
- Fat-saturated T1W images detected 157 lesions, compared to 139 on standard T1W images.
- 18 lesions (11.5%) were visible exclusively on fat-saturated images.
- 15 additional lesions (9.5%) were more conspicuous with fat saturation (P <0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Fat-saturated gadolinium-enhanced T1W images provide superior lesion enhancement compared to non-fat-saturated T1W images.
- This technique improves the detection and conspicuity of active lesions in MS patients.
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