Determination of Brain Volumes Using Quantitative MR Imaging in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of atrophy occurring in the cerebrum of patients with multiple sclerosis compared with controls, and to show the relationship between clinical status and distribution of atrophy. MR images were obtained on 12 relapsing-remitting (RR) and 11 secondary progressive (SP) multiple sclerosis patients and 24 control subjects (all patients and controls were female). The Cavalieri method by modern design stereology was used to measure the cerebral volume. It was found that volumes for RR and SP with multiple sclerosis and control subjects were 757242 mm(3), 716867 mm(3) and 912499 mm(3) respectively. Mean estimates of volume loss in RR and SP were 20.5% and 27.2% respectively compared to controls for the cerebrum. In addition the volume difference between RR and SP was 5.6%. There were statistically significant differences between both RR (P<0.05) and SP (P<0.05) compared with control subjects but no differences between RR and SP volumes. MRI-estimated cerebrum volumes may be help to evaluate patients' clinical status and provide a simple index to assess the efficiency of therapy.