Advances in multiple sclerosis and its variants: conventional and newer imaging techniques

Area of Science:

• Neuroimmunology
• Neuroimaging
• Neurology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its variants are inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS).
• Traditional imaging findings in MS often show poor correlation with clinical symptoms, necessitating advanced imaging approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current research in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for MS and related diseases.
• To highlight advancements in conventional and advanced MR techniques for quantifying disease burden and correlating with clinical measures.

Main Methods:

• Optimization of hardware and pulse sequences in conventional MR imaging.
• Development of automated and semiautomated techniques for disease burden quantification.
• Application of advanced nonconventional MR techniques, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MR imaging (fMRI).

Main Results:

• Conventional MR imaging research focuses on improving image quality and quantification methods.
• Advanced MR techniques like DTI and fMRI offer insights into CNS changes.
• These advanced methods show promise in correlating imaging findings with clinical disease measures.

Conclusions:

• Advanced MR imaging techniques are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of MS.
• These techniques improve the quantification of disease burden and its correlation with clinical presentation in MS patients.