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Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
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Lesion Heterogeneity on High-Field Susceptibility MRI Is Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Severity
D M Harrison1, X Li2, H Liu3
1From the Department of Neurology (D.M.H.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Departments of Neurology (D.M.H., P.A.C.) dharrison@som.umaryland.edu.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|March 5, 2016
Summary
Susceptibility MR imaging reveals that lesion characteristics in multiple sclerosis correlate with disease progression and symptoms. Lower iron and rimmed lesions indicate chronic inflammation and oligodendrocyte loss, impacting disability and fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Susceptibility MR imaging (SWI) reveals brain iron and myelin content.
- SWI is valuable for studying multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion heterogeneity.
- Understanding lesion variations is key to MS research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between high-field SWI contrasts in MS lesions and clinical outcomes.
- To characterize lesion heterogeneity using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and R2*.
Main Methods:
- 24 MS patients underwent 7T MR imaging.
- Disability and fatigue were assessed using clinical examinations and inventories.
- 306 white matter lesions were analyzed for R2*, frequency, and relative susceptibility (QSM).
Main Results:
- Most lesions were hypointense on R2*. Hyperintense lesions on QSM were more common in relapsing-remitting MS.
- Rimmed lesions on QSM correlated with progressive MS, higher disability, and fatigue.
- Lower R2* and relative susceptibility values were observed in progressive MS lesions and linked to increased disability and fatigue.
Conclusions:
- Progressive MS phenotypes, disability, and fatigue are associated with lower R2* and relative susceptibility (indicating low iron/oligodendrocyte loss) and rimmed lesions (suggesting chronic inflammation).
- Lesion heterogeneity on SWI may explain MS-related disability and reflect demyelination, oligodendrocyte loss, and chronic inflammation.
