Imaging cortical damage and dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

In line with pathological investigations, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging has consistently shown both focal and diffuse damage in the cerebral cortex of patients with multiple sclerosis. Cortical injury tends to progress over time and is only partially related to white matter abnormalities. This review summarizes the main findings from studies using both conventional and modern quantitative magnetic resonance-based techniques for the assessment of cortical damage and dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis.